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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Cotton Structure and Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #189947
Title: EFFECTS OF PLANTING ATE ON MICRONAIRE AND FIBER MATURITY DISTRIBUTIONS

Author
item Davidonis, Gayle
item BOQUET, D - AG CENTER WINNSBORO
item CLAWSON, E - AG CENTER WINNSBORO

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2006
Publication Date: 6/15/2006
Citation: Davidonis, G.H., Boquet, D., Clawson, E. 2006. Effects of planting ate on micronaire and fiber maturity distributions. Proceedings of the 2006 Beltwide Cotton Conference. CD-ROM. P. 1854.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Micronaire values provide an indication of mean fiber maturity and fineness. Theta the degree of fiber circularity has been used as a measure of fiber maturity. The distribution of theta values provides an indication of maturity uniformity. The immature fiber content (IFC) is defined as the percentage of fibers with a theta below 0.25 while extra mature fiber (XFF) is defined as the percent of fibers with a theta of 0.75 and above. A maturity ratio (MR) of 1 corresponds to a mean theta value of 0.577. Perimeter plays a role in understanding the relationship between micronaire and MR. For a specific perimeter , micronaire increases as the MR increases. The same cultivar grown under different environmental conditions could have the same micronaire value but different MR values. Altering planting date has the potential to change fiber properties. Five cotton varieties ( Deltapearl , DP555 B/R , PSC355 , SG215 B/R , ST 4892 B/R ) were grown in Winnsboro and St. Joseph , LA. Planting dates ranged from late March to late May. Cotton was harvested with a two row picker and ginned on a 20 saw gin without lint cleaners. Fiber was analyzed using HVI and AFIS PRO instrumentation. Within a variety fiber length did not vary over planting dates 3/25/03 to 5/27/03 in Winnsboro. Within a variety fiber length did not vary over planting dates 3/25/03 to 5/20/03 in St. Joseph. In Winnsboro micronaire and MR increased with lateness of planting and was accompanied by a decrease in IFC and an increase in XFF. PSC355 showed the least amount of change in micronaire values over planting dates. In St. Joseph micronaire values ranged from 4.9 to 5.2 for the first planting date and did not change with lateness of planting. Some varieties grown in Winnsboro and St. Joseph had the similar micronaire values. St Joseph-grown varieties with the similar micronaire values as Winnsboro-grown varieties had lower MR and lower XFF values indicating that environment can alter fiber maturity distributions. In addition to a measurement that gives mean maturity other measurements of maturity distribution give a more complete picture necessary for improved processing and dyeing.