Influence of mineral matter content on static burning rate of Virginia tobacco from different production areas in Serbia

• The influence of the minerals complex in Virginia tobacco, from different production areas, on static burning rate (SBR) value was determined.
• The most important factors for mineral matter content in tobacco leaves are soil pH, organic matter content in soil and vicinity of large industrial centers.
• A very strong positive correlation between the content of Ca and Pb, a positive correlation of Mg and Na, and a strong negative correlation of Cd and both SBR values has been found.
• It has been established a very strong positive correlation (r = 0.88, p < 0.01), between SBRl and SBRm values.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of particular element of the minerals complex in Virginia tobacco, from different production areas, on value of static burning rate (SBR). Large leaf tobacco, type Virginia from five production areas in Serbia during year 2013, was used as a research material. Mineral content was determined by the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Static burning rate was determined by the device Free Burning Rate Meter.Resulthad confirmed that the most important factors for mineral matter content in tobacco leaves are soil pH, organic matter content in soil and vicinity of large industrial centers. A very strong positive correlation between the content of Ca and Pb, a positive correlation of Mg and Na, and a strong negative correlation of Cd and both SBR values has been found.Virginia tobacco type grown at Senta area had the highest values for both speeds of combustion (4.99 mm/min for SBRl and 69.97 mg/min for SBRm). Virginia tobacco type grown at Sremska Mitrovica area had the lowest values for both speeds of combustion (3.95 mm/min for SBRl and 49.11 mg/min for SBRm).