Fiber and seed loss from seed cotton cleaning machinery

Authors: Hardin Iv, Robert; Byler, Richard

Submitted to: Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers International (ASABE)
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/20/2016
Publication Date: 8/20/2015
Citation: Hardin IV, R.G., Byler, R.K. 2015. Fiber and seed loss from seed cotton cleaning machinery. Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers International (ASABE). 2015 ASABE Annual International Meeting, July 26 – 29, 2015, New Orleans, Louisiana. Paper No. 152212819, p. 1-7.

Interpretive Summary: Cotton gins have to remove some extraneous matter, primarily leaves, burrs, sticks, and stems from the cotton plant, from the fiber to produce cotton bales acceptable for marketing. Gins have seed cotton cleaning equipment to remove some of this extraneous matter before the cotton fiber is removed from the seed. However, some fiber and seed are removed along with this extraneous matter. The quantity of the fiber and seed removed by seed cotton cleaners is not well-documented and factors affecting fiber and seed loss are not known. This material loss could represent significant economic loss for cotton ginners and producers, since the material removed by seed cotton cleaners often is spread on fields for disposal. Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of machine speeds, cultivar, air flow rate, and seed cotton processing rate on fiber and seed loss from seed cotton cleaners. Increasing cylinder cleaner speed or stick machine speed significantly increased the amount of fiber and seed removed by that machine, although fiber and seed loss from the stick machine was lower than the cylinder cleaner. Cultivar significantly affected fiber and seed loss. The air flow rate through the cylinder cleaner had a significant effect on fiber and seed loss, with material loss near zero at low air flow rates and increasing significantly at higher rates. With high air flow rates, high seed cotton processing rates reduced fiber and seed loss. More of the fiber removed by the cylinder cleaner was loose than attached to a seed, and the seed cotton removed had lower fiber to seed ratios than expected based on typical lint and seed turnout. This fiber to seed ratio increased as the air flow rate increased and the seed cotton processing rate decreased, implying that more intact seed cotton locks were removed under these conditions. With test conditions most similar to a commercial gin, fiber losses were 1.45 lb/bale and seed losses were 12.6 lb/ton. Using these loss values and current prices of $0.65/lb for lint and $250/ton for seed, the value of lost material from seed cotton cleaners at US gins was $15 million for fiber and $8 million for seed for the 2014 crop year. Although the quality of the fiber lost is unknown, the economic loss would still be substantial with less than average quality fiber.

Technical Abstract: Fiber and seed loss from seed cotton cleaning equipment in cotton gins occurs, but the quantity of material lost, factors affecting fiber and seed loss, and the mechanisms that cause material loss are not well understood. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of different factors on fiber and seed loss. The first experiment tested the effect of multiple cylinder cleaner speeds, stick machine saw speeds, and cultivar on fiber and seed loss from the minimum recommended sequence of seed cotton cleaning equipment. In the second experiment, air flow and seed cotton processing rates through a cylinder cleaner were varied to determine their effect on fiber and seed loss. Additional analysis of the material removed by the cylinder cleaner in this study was conducted to determine both the amounts of loose fiber and fiber attached to the seed. Increasing cylinder cleaner speed or stick machine speed significantly increased the amount of fiber and seed removed by that machine, although fiber and seed loss from the stick machine was lower than the cylinder cleaner. Cultivar significantly affected fiber and seed loss. The air flow rate through the cylinder cleaner had a significant effect on fiber and seed loss, with material loss near zero at low air flow rates and increasing significantly at higher rates. With high air flow rates, high seed cotton processing rates reduced fiber and seed loss. More of the fiber removed by the cylinder cleaner was loose than attached to a seed, and the seed cotton removed had lower fiber to seed ratios than expected based on typical lint and seed turnout. The fiber to seed ratio of seed cotton removed by the cylinder cleaner increased as the air flow rate increased and the seed cotton processing rate decreased, implying that more intact seed cotton locks were removed under these conditions.