Author: Brubaker, Ammon Mark Title: A study of the calcium content of Pennsylvania cigar leaf tobacco Place of Publication: Copyright Date: 1939 Master Negative Storage Number: MNS# PSt SNPaAg031 .9 <105280>**OCLC*Form:manuscriptitem2 lnput:CHF EditFMD 008 ENT: 980112 TYP: s DTI: 1939 DT2- LAN" enq 035 (OCoLC)38092073 037 PSt SNPaAg031 .9 $bPreservation Office, The Pennsylvania State University, Pattee Library, University Parl<, PA 16802-1805 090 20 Thesis 1939m $bBruba,AM $cax+(Archival) $cst*21940132 090 20 iVlicrofilm D344 reel 31.9 $cmc+(service copy, print master, archival master) 100 1 Brubaker, Ammon Mark. 245 12 A study of the calcium content of Pennsylvania cigar leaf tobacco $ca thesis by Ammon M. Brubaker. $c1939. 38 leaves $bill. $c29 cm. Thesis (M.S.)--Pennsylvania State College. Bibliography: leaves 37-38. Microfilm $bUniversity Park, Pa. : $cPennsylvania State University $d1997. $e1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm. $f(USAIN state and local literature preservation project. Pennsylvania) $f(Pennsylvania agricultural literature on microfilm). Archival master stored at National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD : print master stored at remote facility. This item is temporarily out of the library during the filming process If you wish to be notified when it returns, please fill out a Personal Reserve slip. The slips are available in the Rare Books Room, in the Microforms Room, and at the Circulation desk. 650 0 Tobacco $zPennsylvania. 830 0 USAIN state and local literature preservation project. $pPennsylvania 830 0 Pennsylvania agricultural literature on microfilm. 260 300 502 504 533 590 590 The Pennsylvania State College The Graduate School Department of Agrloultixral and Biological Chemistry A Study of the Calcium Content of Pennsylvania Cigar Leaf Tobacco A Thesis by Ammon M^ Brubaker Submitted in partial fulfillment for the degree of Master of Science August 1939 Approved : %^^^ ^ / - 1939 IS) &> K ^-^ Professor of Soil and Phytochemistry ^/-t/ -^1 1939 m O.A.A/^^ r^JvATtivlA/ Head of the Department Table of Contents I. Introduction and Historical II. Object of this Investigation III, Review of the Literature IV, Methods V. Presentation of Data VI, Discussion of Results VII , Sxanmary VIII. Acknowledgments IX, Bibliography Page 3 4 4 8 9 31 35 36 37 INTRODUCTION AND HISTORICAL S Tobacoo constitutes an important agricultural crop in Pennsylvania which annually amounts to several million dollars • Because of its economic value and because of its adaptability to mineral absorption studies, it is approp- riate that its culture be studied in order to improve the yield and quality of this crop^ Dtiring the past years there have been a series of constant investigations of various phrases of the tobacco industry in Pennsylvania • In 1893, Doctor William Freer started the investigations on tobacco in Pennsylvania* This work was done throughout the various tobacco growing sections of the state* Fertilizer practices, wring, variety and strain tests, some shelter tent experiments with Sumatra tobacco, and economic studies on the cost of tobacco pro- duction were included in this work* Recently, the processes involved in the fermentation of tobacco have been under in- vestigation. Also, the cultural and fertilization practices of tobacco and their relation to ''Wildfire^ disease have been studied* Experiment Stations for the study of tobacco were established at Lock Haven and Ephrata in 1916 where the origi- nal work was continued and additional investigations were made on steam sterilization of seed beds, the use of ferti- lizers on seed beds, seed cleaning, rate of seeding, fumi- gation, fertilizer treatments, various cultural practices. 