Influence of Seed Cotton Extractor Cleaners and Cleaning Rate on Gin Turnout and Fiber Quality

Abstract

Southern High Plains cotton has improved over the last ten years with regard to yield and HVI fiber quality. Harvesting and ginning practices are needed which preserve fiber quality and maximize return to the producer. The objective of this work is to investigate the influence of harvest method, number of seed cotton extractor cleaners (e.g. stick machines), and seed cotton cleaning rate on foreign matter content, lint turnout, bale value, and fiber and yarn quality. Picker harvested cotton contained less foreign matter than stripper harvested cotton which affected differences by harvest method for total foreign matter removed by the stick machines, total foreign matter removed during the ginning process, and lint turnout. The use of two stick machines removed more foreign material from seed cotton than using only one and more foreign material was removed by the stick machines at slower seed cotton cleaning rates. Total stick machine seed cotton loss was higher for seed cotton cleaning systems utilizing two stick machines but was unaffected by harvest method or seed cotton cleaning rate. Seed cotton cleaning system efficiency was greater for stripper harvested cotton and when two stick machines were used but seed cotton cleaning rate had no effect. Fiber quality was influenced most by harvest method where picker harvested cotton exhibited improved HVI and AFIS fiber quality parameters compared to stripper harvested cotton. The use of two stick machines improved fiber reflectance and yellowness properties and reduced lint foreign matter content. Seed cotton cleaning rate had a minimal effect on fiber quality. Total bale values were higher for picker harvested cotton but were not influenced by the number of stick machines used or seed cotton cleaning rate. Bale values for picker cotton decreased between one and two stages of lint cleaning while stripper harvested bale values increased. Yarn imperfections were reduced for ring spun yarn produced from picker harvested cotton processed through one stick machine at the high cleaning rate. The findings of this work support the current recommendations of using one stick machine in seed cotton cleaning systems processing picker harvested cotton and two stick machines in systems processing stripper harvested cotton.