Abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of different agronomic practices on Cd uptake by tobacco cultivars and on tobacco growth. We selected two kinds of Cd-polluted soil from southern tobacco planting area (paddy soil and yellow mud) as test objects and Yunyan 87 as test cultivars for this study. We carried out field plot experiment to evaluate the effects of increasing application of potassium dihydrogen phosphate, zinc sulfate, potassium humate and lime on soil available Cd, tobacco leaf Cd, soil fertility index, economic characters and chemical composition of tobacco. The results indicated that this practice significantly decreased both Cd bioeffectiveness and accumulation in soil compared with control. These agronomic measures reduced available Cd in soil and Cd content in tobacco leaves by 10.4%25.5% and 20.39%43.47%, respectively, following the ordered of potassium dihydrogen phosphate>potassium humate>zinc sulfate≈lime in effectiveness. Increasing application of lime improved soil pH by 0.240.51 units but decreased soil fertility and affected tobacco growth. Increasing application of potassium humate, whereas, increased urease and phosphatase activities as well as organic matters, cationic exchange capacity and available nitrogen in soil. It also significantly increased the potassium content in cured tobacco leaf while decreasing its sugar content, resulting in more balanced chemical composition.

Key words: agronomic measures, tobacco, Cd, polluted soil, quality