The current risk of PPO herbicide-resistant Amaranthus palmeri creates a need for additional herbicides in tobacco production. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate flue-cured tobacco tolerance to S-metolachlor applied Pre-Transplant Incorporated (PTI) and Pre-Transplant without incorporation (PRE-T) at 1.07 (1X) and 2.14 (2X) kg ai/ha. A non-treated control was included for comparison. Severe injury (65-78%) and yield reduction was observed in Whiteville when S-metolachlor was applied PTI, and was greatest at the 2X rate. At Kinston, PTI applications were less injurious than PRE-T at layby (30 and 53%, respectively). Application rate also influenced injury and yield, with both factors being more negatively affected by the 2X rate. Visual injury and reductions in stalk height, yield, or value were not observed in three other environments. Overall, it appears tobacco injury potential from S-metolachlor is greatly increased in coarse soil textures and high early-season precipitation. To minimize growth reduction and plant injury, application rates lower than 1.07 kg/ha may be required in these scenarios. Further research is warranted to test this hypothesis. (Reprinted with permission)