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Title: Commercial cotton variety spinning study quality indices

Author
item Foulk, Jonn
item Gamble, Gary
item SENTER, HERMAN - CLEMSON UNIV.
item Meredith Jr, William

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/18/2007
Publication Date: 10/26/2007
Citation: Foulk, J.A., Gamble, G.R., Senter, H., Meredith Jr, W.R. 2007. Commercial cotton variety spinning study quality indices of spun yarn. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference, January 9-12, 2007, New Orleans, Louisiana. p.2013-2020. National Cotton Council, Memphis, Tennessee. http://www.cotton.org/beltwide

Interpretive Summary: The USDA-ARS Cotton Quality Research Station has been studying the relationship of cotton fiber properties to the quality of spun yarn. Cotton was spun into yarn at the CQRS laboratory by each of three spinning methods. Cotton was grown and harvested in 2001-2005 from three of the largest producing growing regions (Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas) and subsequently ginned. One major goal of this five year project is to determine an index of overall yarn quality based on cotton fiber properties. Cotton cultivars are not bred for utility value with the exception of some properties measured using the HVI™ instrument. Some yarn variability is accounted for by fiber properties which partially predict the physical properties of yarn and spinning. Technological evolution in yarn manufacturing has resulted in rigorous demands for improved fiber qualities and a fiber utility value. Unfortunately, the commercialization of cotton cultivars is not contingent upon fiber quality or establishing a satisfactory fiber utility value. This manuscript explores the development of a quality index to predict its utilization.

Technical Abstract: The USDA-ARS Cotton Quality Research Station has completed a comprehensive study studying the relationship of cotton fiber properties to the quality of spun yarn. Cotton was spun into yarn at the CQRS laboratory by each of three spinning methods (ring, vortex and rotor spinning). Cotton in this study demonstrated fiber quality traits that allow them to operate at high speeds on the latest generation of spinning equipment. Cotton was grown and harvested in 2001-2005 from three of the largest producing growing regions (Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas) and subsequently ginned at their respective locations. Previous manuscripts have evaluated relationships between wide-ranging measurements of the raw cotton and yarn properties such as descriptive statistics and distributions, along with the impact of HVI and AFIS measurements on spinning, and finally the impact of exotic/supplementary measurements. One major goal of this five year project is to determine an index of overall yarn quality based on cotton fiber properties. A second goal is to optimize the utilization of cotton for the cotton industry. Cotton cultivars are not bred for utility value with the exception of some properties measured using the HVI™ instrument. A portion of yarn variability is accounted for by various fiber properties which partially predict the physical properties of yarn and the success of spinning. Technological evolution in yarn manufacturing has resulted in rigorous demands for improved fiber qualities and a fiber utility value. Unfortunately, the commercialization of cotton cultivars is not contingent upon fiber quality or establishing a satisfactory fiber utility value. Each index is a composite measure of twelve yarn and spinning performance variables. This manuscript explores the development of a quality index and the means by which selection of cotton fiber qualities will help predict its ideal utilization.