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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Cotton Production and Processing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #283811
Title: Evaluating cotton stripper field performance

Author
item PORTER, WESLEY - Oklahoma State University
item Wanjura, John
item TAYLOR, RANDAL - Oklahoma State University
item BUSER, MICHAEL - Oklahoma State University

Submitted to: Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers International (ASABE)
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/20/2012
Publication Date: 8/20/2012
Citation: Porter, W.M., Wanjura, J.D., Taylor, R.K., Buser, M.D. 2012. Evaluating cotton stripper field performance. In: Proceedings of the 2012 American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) International Meeting, July 29-August 1, 2012, Dallas, TX. Paper No. 12-1338355.

Interpretive Summary: Stripper harvesters are used extensively in Texas and Oklahoma to harvest cotton crops. Harvest costs account for a large portion of the total budget required to produce a cotton crop. This work was conducted to provide information to producers on power requirements and fuel consumption associated with stripper harvesting. Data were collected from a modern cotton stripper while harvesting cotton under commercial production conditions. The data indicate that the power required to operate a stripper harvester is a function of harvesting speed and harvested material mass flow rate. The data from this study may be used to update existing ASABE standards on machinery management for cotton production and harvesting.

Technical Abstract: Cotton strippers are used primarily in the Southern High Plains due to the specific cotton varieties grown. Typically, cotton strippers cost about two-thirds the price of a cotton picker and range from one-half to one-fourth the horsepower. A cotton stripper also has a higher field and harvesting efficiency than a cotton picker under low yield conditions. Data collected during this study includes fuel consumption, engine speed, ground speed, relative yield, and peripheral machine parameters. ASAE D497.7 indicates that the rotary power requirement for a cotton stripper is a function of width only. The collected data does not include engine horsepower, however, the data shows a correlation of fuel usage based on an estimated crop material (cotton) follow rate, indicating that power requirement is a function of cotton flow rate. The data collected to date suggests that cotton flowing throughout the harvester impacts fuel consumption, suggesting that the ASAE D497.7 may need to be updated to include the effect of crop yield on the rotary power requirement. Additional data will need to be collected to validate these preliminary findings.