Optimizing water and potassium boosts tobacco productivity and quality.
Water and potassium levels affect how much tobacco plants grow. By giving the right amount of water and potassium at different stages of growth, more dry matter can accumulate in the tobacco leaves. Keeping the soil moist at the right levels and adding potassium fertilizer can improve the quality and amount of tobacco leaves produced. Water is important for the early growth stages, while potassium becomes more crucial as the plants mature. The best results were seen when the soil moisture was kept between 55%-65% during root spreading and maturing stages, and 75%-85% during vigorous growth, with 180 kg of potassium per hectare.