A method to improve cotton fiber length measurement for laboratory analysis

Abstract

Cotton fiber length is an essential parameter for the cotton industry and cotton research. However, differences between industry- and laboratory-scale ginning may lead to inconsistencies between research and industry results for measured length. Seedcotton from farms is processed in large industry-scale gins, while researchers typically use small laboratory-scale gins. The proposed method successfully reduces the differences in fiber length parameters between these two types of ginning. Only one new step is needed before assessing fiber quality in lint from a laboratory-scale gin to simulate the processing effect of an industry-scale gin.•Cotton seeds and lint are separated from seedcotton with a laboratory-scale gin.•Lint is post-processed with a laboratory-scale lint cleaner, the micro dust and trash analyzer 3.•The length fiber quality profile resembles the results of industry-scale ginned samples.