Tobacco straw boosts rice yield, cuts potassium fertilizer needs by 22%
Tobacco straw added to rice fields along with potassium fertilizer can boost rice yield and potassium uptake. The best results were seen when both tobacco straw and potassium fertilizer were used together. This combination increased rice yield by around 13-17% in different soil types. Tobacco straw can also help rice plants use potassium more efficiently. It was found that tobacco straw can replace 10-22% of potassium fertilizer during the rice growing season, reducing the need for chemical fertilizer by 7.2-16.5 kg per hectare. This suggests that using tobacco straw in high-potassium soil can reduce the need for potassium fertilizer, while maintaining recommended levels in low and medium-potassium soil for optimal rice growth.