EFFECT OF DRYING MODE ON THE CHANGES OF VIRGINIA TOBACCO TYPE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

Abstract

Virginia type of tobacco is used in the highest percentage in the mixture for making cigarettes. Important factors for the formation of quality features of Virginia are environmental conditions of manufacturing but preferably the well regulated drying process. Drying of these tobacco types is performed in special dryers with controlled conditions (flue curing-FC). Since the price of energy source for drying process participate the greatest deal in total expenses during the production and processing of tobacco, the scope of the experiment was to determine the possibilities of drying tobacco in a natural condition (air curing-AC). Material for research the first-class middle leaves of Virginia tobacco type, variety Heveshi - 9, were produced in Vojvodina area (Srem - Maradik), vintage 2015. The experimental results showed that the way of drying affects the appearance and color of leaves, chemical characteristics of tobacco and duration of the drying process. Considerable differences of chemical composition between flue curing and air curing tobacco were found as follows (% in dry matter): 2.03 and 2.25 (nicotine), 1.80 and 2.73 (total N), 0.87 and 2.06 (protein N), 5.46 and 6.60 (total proteins), 19.39 and 1.96 (reducing sugars), 11.61 and 15.43 (ash), 1.48 and 8.91 (sand), 5.19 and 5.92 (pH), respectively. The leaves dried in natural condition (AC) had dark color (dark Virginia) and rough nervature. Although drying in a natural condition brings cost savings in energy, the process is longer by 24 days comparing to flue curing.