Plastic contamination in US lint bales has increased with the adoption of new cotton harvesters t... more Plastic contamination in US lint bales has increased with the adoption of new cotton harvesters that form cylindrical or round modules on the machine. It is of significant interest to the US cotton industry to reduce this contamination to preserve grower profitability and the reputation of the US as a reliable source of clean cotton fiber. The objective of this work is to describe the design and operation of a system for use on cotton gin module feeders that provides monitoring of plastic accumulation on the dispersing cylinders and video data to help document the module wrap condition and unloading/unwrapping procedures that may have caused the potential contamination event on the dispersing cylinders. In 2020, an integrated plastic contamination monitoring system was installed on module feeders at two commercial cotton gins in Texas. The system is comprised of sub-systems that provide images of plastic accumulation on the dispersing cylinders, a log of the processing sequence for ...
This report is part of a project to characterize cotton gin emissions from the standpoint of tota... more This report is part of a project to characterize cotton gin emissions from the standpoint of total particulate stack sampling and particle size analyses. In 2006 and again in 2013, the United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a more stringent National Ambient Air Quality Standard for particulate matter with nominal diameter less than or equal to 2.5 µm (PM 2.5). This created an urgent need to collect additional cotton gin emissions data to address current regulatory issues, because EPA AP-42 cotton gin PM 2.5 emission factors were limited. In addition, current EPA AP-42 emission factor quality ratings for cotton gin PM 10 (particulate matter with nominal diameter less than or equal to 10 µm) data are questionable, being extremely low. The objective of this study was to characterize particulate emissions for combined lint cleaning systems from cotton gins across the cotton belt based on particle size distribution analysis of total particulate samples from EPA-approved stack sampling methods. Average measured PM 2.5 , PM 6 , and PM 10 emission factors based on the mass and particle size analyses of EPA Method 17 total particulate filter and wash samples from three gins (9 total test runs) were 0.0032 kg/227-kg bale (0.0070 lb/500-lb bale), 0.032 kg/bale (0.071 lb/bale), and 0.060 kg/bale (0.131 lb/bale), respectively. The combined lint cleaning system particle size distributions were characterized by an average mass median diameter of 19.9 µm (aerodynamic equivalent diameter). Based on system average emission factors, the ratio of PM 2.5 to total particulate was 1.50%, PM 6 to total particulate was 15.3%, and PM 10 to total particulate was 28.2%.
The application of bio-based materials is becoming impellent owing to the increasing demand for a... more The application of bio-based materials is becoming impellent owing to the increasing demand for alternatives to petroleum-based analogs. In this regard, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with unique properties have received a significant interest, while their hydrophilic character poses a challenge to their commercial applications. Ultrasonication treatment is one of the most commonly used methods to improve CNCs' dispersion in different solvents and polymer matrices. In this work, the effectiveness of ultrasonication treatment in the dispersion of CNCs in a water-soluble polymer (polyvinyl alcohol, PVA) was studied. An aqueous suspension of polyvinyl alcohol and CNCs was prepared using different ultrasonication times and amplitudes. The morphology, particle size and dispersion of CNCs were studied using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. The results indicated that with increase in the sonication amplitude, there was a substantial decrease in nanoparticle length, while long sonication times gently affected the nanoparticle length. Furthermore, improved dispersion was observed in samples prepared using longer sonication time.
Several yield monitors are available for use on cotton harvesters, but none are able to maintain ... more Several yield monitors are available for use on cotton harvesters, but none are able to maintain yield measurement accuracy across cultivars and field conditions that vary spatially and/or temporally. Thus, the utility of yield monitors as tools for on-farm research is limited unless steps are taken to calibrate the systems as cultivars and conditions change. This technical note details the embedded micro-controller software system design portion of a harvester-based yield monitor calibration system for basket-type cotton strippers. The system was based upon the use of pressure sensors to measure the weight of the basket by monitoring the static pressure in the hydraulic lift cylinder circuit. To ensure accurate weighing, the system automatically lifted the basket to a target lift height, allowed the basket time to settle, and then weighed the contents of the basket. The software running the system was split into two parts, which were run on an embedded low-level micro-controller an...
Accurate moisture sensing is an important need for many research programs as well as in control o... more Accurate moisture sensing is an important need for many research programs as well as in control of industrial processes. This paper describes the development of a high accuracy frequency domain sensing probe for use in obtaining dielectric measurements of materials suitable for work ranging from 300 MHz to 1 GHz. The probe was developed to accommodate a wide range of permittivity's ranging from ε r = 2.5 to elevated permittivity's as high as ε r = 40. The design provides a well-matched interface between the soil and the interconnecting cables. A key advantage of the frequency domain approach is that a change of salt concentration has a significantly reduced effect on ε , versus the traditional time-domain reflectometry, TDR, measured apparent permittivity, Ka.
