An integrated cotton growth, harvesting and processing model that will provide a realistic simulation of the cotton production and processing system on the Southern Great Plains is needed. Some pieces of this integrated model, such as GOSSYM (a plant growth model), exist or can be modified for the stripper harvested areas of the cotton production belt. However, unique conditions for stripper harvested cotton prevent the general adoption of harvesting and processing models developed for the picker harvested areas. Most of the existing cotton models make little or no attempt to predict cotton quality as a function of environmental or operational conditions. We chose to model the effects of lint cleaner and environmental operating parameters on cotton fiber quality as the first step in developing a complete integrated production and processing model.

The environmental aid operating parameters chosen included lint moisture, initial fiber properties before cleaning, saw cylinder speed, saw diameter, batt weight, and combing ratio. Data was obtained from appropriate published articles and annual reports and combined into a single data set containing 670 observations. Stepwise regression techniques were used to develop regression equations for the fiber properties as a function of input conditions and lint cleaner operating parameters.

These equations provide relationships with R-square values ranging from 0.96 for length to 0.59 for colorimeter reflectance. Visible foreign matter can be predicted for up to 4 lint cleaners, with an R-square value of 0.76. The relationships are generally in agreement with published reports by other investigators.