4^ variety and strain tests and high and low nicotine breeding* In 1930 the tobacco experimental station was moved to Roseville, one mile from the City of Lancaster. The field is nearly level with a slight southern exposure, and the soil is of the Hagerstown silt loam type* There was no ferti- lizer or lime used on this field for more than twenty years although tobacco was grown there in 1929. A detailed de- scription of the soil is given in a thesis by Thomas (24) • OBJECT OF THIS INVESTIGATION The object of this investigation was first, to de- termine the calcium content of the tobacco samples from the experimental plots at Roseville, Lancaster County, and since the yield and quality of tobacco is correlated with potassium fertilization and potassium content of the tobacco leaves, it was thought advisable to compare the caloi\im content with the potassium and nitrogen content to show the interrelationship In the absorption of these elements, especially in regard to the yield and quality of the tobacco produced • REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE Calcium is recognized as one of the elements essen- tial to the growth and development of all green plants. The functions of calcium in the plant are found in textbooks on Plant Physiology, Miller (15) • Investigators have shown that definite deficiency simiptoms occur in plants that are grown on soils containing an insufficient supply of calcium 5* llciaurtrey (14). Nightingale (17) found that calciuia de- ficient plants were practically unable to absorb or assimi- late nitrates although they could absorb calcium immediately^ A few hours after the absorption of calcium, there was ab- sorption and assimilation of nitrates. Calcium deficient plants accumulated carbohydrates in large quantities and nearly all the calcium was insoluble in water* Mcmurtrey (14) defines the quantity of calcium necessary for normal growth of the leaves must be in excess of one per cent of their dry weight • It is highly improbable that any deficiency symptoms would be noted at present in tobacco grown on the soil of the experimental tobacco plots at Roseville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania as these soils are known to be high in calcium and quite low in available potassium* Haley et. al (6) foxind that the quality of smoke produced during combustion of a cigar is largely dependent on the chemical composition of the tobacco* The potassium con- tent was correlated with the burning quality of the tobacco. Recent v/ork by Reid and Haley indicates a re- lationship of the mineral nutrition of plants and resistance to ••Wildfire*^ disease of tobacco which is a serious problem in the production of good quality tobacco in Pennsylvania. There are numerous and complex factors that affect the absorption of plant nutrients. The first of the many laws that have been advanced for defining the relationship between the amount of nutrients absorbed by the plant and the 5* Mcmurtrey (14) • Nightingale (17) found that caloiim de- ficient plants were practically unable to absorb or assimi- late nitrates although they could absorb oalcixim immediately* A few hours after the absorption of calcium, there was ab- sorption and assimilation of nitrates. Calcium deficient plants accumulated carbohydrates in large quantities and nearly all the calcium was insoluble in water ♦ Mcm\irtrey (14) defines the quantity of calcium necessary for normal growth of the leaves must be in excess of one per cent of their dry weights It is highly improbable that any deficiency symptoms would be noted at present in tobacco grown on the soil of the experimental tobacco plots at Roseville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania as these soils are known to be high in calcium and quite low in available potassium* Haley