Water requirement pattern for tobacco and its response to water deficit in Guizhou Province

The water requirement pattern for tobacco (Yun 85) was identified based on analysis of data obtained from pot experiments in a canopy at the Xiuwen Irrigation Test Central Station in Guizhou Province, China. The results showed that the tobacco water requirement and the tobacco water requirement intensity throughout the growth period in pot experiments were significantly lower than those in field production. In pot experiments, the tobacco water requirement throughout the growth period ranged from 159.00 to 278.90 mm, with a reduction in the range of 241–441 mm, as compared with that in field production. Also, the average water requirement intensity at the vigorous growing stage was 1.97 mm/d, and the water requirement and water requirement module were 33.80–72.60 mm and 16.39%–33.09%, respectively, at the group stage, almost equal to their values at the vigorous growing stage. The patterns of the tobacco water requirement and water requirement module in pot experiments were different from those in field production. In pot experiments, the tobacco water requirement and water requirement module ranked the highest at the mature stage, followed by those at the group/vigorous growing and rejuvenation stages, while the water requirement intensity ranked the highest at the vigorous growing stage, followed by those at the mature, group, and rejuvenation stages. The pattern of the water requirement intensity in pot experiments was consistent with that in field production. In addition, the response of the tobacco water requirement to water deficit was also analyzed. Serious water deficit at the vigorous growing stage and continuous water stress at the group, vigorous growing, and mature stages can greatly influence the tobacco water requirement. Water deficit led to reductions in the water requirement and water requirement intensity at each growth stage. The vigorous growing stage exhibited the highest sensitivity to water deficit. The lower limit of moderate soil water stress at the vigorous growing stage was 65% of the field capacity. Results of this study can help to establish a reasonable irrigation schedule for tobacco production in Guizhou Province, China.