Classification Of Quality-based Flue-cured Tobacco Regions In Dali Municipality Of Yunnan Province

Classification of quality- based tobacco regions in Dali was developed for the purpose of advancing the tobacco quality and directional development in different ecological regions. General and key point investigation on tobacco quality was made in Dali. Based on the intuitive analysis and statistical analysis of the natural ecological condition including local climate, soil types etc, and the quality status including physical quality, chemical components, tasting quality, smoke components, pesticide residue etc, it was determined that utilizing purpose, quality grade, sugar and K2O content of tobacco was used as the index classifying the tobacco quality types. According to the index, Dali was classified into 5 regions of quality types: middle-north plateau region producing general tobacco in quality; west-south mountainous region producing middle- high-class flavoring tobacco with middle sugar content; east-south hillside region producing high-middle class flavoring tobacco with high K2O content; valley region with drought and hot climate and east plateau region producing high-middle class flavoring tobacco. The classified results were proved by the data from field test and general investigation, and the participatory method by combining questionary with direct ranking. Based on the classified results, the suggestion about the improvement of tobacco quality and the direction of product development was made. It was pointed out that the main reason limited planting scale of tobacco in the regions producing favoring tobacco was the soil shortage and the bad condition of irrigation.