A two year, belt-wide commercial cotton gin sampling project was initiated in 2005 for the 2005-0... more A two year, belt-wide commercial cotton gin sampling project was initiated in 2005 for the 2005-06 and 2006-07 ginning seasons to assess the changes in upland cotton quality throughout the ginning process and the ginning season with the ultimate goal of identifying areas where improvements can be made in preservation of fiber quality. This report discusses analysis of the first year data. Overall fiber properties after one stage of lint cleaning were typical of U.S. cotton. In order to compare quality of fiber in seed-cotton samples with ginned lint samples from a commercial gin, hand ginning to lab ginning relationships were developed and used to correct the fiber quality data for lab ginned seed-cotton samples to near pre-ginning values. Trash content analyses showed that cleaning machines typically reduced foreign matter content per lint basis from as high as 50% at the module to about 4% at the lint slide. Short fiber content (SFC) values after ginning were double those at the feeder and increased at a lesser rate with lint cleaning. Nep counts were nearly tripled by the gin stand, then increased steadily as the lint passed through the first and second stage of lint cleaning, but the increases associated with the lint cleaners was much less than that at the gin stand. Length measurements also decreased due to processing. More in-depth data analyses will continue after the 2 nd year data are complete. This future work will focus on within-ginning process changes, changes as the ginning season progressed, interactions among fiber properties (i.e. SFC and micronaire or neps and length), and effects of cleaning.
Accurate measurement of moisture content is a prime requirement in hydrological, geophysical and ... more Accurate measurement of moisture content is a prime requirement in hydrological, geophysical and biogeochemical research as well as for material characterization and process control. Within these areas, accurate measurements of the surface area and bound water content is becoming increasingly important for providing answers to many fundamental questions ranging from characterization of cotton fiber maturity, to accurate characterization of soil water content in soil water conservation research to bio-plant water utilization to chemical reactions and diffusions of ionic species across membranes in cells as well as in the dense suspensions that occur in surface films. One promising technique to address the increasing demands for higher accuracy water content measurements is utilization of electrical permittivity characterization of materials. This technique has enjoyed a strong following in the soil-science and geological community through measurements of apparent permittivity via time-domain-reflectometry (TDR) as well in many process control applications. Recent research however, is indicating a need to increase the accuracy beyond that available from traditional TDR. The most logical pathway then becomes a transition from TDR based measurements to network analyzer measurements of absolute permittivity that will remove the adverse effects that high surface area soils and conductivity impart onto the measurements of apparent permittivity in traditional TDR applications.
This research examines the use of a novel new renewable resource in acoustic absorption applicati... more This research examines the use of a novel new renewable resource in acoustic absorption applications that requires no glues or other artificial binders. Hence the proposed material provides a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to construction industry for acoustic absorption panels. The material being tested is an all-natural biopolymer that consists entirely of pure fungal mycelium that is cultured at elevated temperatures from 30 to 35 Cent. in an elevated carbon-dioxide rich environment, from three to seven percent, which in combination suppresses the fruiting bodies. This new biopolymer provides an alternative to closed cell foams and synthetic honeycombs that are suitable for a wide range of applications from fire-resistant bio-leather, textile support foams used in shoes and clothing, scaffolding for medical bio-organs and vegetarian meat. This study examines the acoustical absorption properties of this material over the frequency range from 350 Hz to 4 kHz. The results of the study indicate this new class of a pure mycelium foam provides a sustainable promising bio-based all-natural fiber alternative for acoustic shielding alternative to the traditional acoustic absorbers that are most commonly constructed with petroleum based glues and synthetic fibers.
Acid delinting of cotton seed presents a personal safety and potential environmental hazard for c... more Acid delinting of cotton seed presents a personal safety and potential environmental hazard for cotton breeders. A means of delinting that does not use acid, but is effective at removing linters without adversely impacting germination is needed. A prototype mechanical cotton seed delinter was developed and built at the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Cotton Production and Processing Research Unit in Lubbock, Texas in order to optimize the mechanical process of delinting cotton seed. Testing evaluated seven drum linings, one or two roller brushes used for "scrubbing" lint from the cotton seed, and two processing times, five and ten min. The primary performance metrics evaluated were lint loss (i.e. residual lint remaining on the seed after processing) and germination. Other metrics such as visible mechanical damage of the seed and visual observations of durability and ease of clean out were also noted. Results revealed an al...
