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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 #325900
Research Project: Improved Quality Assessments of Cotton from Fiber to Final Products

Location: Cotton Structure and Quality Research

Title: Cotton moisture – its importance, measurements and impacts

Author
item Delhom, Christopher
item Rodgers Iii, James

Submitted to: Bremen International Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/8/2016
Publication Date: 3/21/2016
Citation: Delhom, C.D., Rodgers III, J.E. 2016. Cotton moisture – its importance, measurements and impacts. Proceedings of the Bremen International Cotton Conference, March 16-18, 2016, Bremen, Germany. p. 1-7.

Interpretive Summary: Cotton moisture impacts cotton from field to fabric. The proper control, and measurement to allow for control, of cotton moisture is essential to maintaining and preserving fiber quality. Cotton color, length and strength; as well as other properties, are all impacted by cotton moisture content. There are many ways to measure cotton moisture and many points in the production chain in which the moisture should be measured. Technologies have been developed to allow for cotton moisture monitoring and control in the field, during harvest, seed cotton in storage, the ginning process and into the textile mill and quality testing laboratories. Options allow for a range of product states, locations, costs and needed accuracy to be considered in determining the ideal method to measure moisture content of cotton.

Technical Abstract: Cotton moisture impacts cotton from field to fabric. The proper control, and measurement to allow for control, of cotton moisture is essential to maintaining and preserving fiber quality. Cotton color, length and strength; as well as other properties, are all impacted by cotton moisture content. There are many ways to measure cotton moisture and many points in the production chain in which the moisture should be measured. Technologies have been developed to allow for cotton moisture monitoring and control in the field, during harvest, seed cotton in storage, the ginning process and into the textile mill and quality testing laboratories. Options allow for a range of product states, locations, costs and needed accuracy to be considered in determining the ideal method to measure moisture content of cotton.