Jonn A. Foulk, USDA-ARS, Ravenel Center Rm 10, McGregor Road, Clemson, SC 29634, Gary R. Gamble, USDA-ARS, Cotton Quality Research Station, P.O. Box 792, Clemson, SC 29633, Herman Senter, Clemson University, Department of Mathematical Sciences, O-106 Martin Hall, Clemson, SC 29634-0975, and William R. Meredith, USDA-ARS Crop Genetics & Production Research Unit, P.O. Box 314, Stoneville, MS 38776.
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 in this study demonstrated fiber quality traits that allow them to operate at high speeds on the latest generation of spinning equipment. Fiber quality measurements supplied by the High Volume Instrumentation and Advanced Fiber Information System are not sufficient as processing speeds increase. Additional fiber quality measurements are crucial to improving plant varieties, production practices, machinery design, and processing efficiency. Cotton was spun into yarn at the CQRS laboratory by each of three spinning methods (ring, vortex and rotor spinning). 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 descriptive statistics and distributions measurements of the raw cotton and yarn. This manuscript explores the exotic fiber quality measurements such as frictional properties, metal content, waxes, pectins, glucose levels, and other supplementary and slower fiber measurements including Stelometer, Suter-Webb arrays, Shirley Analyzer, and Peyer. The objective was to better appreciate and understand these measurements in predicting yarn quality and processing efficiency and if they add anything to HVI and AFIS measurements.