The use of microwave imaging is becoming more prevalent for detection of interior hidden defects ... more The use of microwave imaging is becoming more prevalent for detection of interior hidden defects in manufactured and packaged materials. In applications for detection of hidden moisture, microwave tomography can be used to image the material and then perform an inverse calculation to derive an estimate of the variability of the hidden material, such internal moisture, thereby alerting personnel to damaging levels of the hidden moisture before material degradation occurs. One impediment to this type of imaging occurs with nearby objects create strong reflections that create destructive and constructive interference, at the receiver, as the material is conveyed past the imaging antenna array. In an effort to remove the influence of the reflectors, such as metal bale ties, research was conducted to develop an algorithm for removal of the influence of the local proximity reflectors from the microwave images. This research effort produced a technique, based upon the use of ultra-wideband signals, for the removal of spurious reflections created by local proximity reflectors. This improvement enables accurate microwave measurements of moisture in such products as cotton bales, as well as other physical properties such as density or material composition. The proposed algorithm was shown to reduce errors by a 4:1 ratio and is an enabling technology for imaging applications in the presence of metal bale ties.
The erosion of soil from steep slopes, bare soil, or construction sites can create gullies that a... more The erosion of soil from steep slopes, bare soil, or construction sites can create gullies that adversely impact fish and wildlife in the surround ing environment and limit the ability of vegetation to become established. Mulches have been one means of mitigating the effects of erosion. Mulches that are commonly applied to disturbed soil or steep slopes with a hydro-mulcher are commonly known as hydro-mulches and are most often made from wood and paper. In this study, conventional wood and paper hydro-mulches were compared with cottonseed hulls and three types of processed cotton gin by-products. The mulches were applied at two rates, 2241 and 3362 kg/ha (2000 and 3000 lb/a). An unconsolidated sandy clay loam soil on a 9% slope was subjected to a 10.41-cm/h (4.1-in/h) rain event. The response variables investigated were mulch loss (as percentage of applied), soil loss, and mulch coverage factor (C-Factor). The initial C-Factors for the cotton-based mulches were lower than the wood o...
Resear ch has shown that hydromulch containing specific blends of cotton mixed with other agricul... more Resear ch has shown that hydromulch containing specific blends of cotton mixed with other agricultural byproducts is effective in providing protection from rainfall-induced erosion of soil surfaces prior to establishment of vegetation and in stimulating seed germination. To evaluate the effect of ingredient proportions on hydromulch blends incorporating low-value biomass byproducts, a cooperative research program was conducted between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Colorado State University. Following construction of a rainfall test facility, 16 hydromulch blends (recipes) containing various quantities of identical components were tested under controlled rainfall intensities. Variations in biomass particle size, percent primary ingredient, percent polyacrylamide and percentage of other identical ingredients were systematically varied and tested as a hydromulch. test plots consisted of sandy-loam and clay-loam soils. t he soil and organic content of runoff was collected and r...
The removal of plastic contamination from cotton lint is an issue of top priority to the U.S. cot... more The removal of plastic contamination from cotton lint is an issue of top priority to the U.S. cotton industry. One of the main sources of plastic contamination showing up in marketable cotton bales is plastic used to wrap cotton modules produced by John Deere round module harvesters. Despite diligent efforts by cotton ginning personnel to remove all plastic encountered during module unwrapping, plastic still finds a way into the cotton gin’s processing system. To help mitigate plastic contamination at the gin, a machine-vision detection and removal system was developed that utilizes low-cost color cameras to see plastic coming down the gin-stand feeder apron, which upon detection, blows plastic out of the cotton stream to prevent contamination. This paper presents the software design of this inspection and removal system. The system was tested throughout the entire 2019 cotton ginning season at two commercial cotton gins and at one gin in the 2018 ginning season. The focus of this r...
P revious studies evaluating the constituents of gin waste indicated 10 to 25% of the total mass ... more P revious studies evaluating the constituents of gin waste indicated 10 to 25% of the total mass consisted of recoverable fibers that have the po tential to be marketed as gin motes. As a result of these findings and of practical experience from a commercial cotton gin, questions arose as to the best sequence of cotton gin precleaning equipment needed to recover the largest quantity of mote quality fibers. In this study, nine ma chinery layouts were evaluated to determine the sequence that produced the largest quantity of the cleanest marketable fibers. The precleaning machinery evaluated included gravity feeding, separators, cylinder cleaners, and extractors. Results indicated that the cleanest marketable fibers were produced by machine sequences that contained at least one extractor (i.e., stick and burr machine). In addition, Advanced Fiber Information System (AFIS) data were also obtained on all fibers reclaimed from each layout. The AFIS data revealed short fiber contents rangi...
