Author
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McAlister Iii, David |
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Submitted to: Applied Engineering in Agriculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 2/6/2001 Publication Date: 11/1/2001 Citation: McAlister III, D.D. 2001. Comparison of ultra-narrow row and conventionally grown cottons. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. Vol 17(6):737-741. Interpretive Summary: A study comparing the spinning and processing performance of ultra-narrow and conventionally grown cottons was conducted at the Cotton Quality Research Station of the USDA. The objective was to determine if textile mill performance would be impacted by the use of ultra-narrow row cottons which are stripper harvested and generally considered to contain more foreign matter in the ginned lint. Ginning for the ultra-narrow cottons wa increased to include two lint cleaners and two stick machines. Significant differences were found in high volume instruments measurements such that lower uniformity index, lower micronaire, and higher color reflectance were exhibited by the ultra-narrow row cottons. In addition, advanced fiber information system measurements indicate a significant increase in neps for the ultra-narrow row cottons. Typically, stripper harvested cottons are spun on open-end (OE) spinning machines. In utilizing typically mill processing and O.E. spinning, no significant differences were found in total mill processing and spun yarn quality. With ultra-narrow row planting technology offering cost savings to the U. S. farmer, this study provides information on the ability of the users of cotton to effectively manufacture the lint into yarn.The successful manufacture of yarn from the lint allows ultra-narrow row cotton to be a viable alternative to conventionally grown cottons for the U. S. farmer. Technical Abstract: An experiment involving ultra-narrow row and conventionally grown cottons was performed during the 1998 crop year. Fiber properties, yarn properties and processing performance in the Pilot Spinning Laboratory were studied to determine if these two growing methods result in significantly different cottons with respect to properties important in textile utilization. Nine farms participated in the experiment, each planting a selected variety in both conventional and ultra-narrow rows. The conventionally grown cottons were ginned using standard procedures for spingle-harvested cotton. Gin cleaning was increased for the ultra-narrow row cottons, which were stripper-harvested, to produce the same grade as the conventionally grown cottons. Analysis of the experimental results indicate that differences exist between ultra-narrow row and conventionally grown cottons; however, the differences were likely influenced by the gin machinery sequences used The quality measurements used normally in marketing and utilization accoun for most of the differences observed in yarn and processing quality. |
