Author
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Anthony, William |
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Submitted to: Cotton Gin and Oil Mill Press
Publication Type: Trade Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 1/19/2005 Publication Date: 8/20/2005 Citation: Anthony, W.S. 2005. Ginning research to enhance cotton fiber utilization. Cotton Gin and Oil Mill Press. Vol. 106(17): 5-9. Interpretive Summary: INTERPRETIVE SUMMARY NOT REQUIRED - PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED Technical Abstract: This report elucidates major research issues related to ginning that are needed to enhance the quality and utility of U.S. cotton. Three major areas are identified: Fiber-seed separation, moisture management, and lint cleaning. The saw-type gin stand aggressively removes tufts of fiber from the cottonseed, causing some fibers to break at less than their full length. Thus, new, less damaging technology for fiber-seed separation would greatly increase the utility of cotton fiber. Moisture management from harvesting through bale storage is critical to high quality cotton. Available moisture management technology should be used by farmers and ginners. However, better methods to measure the moisture of cotton bales are needed. Improved systems to restore needed moisture to fiber before fiber-seed separation are needed to maintain fiber length and minimize short fibers. Conventional saw-type lint cleaners clean cotton efficiently but damage the fiber; they also discard too much fiber with the foreign matter. New, less-damaging methods to clean fiber after fiber-seed separation are needed. Success in these three areas would greatly increase the utilization potential of cotton. |
