ABSTRACT

Proper control of the moisture content (mc) of ginned lint in commercial gins requires accurate moisture sensors. A microprocessor-based system that predicted the mc of lint in the bale based on the bale press geometry and the hydraulic pressure required to form the bale was installed in a new gin in Kansas. Predicted bale moisture values were compared to oven-based moisture values and the uncorrected standard error of the estimate was 0.40. The hydraulic pressure-press geometry method predicted lint moisture content sufficiently accurately for moisture control.