et. al (6) foxmd that the quality of smoke produced during combustion of a cigar is largely dependent on the chemical composition of the tobacco. The potassium con- tent was correlated with the burning quality of the tobacco* Recent work by Reid and Haley indicates a re- lationship of the mineral nutrition of plants and resistance to ••Wildfire'* disease of tobacco which is a serious problem in the production of good quality tobacco in Pennsylvania. There are numerous and complex factors that affect the absorption of plant nutrients. The first of the many laws that have been advanced for defining the relationship between the amount of nutrients absorbed by the plant and the 6. dry matter produced was by "Llebig" who announced as a corollary to what afterwards became known as the ••law of the minimum** that nutrient elements must be absorbed in cer- tain definite proportions and in such a manner that when the rate of supply of one of the principal nutrient elements is reduced below the critical concentration for that element the rate of absorption of the other principal nutrient ele- ments is retarded or depressed, because an inadequate supply will render the other element unavailable, and the plant will be unable to grow to any extent • Wolff (22) in 1871 was the first to give definite proof that the composition of the ash of any plant could be changed by varying the proportion of salts in the nutrient culture medium. Newton (22) found that different species growing in madia of identical composition possess selective powers with respect to any specific ion or ions. These differences miay be due to the character of the species or the result of environmental or other unknown causes. HoaglTind and Martin (9) state that the composition of the crop consistently refects the supplying power of a soil for potassium under suitably controlled conditions. A striking interrelationship exists between calcium, magnesium, and po- tassium, but it is emphasized that crop growth is not limited by specific ratios of bases. In studying the interrelationships of various salts that make up the nutrient medixim of the plant, the term 7. if'? "ant agon ism** is used to designate the hindrance of a given salt upon the toxic action of another salt* Calcium reduces the toxic effects of single salt solutions of sodium, po- tassium, and magnesium. Loew (15) proposed the hypothesis that one of the principal functions of calcium was to neutralize the effect of magnesium and that a certain calcium-magnesium ratio is necessary for the proper growth and development of plants* It has been shown by other workers Lipman (15), Wyatt (15) that the caloium-magnesixim ratio can vary within rather wide limits without affecting the crop yield* Liedjens and Schermerhorn (25) working with vege- table crops point out that the type of fertilizer and the manner in which the soil is handled depend on the potential calcium supply* Fertilizer residues have a marked effect on exchangeable and available calcium as well as on the reaction of light cultivated soils* In discussing the agronomic importance of calcium, Kelly (10) concludes that in neutral soils, calcium is the dominant exchangeable cation. Under leaching conditions, calcium becomes replaced by hydrogen ions from the surface of the colloidal particles* In consequence these particles become acid* Important micro-biological soil processes are affected by inadequate supply of calcium and by soil activity* Within certain limits, an Inverse relationship has been found between the absorption of calcium and potassium by plants* Ammonium salts are especially applicable where the soil con- v 1 8^ tains significant amounts of CaCOs* In fertilizing with aramonium salts (26) effects such as plasmolysis of the root tissues were