Burley Tobacco Extension
Burley Tobacco Extension

Urea Fertilizer Injury

Urea Fertilizer Injury

In the image above the green healthy plants were grown in float water fertilized with a water soluble fertilizer made with mostly nitrate-nitrogen, while the stunted plants were fertilized with a water soluble fertilizer made with mostly urea-nitrogen.  The float media initially lacks the appropriate balance of microbes to fully convert urea to the plant available nitrate from.  The partial conversion lead to a build-up of nitrite-nitrogen which is toxic to the young seedlings at high levels.  For more information on appropriate fertilizers for the float system see AGR-163 Selecting the right fertilizer for tobacco transplant production in float systems.
In the image above, the green healthy plants were grown in float water fertilized with a water soluble fertilizer made with mostly nitrate-nitrogen, while the stunted plants were fertilized with a water soluble fertilizer made with mostly urea-nitrogen. The float media initially lacks the appropriate balance of microbes to fully convert urea to the plant available nitrate from. The partial conversion lead to a build-up of nitrite-nitrogen which is toxic to the young seedlings at high levels. For more information on appropriate fertilizers for the float system, see AGR-163: Selecting the Right Fertilizer for Tobacco Transplant Production in Float Systems.

Contact Information

Bob Pearce
Extension Tobacco Specialist

1405 Veterans Drive Lexington, KY 40546

859-257-5110

rpearce@uky.edu