Many burley tobacco producers are applying excessive rates of nitrogen fertilizer then supplementing the crop with foliar fertilizer. Field research was conducted at Lexington, KY and Springfield, TN to determine the optimum rate of incorporated nitrogen, determine if a benefit is realized from foliar fertilization, and to document the influence of the added nitrogen on nitrogenous compounds in burley tobacco. The experiment was initiated in 2000 using a RCB split-plot design with three replications. The main plot consisted of N-rate (200, 250, and 300 lbs N/ac) and the sub-plot consisted of an unsprayed check and 3 foliar fertilizer products applied according to product labels every two weeks post-transplanting. No statistical differences for yield were observed at either location for incorporated nitrogen or foliar applied fertilizer. In Springfield, TN for the 2001 crop year the three foliar products resulted in a significantly higher grade index than the check, but no increase in yield or income per acre. With the exception of nicotine, all other nitrogenous compounds tended to be higher with the 300 lb N/ac rate as compared to the 200 lb N/ac rate in 2000, however none of these differences were statistically different. In 2001 there were no statistical differences or trends observed in nitrogenous compounds. Based on current results there is no additional yield benefit in burley tobacco for nitrogen rates greater than 200 lb N/ac or the use of foliar fertilizer.