Author
 |
Anthony, William |
|
Submitted to: Applied Engineering in Agriculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 6/7/1996 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Consumer demand for higher quality textile products coupled with changing textile processes and efforts to reduce manufacturing costs, clearly indicate the need for higher quality cotton as the initial raw product. New varieties and production practices at the farm level also require that cleaning processes at the gin be designed to meet the needs of the cotton rather than a universal cleaning treatment. To meet this need, studies were conducted to establish the impact of various combinations of cleaning machines on the monetary value of cotton as well as the fiber properties important in current textile mills. Results clearly indicate that the cleaning sequence for each bale of cotton must be prescribed online at the gin. Following these recommendations in an automated fashion will maximize the monetary value of each bale of cotton and ensure that the fiber properties desired by the textile industry are available. Increased value to the farmer will be as much as $50 per bale and will average about $18 per bale. Technical Abstract: Studies involving moisture, trash, machine and types of cotton were conducted to assess their impact on market value and fiber properties after processing with various gin machine sequences. Selecting the optimum machine sequences increased monetary values for Study 1 from $12.22 to $20.85/bale and averaged $16.72/bale. Bale values ranged from $357.13 for the standard machine sequence for DPL 50 to $404.10 for the extractor- feeder gin stand only sequence with DPL 50. Monetary returns for Study 2 ranged from $312.63 for DES 119 at medium moisture to $425.92 for Stoneville 132 at medium moisture for the same optimum machine sequence. Monetary increases ranged from $10.58 to $46.70 and averaged $29.06 per bale. The predominate sequence for the hairy-leaf cottons was stick machine, extractor-feeder and gin stand, and two lint cleaners. The smooth leaf cottons required fewer cleaning machines to maximize monetary returns and also provided higher returns than did hairy-leaf cottons. For both studies, fewer machines than are currently recommended were the most profitable and most of the other fiber quality factors were more desirable. Since different sequences were required to optimize monetary returns, process monitoring and control systems must be used to maximize profits. |
