Analysis of the dominant climatic factors influencing the chemical compositions of flue-cured tobacco in different tobacco-growing areas

In this study, 12 counties in 7 provinces of Chinese main tobacco production areas were divided into south and north tobacco growing zones according to geographic orientation and latitude differences. Correlation and stepwise multiple regression between main chemical compositions of tobacco leaves and climate factors in different stages during the growing season in different tobacco-growing areas were performed under the same cultivation conditions. The results showed that there were significant correlation between chemical compositions of tobacco leaves and climatic factors in the north, but not in the south. There were more climatic factors affecting chemical compositions of tobacco leaves in the north than in the south. The relationships between tobacco chemical constitutions and different weather factors differed at different stages in the south and north tobacco growing areas. The dominant climate factors also varied. In general, the dominant climatic factors influencing the chemical compositions of tobacco leaves were relative humidity, diurnal temperature range and 10cm soil temperature in the north tobacco growing area, but were sun shine duration and rainfall in the south tobacco growing areas.