RESPONSE OF BURLEY TOBACCO TO BANDED FERTILIZER AND IN-ROW SUBSOILING

Field experiments were conducted during 4 years at two locations in Ke ntucky to study the response of burley tobacco to phosphorus (P) and p otassium (K) fertilizer rate and placement, and to in-row subsoiling. in one experiment on Pope soil (mesic Fluventic Dystrochrepts), dry ma tter and P and K uptake 40 days after transplanting, and cured leaf yi eld and value/ha were increased as application of a 5-13-36 (%N-P2O5-K 2O) grade fertilizer increased from 310 to 930 kg/ha. Generally, ferti lizer placed in 40-cm wide bands directly under and parallel to the ro w was more effective than broadcasting and in-row subsoiling was more effective than not subsoiling. Significant 2-way and 3-way interaction s suggested that plant responses to band applications over broadcastin g were greater in the presence than absence of subsoiling. In another experiment conducted on two silt loam soils, Pope and Maury (typic Pal eudalfs), fertilizer applied in a 40-cm band with in-row subsoiling wa s more effective than broadcasting without subsoiling or placement in IO-cm wide bands applied 0.6-m apart and perpendicular to the row with out subsoiling. Growth and yields increased up to the 620 kg/ha rate a nd 40 days after transplanting, soil pH decreased and soil electrical conductivity and plant manganese (Mn) increased with increased rate of fertilizer.