This research article published by MDPI, 2021
This research was conducted to evaluate the trends of the extractable micronutrients boron
(B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) in soils differing in textures and collected
before tobacco cultivation, and in after unfertilized and fertilized (N10P18K24 and CAN 27%) plots.
The soils and tobacco leaves were assessed on the contents of the micronutrients after unfertilized and
fertilized tobacco cultivation. In soils, tobacco cultivation with fertilization increased the extractable
Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn by 0.10, 11.03, 8.86, and 0.08 mg kg−1
, respectively, but decreased the extractable B
by 0.04 mg kg−1
. The effects of fertilization increased the extractable Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn by 0.14, 14.29,
9.83, and 0.24 mg kg−1
, respectively, but decreased B by 0.08 mg kg−1
. The combination effects of
tobacco cultivation and fertilization increased the extractable Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn by 0.24, 25.32, 18.69,
and 0.32 mg kg−1
, respectively, but decreased the extractable B by 0.12 mg kg−1
. The results revealed
that the solubility of the extractable Zn, Mn, Cu, and Fe in soils were increased by both tobacco
and fertilization, but the extractable B was decreased. The fertilization of the studied soils with
NPK + CAN fertilizers significantly increased the concentration of the extractable micronutrients in
tobacco leaves. Based on the findings of this study, further research must be conducted to investigate
the effects of tobacco cultivation on soil health and fertility beyond considering only soil pH, SOC,
micronutrients, and macronutrients. These studies should include the relationship between soil
fertility (pH, texture, CEC, base saturation, etc.), micronutrients, and agronomic practices on the
effect of tobacco cultivation on the extractability of B, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn.