Functions of N :- Visual symptoms :- Predisposing factors:- Corrective measures :- Nitrogen is the most important element that influences the growth and development of tobacco plant and leaf quality. Nitrogen is an indispensable elementary constituent of numerous organic compounds like amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids and metabolic processes involved in the synthesis and transfer of energy. Nitrogen is a part of chlorophyll, the green pigment of the plant, responsible for photosynthesis. Nitrate and ammonium are the major forms of inorganic nitrogen taken up by the roots of higher plants. Most of the ammonium (NH+) is incorporated into organic compounds in roots whereas nitrate (NO3-) freely moves into above ground parts. Nitrate is important for osmoregulation and for ionic balance in plant cells and its reduction and assimilation is as important as CO2 reduction and assimilation in photosynthesis. Nitrate is the preferred source of nitrogen fertilizer for tobacco and a balance of nitrogen and carbon compounds in tobacco leaf is of utmost importance for leaf quality and usability. Nitrogen deficiency results in reduction of plant growth, thin stems, and small leaves and decrease in normal green colour of the leaf. The lower leaves turn yellow, followed by drying up or burning of the leaves. Typical nitrogen deficiency symptom is enhanced senescence of older leaves. Nitrogen deficiency occurs when nitrogen is not available to plant roots. It occurs when considerable amounts of N are leached out of the soil due to heavy rainfall. Incorporation of straw causes immobilization of fertilizer Nitrogen. Nitrogen deficiency can be corrected by application of nitrogenous fertilizers and recommended dose of nitrogen should be applied at the appropriate stage of plant growth for achieving maximum yield and desirable quality of tobacco.

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