Sulfur Application Improved Leaf Yield and Quality of Flue-Cured Tobacco by Maintaining Soil Sulfur Balance

Sulfur (S) fertilization is critical for improving tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) yield and quality; however, limited information is available about the movement and distribution of S in soil, and its effects on yield and quality of flue-cured tobacco. Therefore, this two-year field experiment was conducted to study the effects of S on tobacco growth, S accumulation, as well as the movement and distribution of S in soil layers in tobacco filed. Tobacco was grown under five levels of S i.e., CK (without S), 22.5, 45, 67.5, and 90 kg ha(-1). Results showed that the available S contents in different soil layers varied as follows: 0-20 > 20-40 > 40-60 > 60-80 cm. The available S contents in the 0-20 soil layer significantly increased with an increased S application rate during the tobacco growth period, while no significant difference was observed among different treatments before tobacco transplanting The S concentrations of root and stem were highest in the clumping stage of tobacco, while the leaf S concentration was highest at harvest. When the rate of S application was 45 kg ha(-1), the leaf yield was highest and the S concentration was on average 6.4 mg kg(-1), which was within the optimal S concentration (2-7 mg kg(-1)) for high-quality leaf. In conclusion, S application at 22.5-45 kg ha(-1) seemed highly effective for sustainable increase in yield and quality of tobacco leaf and maintaining S balance in the soil. (C) 2020 Friends Science Publishers