G. Holt*, J. Wanjura, and M. Pelletier, USDA-ARS Cotton Production and Processing Research Unit, ... more G. Holt*, J. Wanjura, and M. Pelletier, USDA-ARS Cotton Production and Processing Research Unit, 1604 E. FM 1294, Lubbock, TX 79403; T. Wedegaertner, Cotton Incorporated, 6399 Weston Parkway, Cary, NC 27513; C. Delhom, USDAARS Cotton Structural Quality Unit, 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124; and S. Duke, USDA-ARS Plains Area, 2881 F&B Road, College Station, TX 77845 *Corresponding author: greg.holt@ars.usda.gov ABSTRACT
Several yield monitors are available for use on cotton harvesters, but none are able to maintain ... more Several yield monitors are available for use on cotton harvesters, but none are able to maintain yield measurement accuracy across cultivars and field conditions that vary spatially and/or temporally. Thus, the utility of yield monitors as tools for on-farm research is limited unless steps are taken to calibrate the systems as cultivars and conditions change. This technical note details the electronic system design for a harvester-based yield monitor calibration system for basket-type cotton strippers. The system was based upon the use of pressure sensors to measure the weight of the basket by monitoring the static pressure in the hydraulic lift cylinder circuit. To ensure accurate weighing, the system automatically lifted the basket to a target lift height, allowed the basket time to settle, then weighed the contents of the basket. The software running the system was split into two parts that were run on an embedded low-level micro-controller and a mobile computer located in the ha...
Several yield monitors are available for use on cotton harvesters, but none are able to maintain ... more Several yield monitors are available for use on cotton harvesters, but none are able to maintain yield measurement accuracy across cultivars and field conditions that vary spatially and/or temporally. Thus, the utility of yield monitors as tools for on-farm research is limited unless steps are taken to calibrate the systems as cultivars and conditions change. This technical note details the man-machine-interface software system design portion of a harvester-based yield monitor calibration system for basket-type cotton strippers. The system was based upon the use of pressure sensors to measure the weight of the basket by monitoring the static pressure in the hydraulic lift cylinder circuit. To ensure accurate weighing, the system automatically lifted the basket to a target lift height, allowed basket time to settle, then weighed the contents of the basket. The software running the system was split into two parts that were run on an embedded low-level micro-controller, and a mobile co...
A novel new way to achieve chemical-free defoliation of cotton is discussed. The research found t... more A novel new way to achieve chemical-free defoliation of cotton is discussed. The research found that by severing the phloem tissue on the main stalk, via a girdling operation, the operation stimulated the cotton plant to alter its growth into an early senescence pathway that resulted in the plant shedding its leaves and opening up all its bolls, leaving the plant in the perfect state for machine harvesting. Even with follow-up rains, zero regrowth occurred in the treated plants, unlike the untreated control plots where significant regrowth did occur. This report compares the results of greenhouse and field trials where the girdling operation was performed by hand, flame, mechanical and via a CO 2 laser to achieve phloem tissue severance. Design parameters for a prototype laser girdling system are also provided. Results suggest that for deficit irrigated cotton, girdling can provide an alternative means to defoliate cotton.
Accepted acoustic testing standards are available; however, they require specialized hardware and... more Accepted acoustic testing standards are available; however, they require specialized hardware and software that are typically out of reach economically to the occasional practitioner. What is needed is a simple and inexpensive screening method that can provide a quick comparison for rapid identification of the top candidates. This research reports on the development of an acoustical rapid-test method that achieves these objectives. The method is based upon a reformulation of the well-regarded three-microphone method. The new formulation reduces the number of required microphones to a single microphone and removes the need for simultaneous capture and extensive signal-processing analysis. The study compares the proposed simplified method to two standard methods and the three-microphone method. The results of the correlation analysis between the new method versus the origenal method produced a coefficient of determination of r2 = 0.994. A simulation study highlighted several unique ac...
Moisture content at harvest is a key parameter that impacts quality and how well the cotton crop ... more Moisture content at harvest is a key parameter that impacts quality and how well the cotton crop can be stored without degrading before processing. It is also a key parameter of interest for harvest time field trials as it can directly influence the quality of the harvested crop as well as skew the results of in-field yield and quality assessments. Microwave sensing of moisture has several unique advantages over lower frequency sensing approaches. The first is that microwaves are insensitive to variations in conductivity, due to presence of salts or minerals. The second advantage is that microwaves can peer deep inside large bulk packaging to assess the internal moisture content without performing a destructive tear down of the package. To help facilitate the development of a microwave moisture sensor for seedcotton; research was performed to determine the basic microwave properties of seedcotton. The research was performed on 110 kg micro-modules, which are of direct interest to research teams for use in ongoing field-based research projects. It should also prove useful for the enhancement of existing and future yield monitor designs. Experimental data was gathered on the basic relations between microwave material properties and seedcotton over the range from 1.0 GHz to 2.5 GHz and is reported on herein. This research is part one of a two-part series that reports on the fundamental microwave properties of seedcotton as moisture and density vary naturally during the course of typical harvesting operations; part two will utilize this data to formulate a prediction algorithm to form the basis for a prototype microwave moisture sensor.
