Abstract: By analyzing the nutrient indexs of 3 401 soil samples collected from the main tobacco-producing areas of Hubei province in 2012, and comparing with the relevant data in 2002, the soil fertility status and its evolution characteristics in the tobacco-growing areas of Hubei province were studied. The results showed that the average soil pH in tobacco-producing areas of Hubei province in 2012 was 6.2, belonging to the weak acid level. The average contents of soil organic matter was 24.5 g/kg, and the average contents of soilalkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium were 147.6, 36.9 and 239.1 mg/kg, respectively, and the soil organic matter content was moderate, while soil alkaline nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium were high to abundant levels; Compared with 2002, the soil pH in the tobacco-producing areas of Hubei province showed no significant change except that in Enshi city, but the acid area increased; Soil organic matter decreased in different degrees, especially in the tobacco-producing areas of Shiyan city. In 2012, soil available phosphorus and available potassium increased significantly, which was 115.3% and 57.7% higher than that in 2002. The average values of soil exchangeable calcium, available zinc and available copper in different tobacco areas of Hubei province in 2012 were 2 105.3 mg/kg, 1.6 mg/kg and 1.1 mg/kg, respectively, which are all at a high level, while soil water-soluble chlorine and soil water-soluble boron were relatively low, and the average values are 9.8 mg/kg and 0.4 mg/kg, respectively. It can be seen that in the future production of tobacco, the application of boron fertilizer and chlorine fertilizer should be carried out scientifically and rationally according to the soil fertility conditions.

Key words: Hubei province, soil of tobacco-growing area, fertility status, evolution characteristic