Certified organic flue-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) production has experienced significant expansion in the United States. Despite this expansion, there is very little information available that outlines organic nitrogen (N) programs for seedling production. To develop grower recommendations, research was conducted to evaluate the effects of a Peruvian seabird guano (SG), sodium nitrate (SN), or a combination of the two (SN_SG) in a float system on float water chemistry and seedling vigor. A conventional treatment (Conv; SQM Ultrasol Premium) was included for comparison. A greenhouse study was conducted twice between June 2016 and January 2017. Nitrogen fertilizer treatments were applied to tobacco float system water twice during the germination and growth of tobacco transplants. Float system water was collected every 5 days and analyzed for N forms, pH, dissolved oxygen, and bicarbonate. At the end of each experiment, transplant dimensions were measured and percent of usable plants collected. Float water bicarbonate concentration was <1 meq L⁻¹ in treatments absent of SG for the duration of the study, but were in excess of 12 meq L⁻¹ 25 days after seeding (DAS) when SG was the exclusive N source. Despite high ammonium and bicarbonate concentrations with SG, neither factor negatively impacted seedling growth. Both SG and SN_SG produced as many usable plants as Conv; however, seedling height and diameter tended to be lower in SG compared to the other two treatments. No usable transplants were produced when SN was the sole fertility source, likely because of lack of nutrients other than N. Furthermore, many of the organic fertility products require biological activity to mineralize organic N to a plant-available form. This activity can have potentially detrimental outcomes on float system solution pH, dissolved oxygen, and bicarbonate levels.

Tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) are known carcinogens in cured tobacco. They are produced primarily during the curing process, but agronomic practices occurring in the field as well as handling practices after curing may also influence TSNA levels, particularly if cured leaf is stored at high moisture. After curing and during market preparation, the cured leaf must be supple to avoid breakage. Ideally, this is after a period of wet weather during which the leaf absorbs moisture and comes into order or case. Often the weather remains dry for long periods after curing, and growers resort to artificial ordering to take down a sufficient amount of their crop to work on for several days, during which time the tobacco is bulked. The effect of this artificial ordering on TSNAs during short-term storage is not known. Field experiments were conducted in each of 3 years at two locations in Kentucky to evaluate TSNA accumulation following several ordering methods in dark air-cured and burley tobacco types. Treatments included natural ordering and variants of steaming and misting, which are both commonly used artificial ordering methods. At the Princeton location, samples were taken within 24 hr after the ordering treatments were done. In Lexington, samples were taken sequentially at takedown, after ordering, and after 14 d in the bulk. There were limited and inconsistent differences in total TSNAs between methods of ordering, and the TSNA levels were not affected by the moisture content of the leaf during bulking. There was a significant increase in TSNAs in the 24-hr period between takedown and bulking, which cannot be explained. We conclude that, in Kentucky, growers should use ordering methods that are best suited for their production system, but this may not be the case in warmer climates.