Location: Cotton Structure and Quality Research
Project Number: 6054-44000-080-014-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2022
End Date: Nov 30, 2022
Objective:
To quantify the role of non-lint content in variability of High-Volume Instrument (HVI) measurements and perform qualitative analysis on non-lint content to determine the role of specific non-lint content types in altering HVI measurements.
Approach:
ARS will provide data from HVI tests of mechanically cleaned cotton and cotton samples which have been constructed with known types and quantities of non-lint content. A detailed mathematical analysis of the HVI results for length, strength, micronaire, and elongation for mechanically cleaned and non-lint content containing samples will be performed. Data from samples constructed using known varieties and known non-lint content type and quantity will allow for model development. Analysis of the data will consider the role of dead leaves, cotton burr, fine trash, and seed coat fragments. Quantitative thresholds and qualitative considerations will be established to provide a basis for consideration of the role of non-lint content in altering HVI quality measurements of cotton fiber.
Data will cover not only known non-lint types (four) and quantities (five levels minimum), but will also cover three levels of intrinsic fiber quality, as determined by fiber length. Samples will be selected to provide three levels of micronaire within each of the three length categories. USDA cotton classing results will be used to identify the candidate samples which will be selected on the basis of the desired fiber qualities and low non-lint content as represented by the leaf grade. Data will be collected before mechanical process, after mechanical cleaning, and after the blending of known levels and types of non-lint content into the samples.
