Response of Cotton Fiber Length Distribution to Production and Ginning Practices
ABSTRACT VARIETAL, harvesting and ginning effects on the fiber length distribution, especially fibers less than 1.27 cm (0.5 in.) in length, were evaluated in a 2-year study in the Mississippi Delta. In this study, varietal differences were the least important of the factors considered and produced short fiber contents that ranged from 9.7 to 10.8%. Weathering after boll opening caused a change in short fiber content from 9.1 to 11.3%. Twice-over harvesting produced short fiber contents of 8.6 and 11.8% for the first and second harvestings whereas once-over harvesting produced an average short fiber content of 10.1%. Each of three successive stages of lint cleaning increased the short fiber content from an initial level of 8.4% to 9.1, 11.0, and 12.3%. In order to minimize short fiber content and achieve acceptable market grades, cotton should be harvested with the twice-over procedure with minimum field weathering and no more than one lint cleaner should be used at the gin.