Flue-cured tobacco growers in the USA are constantly seeking more efficient production practices which reduce production costs without adversely affecting leaf quality. Less expensive but commonly available liquid N sources derived from urea and ammonium nitrate have not been evaluated as sidedress N sources for tobacco because of their relatively high ammonium N contents and, until recently, the lack of suitable application equipment by farmers. However, if leaf quality can be maintained, possible advantages over traditional dry sidedress fertilizers include: 1) lower fertilizer costs, 2) faster application, 3) less early season leaching of N, and 4) possible tankmixing of certain pesticides with the liquid N sources. In 12 experiments conducted in North Carolina in 1996-1998, a traditional dry, basal NPK fertilizer containing approximately equal proportions of ammonium and nitrate N was band applied at or within 7 days after transplanting, followed 10-14 days later by application of a traditional dry sidedress fertilizer containing 100% nitrate N (control) or by several formulations and application methods of the liquid N sources containing only 20% nitrate N. Early growth was not affected by N source and yield, visual quality, and reducing sugar/total alkaloid concentrations of cured leaves were similar for all treatments. Generally, yield and quality differences between surface and deep band application were not obtained, although yields for broadcast application tended to be lower than those for band application. Delaying incorporation of surface applied treatments for 36 to 48 hrs after application did not affect any of the agronomic and chemical parameters measured, indicating that N losses by volatilization were not substantial. In two 1997 tests, band application of the liquid N sources slightly reduced soil pH measured in the row ridge 5-6 weeks after application compared to sodium nitrate banded at the same N rate. In 1998, addition of metalaxyl and/or imidacloprid to the liquid N sources did not cause plant/root phytotoxicity, but precipitation with imidacloprid sometimes occurred. Several experiments to evaluate efficacy of imidacloprid on target pests when tank mixed with one or more of the liquid N sources are being conducted in 1999.