Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #186266
Title: STORAGE EFFECTS ON QUALITY OF POLYETHYLENE FILM WRAPPED COTTON BALES: A PRELIMINARY REPORT

Author
item HUGHS, SIDNEY
item MCALISTER III, DAVID
item TRISTAO, DENNIS - JG BOSWELL COMPANY

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/3/2006
Publication Date: 6/9/2006
Citation: Hughs, S.E., McAlister III, D.D., Tristao, D. 2006. Storage effects on quality of polyethylene film wrapped cotton bales: a preliminary report. In: Proceedings of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences, January 3-6, 2006, San Antonio, Texas. 2006 CDROM. p. 606-610.

Interpretive Summary: A test was initiated in March 2005 to determine the cotton quality effects of long-term storage of cotton bales. Cotton bales sealed in a specially formulated linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) film with UV inhibitors were placed in both an outside and an inside storage facility. Each bale was instrumented with continuous temperature and humidity recorders prior to being placed in storage. After the one year storage cycle is completed, the stored cotton will be evaluated for fiber and spinning properties to determine the effects of long term bale storage under the two different storage conditions.

Technical Abstract: The goal of this test is to determine if outside long term cotton bale storage practices under certain conditions are equivalent to storage in a CCC approved warehouse. Final variables being tested are standard HVI properties (particularly color) and textile spinning and selected dying performance measurements. Materials being tested is Pima cotton as grown, harvested, ginned, baled, covered and stored by J. G. Boswell Co. of the San Joaquin Valley of California. All production, harvesting and ginning practices will be identical for both the test and control bales. Storage time will be one year prior to textile processing. All bales will have been in storage for approximately nine months at the time of this report.