Investigation of laboratory saw ginning and blending on cotton fiber quality measurement

Abstract Background Small-scale research or individual seed cotton samples from breeders and geneticists are ginned using laboratory saws or roller gins. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of two different laboratory saw ginning (SG) rates and subsequent mechanical blending on fiber high volume instrument (HVI) and advanced fiber information system (AFIS) quality measurement. Seed cottons from diverse upland cotton cultivars, years, and locations were evaluated. Results As the SG rate was increased, HVI results for uniformity index (UI), short fiber index (SFI), and two non-lint parameters (area%, particle count), as well as AFIS results for some properties, were impacted, with significant effects on HVI UI and AFIS short fiber content (SFC). Apparent fiber blending impacts were observed for HVI UI, strength (STR), reflectance ( Rd ), SFI, and two trashes as well as for all AFIS parameters, with significant effects on HVI Rd and two trashes and all AFIS parameters except the length and maturity measurements. A combination of ginning and blending processes indicated statistically significant interactions for HVI STR, Rd , SFI, and two trashes, and also for AFIS neps, L(w) CV, UQL(w), L(n) CV, SFC(n), L5%(n), immature fiber content (IFC), fineness, total count, dust count, particle count, and visible foreign matter (VFM). Further analysis implied a few impacts of ginning and blending on correlations between HVI and relevant AFIS qualities. Conclusion Despite the observation, the laboratory saw gin and blending methods should continue to be a practical tool to study the differences when all samples are processed identically.