Effects of Tobacco Leaf Loading Method on Curing in Bulk Curing Barn

In order to investigate the measures of saving labor force and energy during the development of tobacco agricultural modernization, the experiment of loading tobacco leaf was conducted with four treatments (traditional loading leaf with pole, loose-leaf accumulation, loose-leaf with frame, and loading leaf with clip). The results showed that three methods of loading leaf (loose-leaf accumulation, loose-leaf with frame, and loading leaf with clip) decreased significantly the cost of labor force and energy during curing when compared with the method of traditional loading leaf. The cost of labor force of loading and unloading leaf, coal, and electricity decreased respectively over 70%, 18%, and 10%. In addition, the difference of the economic characters, appearance qualities and contents of chemical components of curing leaves between different treatments was inconspicuous.