Harvesting and post-harvest management approaches for preserving cottonseed quality

Abstract

Uniform and vigorous stand establishment is one of the basic determinants for profitable cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production to fulfill the requirement of cotton and oil industries. However, low quality seed has been a major contribution to crop stand failure. Considering the whole cotton production line, quality seed is the virtue of good harvesting and post-harvest handling practices. In cotton growing zones of developing countries, picking early in the morning during humid weather carries excessive moisture and is prone to physical quality loss during the ginning process. Furthermore, conventional drying and storage modules inept to drying cottonseed effectively and is insufficient to preserve seed from ambient relative humidity (RH) fluctuations and therefore, cottonseed lose vigour and viability during storage. Alternatively, cottonseed picked during hot and dry weather is dry enough to endure physical abrasion during ginning and also sustain physical quality deterioration during processing. Advancements in post-harvest seed handling by introducing dry chain through hermetic storage can preserve cottonseed quality. Consequently, after harvesting seed quality can be procured for subsequent planting following improved drying and storage modules that ascertain a milestone towards seed security. This review elucidates to identify risks to cottonseed quality at harvesting and post-harvesting stages and helps to adopt management strategies to cope these challenges.