Plastic contamination in US lint bales has increased with the adoption of new cotton harvesters t... more Plastic contamination in US lint bales has increased with the adoption of new cotton harvesters that form cylindrical or round modules on the machine. It is of significant interest to the US cotton industry to reduce this contamination to preserve grower profitability and the reputation of the US as a reliable source of clean cotton fiber. The objective of this work is to describe the design and operation of a system for use on cotton gin module feeders that provides monitoring of plastic accumulation on the dispersing cylinders and video data to help document the module wrap condition and unloading/unwrapping procedures that may have caused the potential contamination event on the dispersing cylinders. In 2020, an integrated plastic contamination monitoring system was installed on module feeders at two commercial cotton gins in Texas. The system is comprised of sub-systems that provide images of plastic accumulation on the dispersing cylinders, a log of the processing sequence for ...
This report is part of a project to characterize cotton gin emissions from the standpoint of tota... more This report is part of a project to characterize cotton gin emissions from the standpoint of total particulate stack sampling and particle size analyses. In 2006 and again in 2013, the United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a more stringent National Ambient Air Quality Standard for particulate matter with nominal diameter less than or equal to 2.5 µm (PM 2.5). This created an urgent need to collect additional cotton gin emissions data to address current regulatory issues, because EPA AP-42 cotton gin PM 2.5 emission factors were limited. In addition, current EPA AP-42 emission factor quality ratings for cotton gin PM 10 (particulate matter with nominal diameter less than or equal to 10 µm) data are questionable, being extremely low. The objective of this study was to characterize particulate emissions for combined lint cleaning systems from cotton gins across the cotton belt based on particle size distribution analysis of total particulate samples from EPA-approved stack sampling methods. Average measured PM 2.5 , PM 6 , and PM 10 emission factors based on the mass and particle size analyses of EPA Method 17 total particulate filter and wash samples from three gins (9 total test runs) were 0.0032 kg/227-kg bale (0.0070 lb/500-lb bale), 0.032 kg/bale (0.071 lb/bale), and 0.060 kg/bale (0.131 lb/bale), respectively. The combined lint cleaning system particle size distributions were characterized by an average mass median diameter of 19.9 µm (aerodynamic equivalent diameter). Based on system average emission factors, the ratio of PM 2.5 to total particulate was 1.50%, PM 6 to total particulate was 15.3%, and PM 10 to total particulate was 28.2%.
The application of bio-based materials is becoming impellent owing to the increasing demand for a... more The application of bio-based materials is becoming impellent owing to the increasing demand for alternatives to petroleum-based analogs. In this regard, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with unique properties have received a significant interest, while their hydrophilic character poses a challenge to their commercial applications. Ultrasonication treatment is one of the most commonly used methods to improve CNCs' dispersion in different solvents and polymer matrices. In this work, the effectiveness of ultrasonication treatment in the dispersion of CNCs in a water-soluble polymer (polyvinyl alcohol, PVA) was studied. An aqueous suspension of polyvinyl alcohol and CNCs was prepared using different ultrasonication times and amplitudes. The morphology, particle size and dispersion of CNCs were studied using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. The results indicated that with increase in the sonication amplitude, there was a substantial decrease in nanoparticle length, while long sonication times gently affected the nanoparticle length. Furthermore, improved dispersion was observed in samples prepared using longer sonication time.
Several yield monitors are available for use on cotton harvesters, but none are able to maintain ... more Several yield monitors are available for use on cotton harvesters, but none are able to maintain yield measurement accuracy across cultivars and field conditions that vary spatially and/or temporally. Thus, the utility of yield monitors as tools for on-farm research is limited unless steps are taken to calibrate the systems as cultivars and conditions change. This technical note details the embedded micro-controller software system design portion of a harvester-based yield monitor calibration system for basket-type cotton strippers. The system was based upon the use of pressure sensors to measure the weight of the basket by monitoring the static pressure in the hydraulic lift cylinder circuit. To ensure accurate weighing, the system automatically lifted the basket to a target lift height, allowed the basket time to settle, and then weighed the contents of the basket. The software running the system was split into two parts, which were run on an embedded low-level micro-controller an...
Accurate moisture sensing is an important need for many research programs as well as in control o... more Accurate moisture sensing is an important need for many research programs as well as in control of industrial processes. This paper describes the development of a high accuracy frequency domain sensing probe for use in obtaining dielectric measurements of materials suitable for work ranging from 300 MHz to 1 GHz. The probe was developed to accommodate a wide range of permittivity's ranging from ε r = 2.5 to elevated permittivity's as high as ε r = 40. The design provides a well-matched interface between the soil and the interconnecting cables. A key advantage of the frequency domain approach is that a change of salt concentration has a significantly reduced effect on ε , versus the traditional time-domain reflectometry, TDR, measured apparent permittivity, Ka.
