Effects of climatic conditions on yield components and main chemical constituents of tobacco in Nanxiong, Guangdong Province

Objective To study effects of climatic factors on yield components and chemical compositions of tobacco in Nanxiong, Guangdong Province.

Method This research employed data survey, correlation analysis, and regression analysis to study the relationship between main climate factors (temperature, sunshine and rainfall) in Nanxiong and tobacco yield components, chemical compositions.

Result The tobacco leaf yield and its components were mainly affected by rainfall, followed by sunshine hours and temperature. The mass per leaf of the top or bottom leaves and the yield ratio of the bottom and middle leaves were positively correlated with temperature at mature stage, sunshine hour in late May, and rainfall in vigorous growing stage and early April. The amounts of reducing sugar and potassium ions, the ratios of total nitrogen to total nicotine, and reducing sugar to total sugar of the top leaves were significantly correlated with air temperature and sunshine hour. For the middle leaves, the amounts of total sugar, reducing sugar and potassium ions were significantly positively correlated with sunshine hour; the ratio of total nitrogen to total nicotine was significantly negatively correlated with rainfall in late May; the ratio of reducing sugar to total sugar was significantly positively correlated with rainfall in late March and rainfall in early June.

Conclusion It is feasible to change the climate conditions in the field of flue-cured tobacco by adjusting the transplanting time, and thus to regulate the yield components and chemical constituents of tobacco leaves in production.