noticed when an insufficient supply of calcium was present • Calcium salts were antagonistic to ammonixam ion toxicity* Calciiun sulfate and chloride were more effective in this regard than calcium carbonate acid phosphate • METHODS I i I The tobacco samples were obtained from the Experi- ment Station, Roseville, Lancaster County from the three- and four-year rotation plots, placement plots, and the out- laying plots on various farms in that section* An outline of the general methods and cultural practices is found in a thesis by Thomas (24) ♦ The calcium was determined volume trically accord- ing to the following method: Two grams of the sample were ignited in a porce- lain crucible in a muffle furnace at 500^0. for at least two hours or until the sample was thoroughly ashed* The ash was carefully moistened with five ccs. of HCl, evaporated to dry- ness and heated on the steam bath for three hours to render the silicon dioxide insoluble. The residue was moistened with five ccs* of concentrated HCl and fifty ccs. of water were added and warmed on a water bath to take up the calcium* The resulting solution was filtered through a hardened filter and washed to a volume of approximately 50 ccs. After heat- ing to boiling ten ccs, of saturated ammonium oxalate were .(i^M^ 9. I I f added and a drop of Methyl Red* After cooling, the solu- tion W6LS almost neutralized with ammoni\m hydroxide and heated \mtil the precipitate was coarsely granular^ After again cooling, ammonium hydroxide (1 to 4) was added until the color became pale pink# It was then allowed to stand overnight. The precipitate was then filtered off and washed with water at room temperature to free it from oxalates. After the filter paper was pierced with a plati- ntxm wire, the precipitate was washed into the original beaker which held the precipitate with hot water and finally with hot H2SO4 (1 to 4) . Ten CCS. of H2SO4 (1 to 4) and 50 cc. of water were added and heated to 90^. and titrated to a pale pink end point with standard potassium permanganate. Finally, the filter paper was added and the titration completed. From: Standard Methods of Analysis, Research Department, American Tobacco Company. The moisture, nitrogen, and potassium contents were obtained from Clyde Underwood, who was working on these samples at the same time. PRESENTATION OF DATA The data on the four year rotation experiments is given in tables I to VI. The fertilizer treatments, total yield (pounds per acre), production of wrappers, burn, quality, nitrogenic content, potassium content, calcium content, nifro- gen-calcium ratios, calcium-potassium ratios are given. The 10 • a I 4 2 ■I •■i percentage of wrappers, burn, and quality are indioations of the value and condition of the crop produced^ Table III contains a list of the fertilizers used and percentage composition^ The formulas of the fertilizers are based on these figures • The arrangement of the plots in the four-year ro- tat ion experiment is shown in table VIII. Each plot is one- fortieth of an acre* Similar data for the three-year rotations are found in tables IX and !• Tables XI to XIII contain the condition of the fertilizer, formula, method of application, total yield, pro- duction of wrappers, burn, quality, remarks on the condition of the crop and the calcium content for the Placement Plots • The mineral constituents and observation! of wild- fire infection are given in tables XIV and XV. Table XVI gives average values of calcium content, nitrogen-calcium ratios, calcium-potassium ratios among the three- and four-year rotations ♦ In figures 1 to 7 the yields and the nitrogen- * calcium, calcium-potass iijm ratios are charted. J .', TABLE I Foia^-Year Rotation Experiments at Roseville, Pennsylvania 1938 1^ — Nitrogen Series. A.