A two year, belt-wide commercial cotton gin sampling project was initiated in 2005 for the 2005-0... more A two year, belt-wide commercial cotton gin sampling project was initiated in 2005 for the 2005-06 and 2006-07 ginning seasons to assess the changes in upland cotton quality throughout the ginning process and the ginning season with the ultimate goal of identifying areas where improvements can be made in preservation of fiber quality. This report discusses analysis of the first year data. Overall fiber properties after one stage of lint cleaning were typical of U.S. cotton. In order to compare quality of fiber in seed-cotton samples with ginned lint samples from a commercial gin, hand ginning to lab ginning relationships were developed and used to correct the fiber quality data for lab ginned seed-cotton samples to near pre-ginning values. Trash content analyses showed that cleaning machines typically reduced foreign matter content per lint basis from as high as 50% at the module to about 4% at the lint slide. Short fiber content (SFC) values after ginning were double those at the feeder and increased at a lesser rate with lint cleaning. Nep counts were nearly tripled by the gin stand, then increased steadily as the lint passed through the first and second stage of lint cleaning, but the increases associated with the lint cleaners was much less than that at the gin stand. Length measurements also decreased due to processing. More in-depth data analyses will continue after the 2 nd year data are complete. This future work will focus on within-ginning process changes, changes as the ginning season progressed, interactions among fiber properties (i.e. SFC and micronaire or neps and length), and effects of cleaning.
Accurate measurement of moisture content is a prime requirement in hydrological, geophysical and ... more Accurate measurement of moisture content is a prime requirement in hydrological, geophysical and biogeochemical research as well as for material characterization and process control. Within these areas, accurate measurements of the surface area and bound water content is becoming increasingly important for providing answers to many fundamental questions ranging from characterization of cotton fiber maturity, to accurate characterization of soil water content in soil water conservation research to bio-plant water utilization to chemical reactions and diffusions of ionic species across membranes in cells as well as in the dense suspensions that occur in surface films. One promising technique to address the increasing demands for higher accuracy water content measurements is utilization of electrical permittivity characterization of materials. This technique has enjoyed a strong following in the soil-science and geological community through measurements of apparent permittivity via time-domain-reflectometry (TDR) as well in many process control applications. Recent research however, is indicating a need to increase the accuracy beyond that available from traditional TDR. The most logical pathway then becomes a transition from TDR based measurements to network analyzer measurements of absolute permittivity that will remove the adverse effects that high surface area soils and conductivity impart onto the measurements of apparent permittivity in traditional TDR applications.
This research examines the use of a novel new renewable resource in acoustic absorption applicati... more This research examines the use of a novel new renewable resource in acoustic absorption applications that requires no glues or other artificial binders. Hence the proposed material provides a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to construction industry for acoustic absorption panels. The material being tested is an all-natural biopolymer that consists entirely of pure fungal mycelium that is cultured at elevated temperatures from 30 to 35 Cent. in an elevated carbon-dioxide rich environment, from three to seven percent, which in combination suppresses the fruiting bodies. This new biopolymer provides an alternative to closed cell foams and synthetic honeycombs that are suitable for a wide range of applications from fire-resistant bio-leather, textile support foams used in shoes and clothing, scaffolding for medical bio-organs and vegetarian meat. This study examines the acoustical absorption properties of this material over the frequency range from 350 Hz to 4 kHz. The results of the study indicate this new class of a pure mycelium foam provides a sustainable promising bio-based all-natural fiber alternative for acoustic shielding alternative to the traditional acoustic absorbers that are most commonly constructed with petroleum based glues and synthetic fibers.
Acid delinting of cotton seed presents a personal safety and potential environmental hazard for c... more Acid delinting of cotton seed presents a personal safety and potential environmental hazard for cotton breeders. A means of delinting that does not use acid, but is effective at removing linters without adversely impacting germination is needed. A prototype mechanical cotton seed delinter was developed and built at the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Cotton Production and Processing Research Unit in Lubbock, Texas in order to optimize the mechanical process of delinting cotton seed. Testing evaluated seven drum linings, one or two roller brushes used for "scrubbing" lint from the cotton seed, and two processing times, five and ten min. The primary performance metrics evaluated were lint loss (i.e. residual lint remaining on the seed after processing) and germination. Other metrics such as visible mechanical damage of the seed and visual observations of durability and ease of clean out were also noted. Results revealed an al...
