The influence of row unit settings and ground speed of modern spindle-type harvesters on cotton fibre and seed quality

Abstract

A large study was conducted during the 2015 growing season in Australia using a modern spindle-type cotton harvester. The aim of this trial was to establish the influence of ground speed, compressor plate pressure setting, and scrapping plates on fibre and seed quality. Fibre quality was measured by HVI, AFIS PRO, and Cottonscope, and seed quality was assessed for mechanical damage and residual lint by industry-approved methods. This study concluded that although mechanical seed damage fell within the acceptable range, the level of mechanical damaged seed increased slightly with the addition of scrapping plates and as the front and back compressor plate pressure settings were increased. In terms of fibre quality, the study observed that ground speed had little or no effect on fibre quality. However, the addition of scrapping plates, on the back compressor plate, resulted in a weak positive but statistically significant relationship in terms of strength, fineness and colour resulting in an improvement of one colour grade .