Effects of Loading Modes on Leaf Quality and Benefits of Bulk Cured Tobacco

To optimize loading mode and enlarge the advantage of tobacco bulk curing, the leaf apparent quality, sensory quality, economic characters and energy cost were comparatively studied under three loading modes, A: loose leaf mode (leaves held in the baskets); B: clamp mode (leaves held in the clamps), and C: pole mode (leaves weaved on the poles). The results showed that the proportion of orange leaves of B model was 11.11% higher than that of C mode, and the ratio of variegated leaves of A mode was obviously lower than that of B and C modes. Both the sensory quality of A mode and that of B mode were higher than that of C mode. Both the proportion of middle and high-class leaves and the average leaf price of A mode were the best. Meanwhile, the energy cost of B mode was the lowest. The benefit of B mode was the best considering both economic characters and energy cost. Therefore, the clamp mode may replace the traditional pole mode and loose leaf curing has the highest potential application in future.