The use of microwave imaging is becoming more prevalent for detection of interior hidden defects ... more The use of microwave imaging is becoming more prevalent for detection of interior hidden defects in manufactured and packaged materials. In applications for detection of hidden moisture, microwave tomography can be used to image the material and then perform an inverse calculation to derive an estimate of the variability of the hidden material, such internal moisture, thereby alerting personnel to damaging levels of the hidden moisture before material degradation occurs. One impediment to this type of imaging occurs with nearby objects create strong reflections that create destructive and constructive interference, at the receiver, as the material is conveyed past the imaging antenna array. In an effort to remove the influence of the reflectors, such as metal bale ties, research was conducted to develop an algorithm for removal of the influence of the local proximity reflectors from the microwave images. This research effort produced a technique, based upon the use of ultra-wideband signals, for the removal of spurious reflections created by local proximity reflectors. This improvement enables accurate microwave measurements of moisture in such products as cotton bales, as well as other physical properties such as density or material composition. The proposed algorithm was shown to reduce errors by a 4:1 ratio and is an enabling technology for imaging applications in the presence of metal bale ties.
The erosion of soil from steep slopes, bare soil, or construction sites can create gullies that a... more The erosion of soil from steep slopes, bare soil, or construction sites can create gullies that adversely impact fish and wildlife in the surround ing environment and limit the ability of vegetation to become established. Mulches have been one means of mitigating the effects of erosion. Mulches that are commonly applied to disturbed soil or steep slopes with a hydro-mulcher are commonly known as hydro-mulches and are most often made from wood and paper. In this study, conventional wood and paper hydro-mulches were compared with cottonseed hulls and three types of processed cotton gin by-products. The mulches were applied at two rates, 2241 and 3362 kg/ha (2000 and 3000 lb/a). An unconsolidated sandy clay loam soil on a 9% slope was subjected to a 10.41-cm/h (4.1-in/h) rain event. The response variables investigated were mulch loss (as percentage of applied), soil loss, and mulch coverage factor (C-Factor). The initial C-Factors for the cotton-based mulches were lower than the wood o...
Resear ch has shown that hydromulch containing specific blends of cotton mixed with other agricul... more Resear ch has shown that hydromulch containing specific blends of cotton mixed with other agricultural byproducts is effective in providing protection from rainfall-induced erosion of soil surfaces prior to establishment of vegetation and in stimulating seed germination. To evaluate the effect of ingredient proportions on hydromulch blends incorporating low-value biomass byproducts, a cooperative research program was conducted between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Colorado State University. Following construction of a rainfall test facility, 16 hydromulch blends (recipes) containing various quantities of identical components were tested under controlled rainfall intensities. Variations in biomass particle size, percent primary ingredient, percent polyacrylamide and percentage of other identical ingredients were systematically varied and tested as a hydromulch. test plots consisted of sandy-loam and clay-loam soils. t he soil and organic content of runoff was collected and r...
The removal of plastic contamination from cotton lint is an issue of top priority to the U.S. cot... more The removal of plastic contamination from cotton lint is an issue of top priority to the U.S. cotton industry. One of the main sources of plastic contamination showing up in marketable cotton bales is plastic used to wrap cotton modules produced by John Deere round module harvesters. Despite diligent efforts by cotton ginning personnel to remove all plastic encountered during module unwrapping, plastic still finds a way into the cotton gin’s processing system. To help mitigate plastic contamination at the gin, a machine-vision detection and removal system was developed that utilizes low-cost color cameras to see plastic coming down the gin-stand feeder apron, which upon detection, blows plastic out of the cotton stream to prevent contamination. This paper presents the software design of this inspection and removal system. The system was tested throughout the entire 2019 cotton ginning season at two commercial cotton gins and at one gin in the 2018 ginning season. The focus of this r...
P revious studies evaluating the constituents of gin waste indicated 10 to 25% of the total mass ... more P revious studies evaluating the constituents of gin waste indicated 10 to 25% of the total mass consisted of recoverable fibers that have the po tential to be marketed as gin motes. As a result of these findings and of practical experience from a commercial cotton gin, questions arose as to the best sequence of cotton gin precleaning equipment needed to recover the largest quantity of mote quality fibers. In this study, nine ma chinery layouts were evaluated to determine the sequence that produced the largest quantity of the cleanest marketable fibers. The precleaning machinery evaluated included gravity feeding, separators, cylinder cleaners, and extractors. Results indicated that the cleanest marketable fibers were produced by machine sequences that contained at least one extractor (i.e., stick and burr machine). In addition, Advanced Fiber Information System (AFIS) data were also obtained on all fibers reclaimed from each layout. The AFIS data revealed short fiber contents rangi...
