Nitrogen, Cover Cropping, Manure

[Knucklehead]

ASSESSMENT OF BURLEY TOBACCO NITROGEN NEEDS FOLLOWING COVER CROPPING AND MANURE APPLICATION

Nitrogen recommendations for tobacco rarely take into account the nitrogen fixed to the soil by manure or cover crops, which could cause the accumulation of nitrogen being leached into the ground water or reduce the quality of cured leaves and increased potential carcinogenic substances. This study was done to assess the response of Burley tobacco to N from cover crops, manure and chemical fertilizers and to address the necessity of proper soil testing.

http://www.tobaccoscienceonline.org/doi/pdf/10.3381/1959.1

 

[Vinny]

what do you think about adding calcium to decrease N/P concentration?

 

[Danny M]

ASSESSMENT OF BURLEY TOBACCO NITROGEN NEEDS FOLLOWING COVER CROPPING AND MANURE APPLICATION

Nitrogen recommendations for tobacco rarely take into account the nitrogen fixed to the soil by manure or cover crops, which could cause the accumulation of nitrogen being leached into the ground water or reduce the quality of cured leaves and increased potential carcinogenic substances. This study was done to assess the response of Burley tobacco to N from cover crops, manure and chemical fertilizers and to address the necessity of proper soil testing.

http://www.tobaccoscienceonline.org/doi/pdf/10.3381/1959.1

I’ve read that Lespedeza is a good cover crop for nitrogen replenishment although we never used it. We always spread cow manure.

 

[Danny M]

what do you think about adding calcium to decrease N/P concentration?

Calcium is Lime, a little is fine, too much will produce plants with lots of stunted leaves.

 

[KPaul]

That's interesting. I always (3 times/year) till cow manure into our garden before planting. I keep a dump truck load sized pile set aside to compost before amending (about 4 months). I wonder if that process alters the nitrogen content and possible effects. This is the first time I've grown tobacco in the garden, but everything else in there thrives.

 

[Danny M]

That's interesting. I always (3 times/year) till cow manure into our garden before planting. I keep a dump truck load sized pile set aside to compost before amending (about 4 months). I wonder if that process alters the nitrogen content and possible effects. This is the first time I've grown tobacco in the garden, but everything else in there thrives.

With Tobacco, as long as you pace it based on size, I’m not sure you can provide too much nitrogen, at least not in the beginning to late middle. When you start seedlings you use a selection of fertilizers with 20 parts nitrate, we’ve also spread lime before hand. When we side dressed we used 34-0-0. If irrigation was required we added 34-0-0 to the secondary water source on our irrigation pump. Some use 9-18-27 near the end but I don’t see the purpose in it for tobacco since you’re not growing for blooms.
In small areas for a few plants, try some rabbit manure. I’ve seen it bring plants back almost from death. You’d need a lot of rabbits for too many plants.
Chicken manure is also good, just put it in a pillow case and soak it in a barrel of water. After 24-48 hours use that water on your garden.
Nowadays with DHS, 34-0-0 is more trouble than it’s worth in most cases, especially for hobby farmers. 27-0-0 is now the go to.

 

[deluxestogie]

In the US, you can contact a local Agricultural Extension Service regarding soil testing. Some states will perform soil test for free. Others charge a fee (up to about $25). A soil analysis should guide your decisions on soil supplements.

Bob

 

[KPaul]

I compost our chicken and goat manure for the orchard. I compost it with the output from the PTO chipper and then spread around trees like mulch and amend the soil with it for new plantings.