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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #421501
Research Project: Improving the Production and Processing of Western and Long-Staple Cotton and Companion Crops to Enhance Quality, Value, and Sustainability

Location: Cotton Ginning Research

Title: Cotton ginning rate prediction model development for commercial gins: Impact of variety, quality, and moisture content

Author
item Tumuluru, Jaya Shankar
item GOTTULA, JOHN - Sas Institute, Inc
item HIDALTO, MIGUEL - Sas Institute, Inc
item KING, JAY - Sas Institute, Inc
item BARNES, ED - Cotton, Inc
item ASHLEY, HARRISON - Cotton, Inc
item Whitelock, Derek
item FUNK, PAUL - Retired ARS Employee
item Holt, Gregory
item Wanjura, John
item Pelletier, Mathew
item THOMAS, JOE - Retired ARS Employee
item Delhom, Christopher

Submitted to: Journal of Cotton Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/29/2025
Publication Date: 6/24/2025
Citation: Tumuluru, J., Gottula, J., Hidalto, M.A., King, J., Barnes, E., Ashley, H., Whitelock, D.P., Funk, P.A., Holt, G.A., Wanjura, J.D., Pelletier, M.G., Thomas, J., Delhom, C.D. 2025. Cotton ginning rate prediction model development for commercial gins: Impact of variety, quality, and moisture content. Journal of Cotton Science. 29(2):95-112. https://doi.org/10.56454/QOHS1717.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56454/QOHS1717

Interpretive Summary: At U.S. cotton gins, ginning rate has been shown to be related to various fiber quality attributes. The varieties of cotton also play a role. From our studies, we've found that slower ginning rate was associated with extraneous matter and percentage of lint in a cotton tuft—often linked to smaller seeds and other factors like color are associated with improved ginning rate. We created parametric models to help predict the ginning rate (measured in bales per hour) based on these lint quality and variety characteristics, although the precision can vary. To make things easier for farmers and gin operators, a user-friendly ginning rate calculator was developed. This handy tool can help the ginners and farmers to understand the ginning rate for the cotton variety they are working with thereby justifying the variable ginning rates.

Technical Abstract: One of the most important factors impacting the profitability of a cotton ginning operation is the number of bales produced per hour, as higher ginning rates typically reduce energy and labor costs on a per bale basis. Data from eight commercial gins were used to evaluate the impact of incoming seed cotton attributes such as fiber quality measurements, moisture content, and variety on gin throughput. After normalizing the data by gin, time of year, and bale weight, models were developed to quantify the impact of fiber quality and seed cotton variety characteristics on ginning rate. Post-ginning lint quality attributes, such as extraneous matter, negatively influenced ginning rate. Higher micronaire values and reflectance corresponded to faster ginning rates, whereas increases in yellowness resulted in a decreased ginning rate. The interaction of reflectance and micronaire negatively affected ginning rate. Seed cotton variety characteristics included lint percentage and bract trichomes, which negatively influenced ginning rate, whereas fiber density positively influenced it. The study also indicated that ginning rate abruptly drops when seed cotton moisture content reaches an upper threshold. Additionally, the initial and final weeks of ginning have a slower ginning rate than the middle part of the ginning season. A ginning rate calculator was developed using models to predict ginning rate and justify variable ginning rates based on incoming seed cotton variety characteristics and lint properties.