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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #249921
Title: The Effects of Three Module Types on Cotton Ginning and Fiber Quality

Author
item Byler, Richard
item WILLCUTT, M. - Mississippi State University
item BUSCHERMOHLE, M. - University Of Tennessee
item MAYFIELD, W. - Consultant
item BARNES, E. - Cotton, Inc

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2010
Publication Date: 4/30/2010
Citation: Byler, R.K., Willcutt, M.H., Buschermohle, M.J., Mayfield, W.D., Barnes, E.M. 2010. The Effects of Three Module Types on Cotton Ginning and Fiber Quality. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. CD ROM p. 645-656.

Interpretive Summary: Recently seed cotton has been stored in modules from the time it was harvested until it was ginned. These modules have been formed using additional equipment and operators. In an effort to improve the efficiency of cotton production by reducing the number of operators and equipment, two newer harvesters have been produced which form modules on the harvester. These modules are smaller than the traditional modules, one being an approximately half-sized rectangular module and the other with round cross section holding approximately one fourth the seed cotton of a traditional module. Data and samples were obtained at seven gins located in four states to determine if significant problems in ginning were related to the newer modules. Cotton degradation was observed after considerable rainfall when loose seed cotton was placed at the ends of modules and when modules were stored closer together than recommended by the manufacturers. Small differences in seed cotton moisture content and ginning rate between the module types were observed at several of the gins. Cotton lint quality measurements were obtained at one gin which had experienced considerable rainfall and small differences in color were related to the module type. The round modules had seed cotton with better moisture levels, lint with better color, and they were processed somewhat more rapidly by the gin than with the other module types. However, because the variety, growth conditions, and harvest conditions of the seed cotton was uncontrolled the differences observed were too small to be able to conclude that the use of the different module types caused the differences. If ginning problems were related to the module types they were relatively minor. The newer module types did not present any significant problems in ginning.

Technical Abstract: Traditionally seed cotton has been stored in modules from the time it was harvested until it was ginned. These modules have been formed using additional equipment and operators. In an effort to improve the efficiency of cotton production by reducing the number of operators and equipment, two newer harvesters have been introduced which form modules on the harvester. These modules are smaller than the traditional modules, one being an approximately half-sized rectangular module and the other having a round cross section holding approximately one fourth the seed cotton of a traditional module. Data and samples were obtained at seven gins located in four states to determine if significant problems in ginning were related to the newer modules. Cotton degradation was observed when loose seed cotton was placed at the ends of modules and when modules were stored closer together than recommended by the manufacturers. Small differences in seed cotton moisture content and ginning rate between the module types were observed at several of the gins. Bale classification data were obtained at one gin and small differences in color were related to the module type. The round modules produced seed cotton with better moisture levels, lint with better color, and they were processed somewhat more rapidly by the gin than with the other module types. However, because the variety, growth conditions, and harvest conditions of the seed cotton was uncontrolled between the modules the differences observed were too small to be able to conclude that the differences were related to the use of the different module types and not due to these other factors. Color deterioration was observed for the ends of modules which experienced significant rainfall during storage especially when there was insufficient clearance between modules during storage, and this problem appeared to be less prevalent with the round modules. If ginning problems were related to the module types they were relatively minor. The newer module types did not present any significant problems in ginning.