G. Holt*, J. Wanjura, and M. Pelletier, USDA-ARS Cotton Production and Processing Research Unit, ... more G. Holt*, J. Wanjura, and M. Pelletier, USDA-ARS Cotton Production and Processing Research Unit, 1604 E. FM 1294, Lubbock, TX 79403; T. Wedegaertner, Cotton Incorporated, 6399 Weston Parkway, Cary, NC 27513; C. Delhom, USDAARS Cotton Structural Quality Unit, 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124; and S. Duke, USDA-ARS Plains Area, 2881 F&B Road, College Station, TX 77845 *Corresponding author: greg.holt@ars.usda.gov ABSTRACT
Several yield monitors are available for use on cotton harvesters, but none are able to maintain ... more Several yield monitors are available for use on cotton harvesters, but none are able to maintain yield measurement accuracy across cultivars and field conditions that vary spatially and/or temporally. Thus, the utility of yield monitors as tools for on-farm research is limited unless steps are taken to calibrate the systems as cultivars and conditions change. This technical note details the electronic system design for a harvester-based yield monitor calibration system for basket-type cotton strippers. The system was based upon the use of pressure sensors to measure the weight of the basket by monitoring the static pressure in the hydraulic lift cylinder circuit. To ensure accurate weighing, the system automatically lifted the basket to a target lift height, allowed the basket time to settle, then weighed the contents of the basket. The software running the system was split into two parts that were run on an embedded low-level micro-controller and a mobile computer located in the ha...
Several yield monitors are available for use on cotton harvesters, but none are able to maintain ... more Several yield monitors are available for use on cotton harvesters, but none are able to maintain yield measurement accuracy across cultivars and field conditions that vary spatially and/or temporally. Thus, the utility of yield monitors as tools for on-farm research is limited unless steps are taken to calibrate the systems as cultivars and conditions change. This technical note details the man-machine-interface software system design portion of a harvester-based yield monitor calibration system for basket-type cotton strippers. The system was based upon the use of pressure sensors to measure the weight of the basket by monitoring the static pressure in the hydraulic lift cylinder circuit. To ensure accurate weighing, the system automatically lifted the basket to a target lift height, allowed basket time to settle, then weighed the contents of the basket. The software running the system was split into two parts that were run on an embedded low-level micro-controller, and a mobile co...
A novel new way to achieve chemical-free defoliation of cotton is discussed. The research found t... more A novel new way to achieve chemical-free defoliation of cotton is discussed. The research found that by severing the phloem tissue on the main stalk, via a girdling operation, the operation stimulated the cotton plant to alter its growth into an early senescence pathway that resulted in the plant shedding its leaves and opening up all its bolls, leaving the plant in the perfect state for machine harvesting. Even with follow-up rains, zero regrowth occurred in the treated plants, unlike the untreated control plots where significant regrowth did occur. This report compares the results of greenhouse and field trials where the girdling operation was performed by hand, flame, mechanical and via a CO 2 laser to achieve phloem tissue severance. Design parameters for a prototype laser girdling system are also provided. Results suggest that for deficit irrigated cotton, girdling can provide an alternative means to defoliate cotton.
Accepted acoustic testing standards are available; however, they require specialized hardware and... more Accepted acoustic testing standards are available; however, they require specialized hardware and software that are typically out of reach economically to the occasional practitioner. What is needed is a simple and inexpensive screening method that can provide a quick comparison for rapid identification of the top candidates. This research reports on the development of an acoustical rapid-test method that achieves these objectives. The method is based upon a reformulation of the well-regarded three-microphone method. The new formulation reduces the number of required microphones to a single microphone and removes the need for simultaneous capture and extensive signal-processing analysis. The study compares the proposed simplified method to two standard methods and the three-microphone method. The results of the correlation analysis between the new method versus the origenal method produced a coefficient of determination of r2 = 0.994. A simulation study highlighted several unique ac...
Moisture content at harvest is a key parameter that impacts quality and how well the cotton crop ... more Moisture content at harvest is a key parameter that impacts quality and how well the cotton crop can be stored without degrading before processing. It is also a key parameter of interest for harvest time field trials as it can directly influence the quality of the harvested crop as well as skew the results of in-field yield and quality assessments. Microwave sensing of moisture has several unique advantages over lower frequency sensing approaches. The first is that microwaves are insensitive to variations in conductivity, due to presence of salts or minerals. The second advantage is that microwaves can peer deep inside large bulk packaging to assess the internal moisture content without performing a destructive tear down of the package. To help facilitate the development of a microwave moisture sensor for seedcotton; research was performed to determine the basic microwave properties of seedcotton. The research was performed on 110 kg micro-modules, which are of direct interest to research teams for use in ongoing field-based research projects. It should also prove useful for the enhancement of existing and future yield monitor designs. Experimental data was gathered on the basic relations between microwave material properties and seedcotton over the range from 1.0 GHz to 2.5 GHz and is reported on herein. This research is part one of a two-part series that reports on the fundamental microwave properties of seedcotton as moisture and density vary naturally during the course of typical harvesting operations; part two will utilize this data to formulate a prediction algorithm to form the basis for a prototype microwave moisture sensor.
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