Effects of nitrogen rates on accumulation and distribution of nutrients and the yield and quality of flue-cured tobacco under drought stress

The effects of nitrogen rates on accumulation and distribution of nutrients and yield and quality of flue-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) under drought stress were studied by pot experiment. The results showed that with the increasing of nitrogen, the content of N, P, K, Mn in tobacco plant increased significantly, and the content of Ca, Mg, Fe decreased obviously. The accumulation of nutrients in the plant increased markedly under drought stress conditions. It was also found that the distribution ratio of most of the nutrients in root and stalk was higher than that in leaf when drought occurred at root spreading stage, the opposite result was observed at vigorous growing and mature stage. With the increasing rate of nitrogen, the yield and content of total nitrogen and nicotine in cured leaf increased, but the content of reducing sugar decreased under drought stress.