Possible use of the chlorophyll meter [SPAD-502] for evaluating nitrogen nutrition of the Virginia tobacco

The aim of the present study was to determine a correlation between nitrogen fertilisation and leaf chlorophyll content as measured using an optical instrument – a chlorophyll meter and an effect of different nitrogen fertilisation doses on the yield and quality of leaves of the ‘Wiœlica’ cultivar of the Virginia tobacco. To this purpose, a field experiment was conducted, in which varied nitrogen fertilisation was applied. During the vegetation period leaf chlorophyll content was examined, using the chlorophyll meter, as well as leaf nitrogen content. After harvesting and drying the leaves, the yield was assessed in terms of quantity and then graded according to its quality. Statistical analysis carried out afterwards demonstrated that the increase in nitrogen fertilisation had resulted in the yield growth together with the deterioration of the raw product quality. The results of the measurements with the chlorophyll meter proved to be closely correlated with nitrogen content in leaf blades.