Location: Cotton Production and Processing Research
Project Number: 3096-21410-009-023-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Apr 1, 2025
End Date: Mar 31, 2030
Objective:
Our work is focused on accomplishment of main project objectives 3 and 4:
3. Evaluate agronomic and environmental implications, and technical performance of the UNIFY harvest and post-harvest logistics system for the six diverse crops (specifically cotton).
4. Evaluate storage and preprocessing performance of UNIFY bales for feed, fiber and feedstock.
Approach:
Design and establish field trials: Field trials will be conducted in years 2-4 to evaluate the performance of the UNIFY harvest system and conventional cotton harvesters. Replicated field plots will be grown to allow for the formation of large whole plant and conventionally harvested cotton modules. Each plot will be at least 45 ft wide by 300 ft long to enable at least three passes of of each harvester per field plot. Crop production practices common for irrigated cotton in the Southern High Plains will be used to produce the cotton. Prior to trial initiation, we will assess baseline soil nutrient levels and amend soils as needed to ensure non-limiting soil pH and nutrient levels. Nitrogen fertilizer will be applied based on crop specific recommended practices, and pests will be managed to minimize their impact on yield and quality. We will monitor trials weekly to assess crop progression and ensure that the proper harvest stage is achieved.
Storage and pre-processing of cotton for textile fiber: 12 cotton modules (6 each from UNIFY and conventional stripper harvesters) will be stored at the USDA-ARS Cotton Production and Processing Research Unit, Lubbock, TX with tarp covers for one month, the typical average lead time between cotton harvest and ginning. These modules will then be pre-cleaned using a pre-cleaning system that is currently being developed as part of a USDA project. Then the seed cotton separated from the cotton residue will be processed in a commercial-scale cotton gin. Ginning trash and lint cleaner motes will be recovered from all pre-cleaning machines, including the extractor feeder, and cottonseed will be discharged by the gin stand. Seed cotton samples will be taken before and after storage and pre-cleaning for moisture measurement, fractionation, and fiber analysis. Clean lint samples will be analyzed by HVI (High Volume Instrument) and AFIS (Advanced Fiber Information System) to measure micronaire, fiber length, uniformity, strength, elongation, fineness and maturity, short fiber content, seed coat fragments, fiber and seed coat neps, color, trash and dust content. Moisture content, residual lint and mechanical damage will be determined for cotton seed. The trash will be evaluated as bioproduct-feedstock.