Water use efficiency, yield and quality of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) using negative pressure irrigation

Plant available water can affect tobacco yield and quality, but in a greenhouse environments fluctuating water availability can be controlled. Compared with conventional irrigation (CK), typically used in greenhouse, negative pressure irrigation (NPI) can enhance water use efficiency (WUE) and nutrient uptake efficiency (NUE), while also decreasing water consumption. Pot experiments were conducted to investigate differences in CK and NPI water pressure (-5kpa, -10kpa and -15kpa) on growth, WUE, NUE, yield and quality of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.). Results suggest that water consumption and nutrient uptake efficiency improved with water pressure; The biomass of plant organs reflected a pattern of: leaf > stem > root. Compared with CK, NPI can improve WUE by 110.90% and decrease water consumption by 42.28%, and increase yield by 23.09%. Supply water pressure can significantly improve the flavor of Nicotiana tabacum L.. Our results suggest that NPI is a better method of irrigation for Nicotiana tabacum L. given the steadier supply of water during the growth period of tobacco.

Automated summary

The study found that negative pressure irrigation can improve water use efficiency and nutrient uptake efficiency, reduce water consumption, increase yield, and improve the taste of tobacco in greenhouse environments.