-- -Individual Plot Treatments Using Nitrogen in Different Forms in a 3-8-12 Mixture Applied at the Rate of 1000 Pounds ?rith 10 Tons of Manure Per Acre Plot Carrier Tot^l Production Burn Qiiftlity Per cent mineral constituents N/Ga CaA number of Nitrogen yield pounds of wrappers moisture free basis ratio ratio Nitrogen Potassium Calcium per acre (per cent) • 1 Mixed 1307 88 Grood Good 3.43 4.06 3.89 .88 .96 48 Mixed 1051 66 Poor Very poor 2.55 2.74 3.40 .75 1.24 2 Check 1633 83 Fair Fair 3.04 4.83 3.58 .85 .74 43 Check I486 71 Poor Poor 2.59 3.43 3.81 .68 1.111 3 Cottonseed meal 1774 84 Good Fair shar; ? 3.15 5.27 3.45 .91 .66 U Cottonseed meal 1540 79 Fair Fair 2.63 3.36 4.03 .65 1.21 A Urea 1804 88 Fair Fair 3.30 4.88 3.82 .86 .78 45 Urea 1380 80 Poor Poor 2.17 3.16 3.37 .56 1.23 5 Soybean meal 1880 89 Good Good 2.96 4.81 3.36 .88 .70 46 Soybean meal 1508 SL Poor Poor 1.99 3.52 3.41 .58 .97 6 Nitrate of soda 1785 85 Good Good 2.97 4.72 3.29 .90 .70 47 Nitrate of soda 1351 a Fair Poor 2.19 3.30 3.83 .57 1.16 7 Nitrate of potash 1583 91 Fair Fair 3.17 5.86 3.43 .92 .59 49 Nitrate of H H • potash 1532 B3 Good Good 3.23 5.06 3.91 .S3 .77 t Sulfate of ammonia 1688 90 Good Good 3.00 4.20 3.63 .83 .86 50 Sulfate of ammonia 1689 90 Fair Fair 3.42 4.57 3.84 .89 .34 9 Check 1397 81 Fair Fair 3.39 3.92 3.53 .96 .90 51 Check 1402 78 Fair Poor 2.63 3.64 3.69 .71 1.01 TABLE II Foiir-Year Rotation Experiments at Roseville, Pennsylvania 1938 1. — Nitrogen Series. B. — Individual Plot Treatments Using Nitrogen in Different Forms in a 6-3-12 Mixture Applied at the Rate of J.000 Pounds Per Acre with No Manure ■^ -,m- ■* ■■■» ^ ^ 4-8-35 Bands 65 Fair Fair 1352 Overripe IC Ordinary ^-8-35 Bands 64 Good Fair 1205 Overripe 2A Pulberized A-8-35 Broken Bands 75 Good Fair 1584 Overripe 2B Granulated 4-8-35 Broken ] Bands 73 Good Fair 1311 2C Ordi nary 4-8-35 Broken : Bands (^ Fair Fair 1232 3k Pulverized 4-8«12 Bands * 72 Fair Fair 1523 ' 3B Granulated 4-8-12 Bands 73 Fair Fair 1368 3C Ordinary 4-8-12 Bands 71 Good Fair 1489 Uk Pulverized 4-8-12 Broken ; Bands 70 Good Good U98 AB Granulated 4-8-12 Broken \ Bands 75 Good Fair 1394 ^C Ordinary 4-8-12 Broken : Bands 71 Good Fair 1397 5A Pulverized 4-8-12 Broadcast 71 Good Good 1337 5B Granulated 4-8-12 Broadca st 67 Very good Good 1209 5C Ordinary 4-8-12 Broadcast 70 Very Fair 1363 good 6a Pulverized 4-8-12 Drilled in Row 77 Very good Good 1663 6B Granulated 4-8-12 Drilled in Row SL Very good Fair 1580 6C Ordinary 4-8-12 Drilled in Row 76 Very good Good 1368 7A Pulverized 4-8-12 Drilled in Row 72 Very good Good U36 7B Granulated 4-8-12 Drilled in Row 75 Fair Fair 1613 7C Ordinary 4-8-12 Drilled in Rov/ 78 Fair Fair 1506 8A Pulverized 4-8-35 Rflnds 78 Fair Fair 1397 Sharp 8B Granulated 4-8-35 Bands 82 Fair Fair U03 Sharp 8C Ordinary 4-8-35 Bands 74 Good Fair 1403 Hamm im ■MM* ■"■■I "111 TABLE XII Placement Tests on Tobacco Following Com at Roseville, Pennsylvania 1938 These Tests Involved Var^dng the Quantity of Potash and its Method of Application Plot Condition Formula Method of Total Production Burn Quality Remarks nvunber of fertiliKer application yield of wrappers per cent 91 Pulverized 4-8-35 Broken Bende 1644 75 Good Good 9B Granulated 4-8-35 Broken Bands 1521 85 Good Good Overripe 9C Oi*dinary 4-8-35 Broken Bands 1414 72 Good Good lOA Pulveri zed /^8-12 Bands U94 76 Good Good lOB Granulated 4-8-12 Bands 1374 75 Good Good IOC Ordinary 4-8-12 Bands 1386 64 Good Fair llA Pulverized 4-8-12 Broken Bands 1320 68 Fair Fair IIB Graniilated 4-8-12 Broken Bands 1440 75 Fair Poor Overripe lie Ordinary 4-8-12 Broken Bands I/.IO 64 Good Fair 12A Pulverized 4-8-12 Broadcast 1480 74 Good Fair 12B Granulated 4-8-12 Broadcast 1231 67 Good Fair 12C Ordinary 4-8-12 Broadcast 1293 52 Good Good 13A Pulverized 