Measurement of energy required to detach cotton fibres from seed -Some practical considerations

Abstract

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:="" "times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-theme-font:="" minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;="" mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">While using the Shirley attachment strength tester, a commercially available instrument that measures the energy required to separate cotton fibres from the seed, it has been found that the process of fibre separation does not simulate the roller ginning process and that considerable fibre breakage occurs during the test, leading to high energy values. A partial modification of the experimental setup is suggested such that the process of fibre separation more closely resembles roller ginning. Also suggested is a testing procedure in which all the fibres on a seed, divided into five tufts, are tested one after another so that besides the average energy per fibre, the average energy per unit weight of fibres can be calculated without assuming arbitrary weightages for the micropylar, side and chalazal regions.</span>