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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #124873
Title: IMPACT OF GINNING ON FIBER QUALITY: THE BEST GINNING PRACTICES

Author
item Anthony, William
item VAN DOORN, DONALD - LUMMUS CORPORATION
item EDWARDS, EARNEST - CONTINENTAL EAGLE CORP.
item PEARSON, TIMOTHY - COTTON CONSULTANT
item MALLOUM, IBRAHIM - COTONCHAD
item KECHAGIA, URANIA - COTTON & IND. PLANTS INST
item OZDEMIR, ISKENDER - PAMTEKS A.S.
item NYONI, DOUBT - COTTON CO. OF ZIMBABWE

Submitted to: International Cotton Advisory Committee Recorder
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/9/2001
Publication Date: 9/1/2001
Citation: Anthony, W.S., Van Doorn, D.W., Edwards, E., Pearson, T.J., Malloum, I., Kechagia, U., Ozdemir, I., Nyoni, D. 2001. Impact of ginning on fiber quality: the best ginning practices. International Cotton Advisory Committee Recorder. 27 p.

Interpretive Summary: Over 85 million bales of cotton are produced annually worldwide. These bales represent many different varieties of cotton produced under very different climatic conditions ranging from arid to humid and many very different cultural practices. For example, some countries hand-harvest while others are completely mechanized. Some countries use no cleaning and ddrying machinery while others use extensive machinery. These wide differences make it impossible to establish one set of ginning recommendations to describe the "best ginning practices" globally. This paper describes the best ginning practices as "those which meet the needs of the farmers and textile mills" regardless of production areas and cultural practices. Current production and ginning practices for the major cotton producing countries were identified and the functions of each type of commercial gin machinery and its impact on fiber quality were described. .This analysis enables farmers, ginners and merchants to view the cotton industry from a global perspective, and adopt and/or adapt the best ginning practices for their respective situations. A common understanding of the ginning practices worldwide should enhance the quality of cotton.

Technical Abstract: Cotton possesses its highest fiber quality and best potential for spinning when the bolls are mature and freshly opened. Cotton quality depends on many factors including variety, weather conditions, degree of weathering, cultural, harvesting and storage practices, moisture and trash content and ginning processes. Cotton gins are responsible for converting seed cotton into bulk cottonseed and bales of lint, and they can only preserve fiber quality. Varieties and excessive weathering have a far greater impact on fiber quality than do the most rigorous of gin processes. A single "best ginning practice" does not exist for all cottons--each lot of cotton requires careful assessment of its needs and ginning practices. In general, the following practices are recommended: 1) do not store seed cotton above 12% moisture, 2) do not expose cotton to temparatures above 350 degrees Farenheit, 3) gin at 6 to 7% fiber moisture, 4) use only the minimum machinery necessary for a particular cotton to achieve the desired market, 5) eliminate contamination, 6) package the cotton in a manner that provides long term protection, and 7) use new, proven technology to process cotton as well as to monitor and control fiber quality.