Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Cotton Structure and Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #222487
Title: PRELIMINARY EVALUATIONS OF MICRONAIRE MEASUREMENTS BY NEAR INFRARED (NIR) SPECTROSCOPY FOR FIELD APPLICATIONS

Author
item Rodgers Iii, James
item Davidonis, Gayle
item MARTIN, VIKKI - COTTON INCORPORATED
item WATSON, MIKE - COTTON INCORPORATED

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2008
Publication Date: 4/25/2008
Citation: Rodgers III, J.E., Davidonis, G.H., Martin, V., Watson, M. 2008. Preliminary evaluations of micronaire measurements by near infrared (nir) spectroscopy for field applications. Proceedings of National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conferences. p. 1441-1446. . Meeting Proceedings.

Interpretive Summary: Micronaire is a key quality and processing parameter for cotton fiber. The most common measurement of micronaire is a laboratory air resistance measurement with the Uster® High Volume Instrument (HVI). A program was implemented to determine the capabilities of bench-top and portable Near Infrared (NIR) instrumentation to monitor cotton fiber micronaire and its component fiber properties (maturity/maturity ratio, fineness) and to determine the ability of advanced portable instrumentation to monitor critical cotton fiber properties of breeder samples in the field. Comparative studies on optimum laboratory instrumental settings were performed. For laboratory measurements, one instrument setting was shown to be the best overall portable NIR method for fiber micronaire, and it was implemented for all portable laboratory micronaire measurements. The NIR measurement was fast and easy to perform. Field trials for micronaire on cotton bolls were successfully performed in 4 fields in Louisiana and Mississippi. Two field sampling systems were developed. Distinct micronaire differences were detected between cotton varieties and bolls with known micronaire differences.

Technical Abstract: Micronaire is a key quality and processing parameter for cotton fiber. The most common measurement of micronaire is a laboratory air resistance measurement with the Uster® High Volume Instrument (HVI). A program was implemented 1) to determine the capabilities of bench-top and portable Near Infrared (NIR) instrumentation to monitor cotton fiber micronaire and its component fiber properties (maturity/maturity ratio, fineness) and 2) to determine the ability of advanced portable instrumentation to monitor critical cotton fiber properties of breeder samples in the field. Comparative studies on optimum laboratory instrumental settings were performed. For laboratory measurements, the 400 Scans/Gain = 2/Glass Head condition was shown to be the best overall portable NIR method for fiber micronaire, and it was implemented for all portable laboratory micronaire measurements. The NIR measurement was fast (< 5 minutes per sample) and easy to perform. Field trials for micronaire on cotton bolls were successfully performed in 4 fields in Louisiana and Mississippi. Two field sampling systems were developed. Distinct micronaire differences were detected between cotton varieties and bolls with known micronaire differences.