4-^12 Drilled in Row 1383 71 Good Fair 13B Granulated 4-3-12 Drilled in Row U65 80 Good Fair 13c Ordinary 4-8-12 Drilled in Row 1320 67 Good Fair 14A Pulverized 4-8-12 Drilled in Row 1350 69 Good Fair UB Granulated 4-8-12 Drilled in Row 1447 77 Good Fair 14c Ordinary 4-8-12 Drilled in Row 1102 66 Good Fair Notes: "Bands" ^ continuous bands 3 inches from row "Broken bands" - 18 inches along each plant on both sides of row, three inches away "Broadcast" = Broadcast and harro?;ed in "Drilled in Row" - Placed in rows and plants placed on top When 35 units of potash were applied 12 units were first applied, followed by 12 and 11 units at two other periods during the growing season. 23, TABLE XIII The Caloiim Content of the Placement Plots at Roseville, Pennsylvania Plot Number ^ Oalcium Plot Number % Oaloium lA 3.25 8A 3.37 IB 3.80 8B 3.92 10 3.85 80 3.37 2A 3.38 9A 3.30 2B 3.51 9B 3.87 20 3.28 90 3.81 3A 3.47 lOA 3,67 3B 3.52 lOB 3.63 30 4.08 100 3.40 4A 3.44 llA 3.70 4B 3.62 IIB 3.56 j 40 3.37 110 3.73 \ 5A 3.20 12A 3.69 5B 3.37 12B 4.10 50 3.30 120 4.30 6A 3.87 13A 4,07 6B 3.81 13B 4.12 60 3.67 130 3.29 7A 3.63 14A 3.43 7B 3.40 14B 3.70 70 3.62 140 3.74 24t TABLE XIV Observations on the Outlaying Plots given Fertilizer Treatraent A'*', on Farms in Lancaster County Farmer King, S* Stoltzfus Bowl, S. King, J* Bare Reifsnyder Hoover, J. Witman, £• Ranck, C* Mellinger Stoltzfus, J. Summers, S* Skiles, D* Barley, V# Good, E. Pomroning Umble Stoltzfus, I. Wildfire infection Low Medium Medium Medium Medium Mediimi Low Low Low Medium Medium Low Low High Medium Medium High Medium Mineral constituents of the leaf air dry basis Nitropien Potassium Calcitm 3.47 5.20 2.52 3.18 5.14 2.89 3.08 3.25 2.77 4.91 4.25 2.85 3.46 3.92 2.70 3.03 4.77 2.80 4.02 2.34 2.95 3.71 3.99 3.15 4.51 3.16 3.78 4.52 4.78 3.07 3.35 3.85 3.35 3.56 2.47 2.96 3.08 3.07 3.01 3.72 1.89 3.34 3.47 2.80 3.26 2.57 3.50 3.16 3.70 2.44 3.12 3.14 2.51 3.27 ^Fertilizer treatment A = 825 pounds Cottonseed meal 2600 pounds Bone meal 1800 pounds Potassium sulfate 275 pounds KITO5 Total 5500 pounds 700 pounds applied per acre 25, TABLE XV Observations on the Outlaying Plots given Treatment B*, on Farms in Lancaster County Farmer Wildfire Mineral constituents on "the infection leaf air dry baslj 3 Nitrogen Potassium "Salcium King, E. Low 3.59 4.61 2.50 Stoltzfus, L. Medium 3.21 4.81 2.46 Bowl, 3. Low 2.53 4.18 2.39 Bare Low 3.46 3.12 2.53 Reifsnyder Medium 4.15 3.35 2.80 Hoover, J# Low 4.18 2.52 2.95 Witman, E. Low 3.55 3.00 3.32 Mel linger Low 3.86 3.50 3.07 Stoltzfus, J. High 4.05 3.46 3.24 Summers Medium 3.70 2.86 2.94 Skiles Medium 2.99 3.10 2.87 Barley High 3.48 2.66 3.20 Pomroning Medi\ira 3.50 3.25 3.20 Umble High 3.62 2.35 3.70 Stoltzfus Medium 4.17 1.99 3.69 '•'Fertilizer treatment B 825 pounds Cottonseed meal 2600 pounds Bone meal 2600 pounds Potassium carbonate 275 pounds Potassium nitrate Total 6300 pounds 700 pounds applied per acre 26. TABLE XYI Average Values of the Calcium Content, Nitrogen-Calcium Ratios, Calcium-Nitrogen Ratios on the Three-and Four-Year Rotation Experiments Plots Average Average Calcium N/Ca Der cent Ratio Average Ga/K Ratio 4-year Rotation Nitrogen Series A 4-year Rotation Nitrogen Series B 4-year Rotation Potash Experiment 4-year Rotation Phosphorus Series A 4-year Rotation Phosphorus Series B 4-year Rotation Miscellaneous 4-year Rotation General Average 3-year Rotation 3-and 4-year Rotations 3.66 .80 .91 3.23 .73 .96 3.73 .73 .97 4.07 .80 .91 3.83 .75 1.22 3.95 .76 1.21 3.86 .76 1.06 3.81 .74 1.56 3.84 .75 1.31 27. -nc5~gr-SJ rj - -: 4. jj r tT 03 di f+- tp U-) ''f ri ri — cj c^~ft "rP TTTT ' ! y --lyCLjiJ J —• -*: I ' rn t+ III TV- jii: 1)0/ 0 06 fv Mi;- ' 1 1 I ''^. >l P/»k>( "^ rO OJ -*- rt-r pi - -i: ^ rf3 oj i,Mi!|ii:#Lii!'''|»-'^w