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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #129190
Title: MEASUREMENT OF COTTON BALE MOISTURE CONTENT AFTER MOISTURE RESTORATION

Author
item Byler, Richard
item GALYON, MICHAEL - ZELLWEGER USTER, INC.
item Anthony, William

Submitted to: Transactions of the ASAE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/10/2002
Publication Date: 4/3/2003
Citation: BYLER, R.K., GALYON, M.E., ANTHONY, W.S. MEASUREMENT OF COTTON BALE MOISTURE CONTENT AFTER MOISTURE RESTORATION. TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERS. 2003. 19(1):99-104

Interpretive Summary: Cotton is typically harvested with less than the desired final moisture content and gins may dry the cotton further to enhance cleaning. Many cotton gins add moisture to lint near the end of processing just before it is packaged in order to reduce compression force requirements. Because of recent improvements in the equipment used to add moisture to lint, the need dto control moisture addition has increased. The purpose of this project was to examine a method of measuring the moisture content of cotton lint after the moisture was added which was based on measuring the resistance of lint made before the moisture addition and in the bale press. Results showed that the moisture content predicted using the measurements agreed with moisture content determined by drying the samples in an oven to within 1/4 of a percent. Implementation of the technology will prevent damage to the cotton and also increase farmer profits.

Technical Abstract: Proper control of moisture restored to ginned lint before it is baled in commercial gins requires accurate moisture sensors. In this study, two resistance-based moisture content indicators were used; one located before moisture was added and the other after moisture was added with humidified air. Regression relationships that predicted the moisture content of samples measured by the oven method within +/- 0.24% were developed. The algorithm was verified using additional data collected at a later date.