Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #412092
Research Project: Development and Evaluation of Novel Technologies to Improve Fiber Quality and Increase Profitability in Cotton Processing

Location: Cotton Ginning Research

Title: Changes in properties of cotton gin byproducts during windrow composting

Author
item Alege, Femi
item Donohoe, Sean
item Thomas, Joseph
item Delhom, Christopher

Submitted to: ASABE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/19/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Composting of cotton gin byproducts (CGB) in static or windrow piles is a common practice in the cotton (ginning) industry. However, there is very limited documentation of the transformation of nutrient and physical properties during the composting process. This study was conducted to assess the changes in physical and compositional properties of CGB when gins compost CGB in static/windrow piles. Depending on the density of the materials, six to nine tons of CGB were sourced from four gins in four US Cotton-Belt states (AR, MO, MS, and TN). The materials were unloaded into windrow piles that were approximately 10 m long, and sensors were immediately installed to continuously monitor compost temperature and moisture at multiple depths, at three sampling points on each pile. A weather station also tracked environmental factors near the piles. CGB samples were collected monthly and analyzed for chemical composition and other properties relevant to supplementing soil nutrients and animal feeds. The results will aid in predicting nutrient transformations during CGB composting, as well as handling and selecting CGB composts for subsequent treatment and utilization.