Abstract: To promote the healthy and sustainable development of soil and crops in tobacco- rice rotation region in southern Anhui, the optimal cultivating years of tobacco-rice rotation is discussed by studying the effect of different cultivating years (1 year, 3 years and 7 years) on yield, quality and chemical components of tobacco leaves. Results showed that: compared with 1 year tobacco-rice rotation, 3 years tobacco-rice rotation significantly increased the incidence of bacterial wilt, decreased the yield of tobacco leaves, and the output value of tobacco leaves decreased significantly by 12%, therefore, significantly reduced the economic benefits of tobacco planting. Moreover, 7 years tobacco-rice rotation significantly decreased the total sugar of tobacco leaves, while increased the nicotine, therefore, decreased the coordination of chemical components in tobacco leaves and the sensory quality. Furthermore, the total sugar content and sweetness of tobacco leaf decreased significantly in 3 years tobacco-rice rotation. Comprehensively considering yield and quality of tobacco leaves, and the economic benefits, successive tobacco-rice rotation should not be more than 3 years. The optimal cultivating years of tobacco-rice rotation should be one or two years to get high quality of tobacco leaves and high economic benefits for tobacco planting.