Solving Cotton Quality Problems: White Speck and Barky Cotton

James R. Supak


 
ABSTRACT

Cotton quality encompasses both fiber characteristics and non-lint components within the bale. White specks in dyed goods are mainly entangled knots (neps) of very immature fibers that resist dyeing. Bark is composed primarily of long, fibrous strands of phloem fiber groups that are difficult to remove with gin cleaning machinery and at high concentrations reduce processing efficiency at mills. Barky cotton is closely associated with the stick content of bur cotton. The occurrences of both white specks and barky cotton have been implicated with variations in growing season conditions, cultural practices and harvesting techniques. Overall, those factors that influence the degree of lint and seed development (maturity) seem to be of paramount importance. Production practices which promote crop earliness should help minimize both white specks and barky cotton. Proper plant conditioning after crop termination, stripper adjustments to reduce stick content and timely harvest can further reduce the incidence of barky bales.



Reprinted from 1992 Proceedings Beltwide Cotton Conferences pp. 94 - 96
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

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Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998