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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #159627
Title: MICROBIAL CENSUS AND COTTON BALE MOISTURE DURING A 6-MONTH STORAGE

Author
item Chun, David
item McAlister Iii, David
item Hughs, Sidney
item COBB, DEAN - I.T.T.

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/5/2004
Publication Date: 4/28/2004
Citation: Chun, D.T., McAlister III, D.D., Hughs, S.E., Cobb, D.R. Microbial census and cotton bale moisture during a 6-month storage. Beltwide Cotton Conferences, National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN. 2004. p. 2425-2431.

Interpretive Summary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

Technical Abstract: AS PART OF AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION, A CORROBORATIVE STUDY WAS DONE TO FOLLOW FIBER QUALITY, MOISTURE CONTENT AND MICROBIAL POPULATION CHANGES FOR 1-, 2- AND 6-MONTH STORAGE PERIODS IN COTTON BALES WITH HIGH MOISTURE CONTENTS. THE TARGET MOISTURE CONTENTS WERE 6% (CONTROL/AMBIENT MOISTURE CONTENT), 8%, 10% AND 12%. AFTER 2- AND 6-MONTHS, THE MOISTURE CONTENT DID NOT CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THE INITIAL MOISTURE CONTENT AT 1-MONTH STORAGE. THE HIGH MOISTURE CONTENT BALES LOST MOISTURE AFTER 6-MONTHS STORAGE WHILE THE THREE OTHER MOISTURE CONTENT BALES TENDED TO RETAIN THE SAME MOISTURE CONTENT. THE MICROBIAL POPULATIONS DID NOT CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY DURING 1 AND 2 MONTHS STORAGE, WHICH WERE COLDER WINTER MONTHS. THE GREATEST MICROBIAL CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH MOISTURE CONTENT OCCURRED AFTER 6 MONTHS OF STORAGE, WHICH TOOK PLACE DURING THE WARMER SPRING AND SUMMER MONTHS. OBSERVATIONS ON FIBER QUALITY ASSOCIATED WITH MOISTURE CONTENT ARE ADDRESSED.