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Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (4): 10-18.doi: 10.11924/j.issn.1000-6850.casb2024-0104

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Effects of Acidic Substances on pH of Slightly Alkaline Soil and Yield and Quality of Tobacco Leaves

YU Yaoying1(), ZHANG Lei1,2, LIU Yong1,2, HUANG Xiaoqin1,2, HE Jixian3, WANG Dong3, ZHANG Qili3, GU Huizhan3()   

  1. 1 Institute of Plant Protection, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610066
    2 Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Southwest Agriculture Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,Chengdu 610066
    3 Guangyuan Tobacco Company, Guangyuan, Sichuan 628000
  • Received:2024-02-01 Revised:2024-08-30 Online:2025-01-23 Published:2025-01-23

Abstract:

To solve the problem of low potassium content in tobacco leaves caused by high soil pH and rich calcium ion content in slightly alkaline soil, the pot and field experiments were carried out to study the effects of different dosage and combination of oxalic acid, citric acid and sulfur powder on soil pH value, available potassium, available calcium content, chemical indexes and yield of flue-cured tobacco. The results showed that: (1) all acidic substances and their combinations could reduce soil pH within a certain range. In terms of improving soil available potassium content and tobacco yield and quality, citric acid and ztric acid + sulfur had significant effects. It had been preliminarily established as an acidic substance suitable for improving slightly alkaline soil. (2) After the application of acidic substances, it could effectively reduce the pH and exchangeable calcium ion content of rhizosphere soil, and improve the content of available potassium in soil. The T4 (citric acid 4 g/plant + sulphur powder 11 g/plant) and T2 (citric acid 15 g/plant) had better treatment effects. (3) After the application of acid substances, the yield of tobacco leaves was significantly increased, ranked as followed: T4>T3>T5>T2>T1>T0, and there were significant difference between T3, T4, T5 and T0, with an increase of 65-260 kg/hm2 compared to T0. (4) After the application of acid substances, the internal quality of tobacco leaves was effectively improved. The comprehensive index of chemical composition was 0.66-0.87, which was 8.19%-60.78% higher than that without the application of acidic substances. (5) Compared with not applying acidic substances, the potassium content of middle and upper leaves increased by 24.3% and 20.3% respectively. Citric acid 4 g/plant + sulfur powder 11 g/plant and citric acid 15 g/plant were suitable formulas for improving slightly alkaline soil. They can effectively reduce soil pH and exchangeable calcium content, increase tobacco yield and potassium content, and improve the intrinsic quality of tobacco leaves.

Key words: flue-cured tobacco, slightly alkaline soil, soil pH, potassium content in tobacco leave, acidic substances, soil improvement, tobacco yield