Prediction of Seed and Fiber Quality for Long-Term Storage of Seed Cotton

Current and anticipated innovations in cotton harvesting equipment include onboard module builders which will result in seed cotton being packed into modules of varying size and compression and at varying moisture contents. The prospect of on-board module building for high-yield stripper cotton, in particular, may result in seed cotton stored for prolonged periods with higher than average moisture content, resulting in significant reduction of fiber and seed quality. The effect of moisture content and density on cotton fiber and seed quality over extended periods of time has been observed. High moisture content corresponds to high levels of burrs, sticks, immature bolls, and leaves in the seed cotton. Differing harvest conditions due to defoliation practices, weather events, or machinery operating practices can create significant levels of difference for each of these factors from one producer to another. Collected data has been studied for relationships between moisture content, density, and trash content for a given time period of storage. An equation for each of these factors will help producers with their decisions of proper harvest time.