The influence of rate and timing of mineral N fertilisation on leaf colour changes during curing of Burley tobacco were studied in an experimental layout comprising the combinations of three N rates (100-200-300 kg/ha) by three schedules (NTAT, totally at transplanting; NT40D, totally at 40 days after transplanting; NSPL, 1/3 at transplanting and 2/3 at 40 days after transplanting). Observations were taken with a colorimeter daily for 15 days and then at week intervals for a further month on 20-leaf samples and expressed in the CIE Lab scale. The general trend was similar for parameters L* and b*, which besides showed a strong linear correlation, increasing for the first five days of curing and then decreasing to initial levels by the seventh day and further down thereafter, stabilizing by the 11th day. Parameter a* increased steadily throughout the curing time from negative to positive values, also stabilizing by the 11th day. Significant N rate x schedule interactions were found for all color parameters. Both L* and b* tended to be higher for the NTAT schedule at lower N rates and lower at the highest rate in comparison with the other schedules. The NSPL schedule showed higher L*, but lower b* values than the NT40D at the lower N rates and comparable values at the highest rate. Differences between the NTAT schedule, on one side, and the NSPL and the NT40D, on the other, were reversed for parameter a*, which was higher for NTAT at the extreme N rates.