An experiment was designed to determine the quality deterioration of burley tobacco due to low drying rate, i.e., excessive humidity during the cure. Support price was used as an indication of quality. The period of exposure to slow drying conditions varied in length and stage of application during the cure. Three temperatures (50, 65, 80°F), two humidities (80, 90%) and six periods of exposure (0, 48, 96, 144, 192, 240 hrs.) were applied during the initial stage and yellow stage of cure. When not exposed to an adverse environment, the tobacco was cured at near optimum conditions. A prediction equation was determined for each stage of application. The results showed that most of the decline in support price occurred at 90% RH. The decline in support price was as much as 9¢/lb at 50°, 90% during the initial stage of cure and 8¢/lb at 65¢, 90% during the yellow stage.

(Full article published with kind permission from "Tobacco International")