Childers, Roy E.

Metzer, Robert B.

Supak, James R.

English

Texas A&M University

ft,-'-~3
L-2078
~ 10 M
KEYS TO HIGH QUALITY LINT AND
SEED WITH A COTTON MODULE BUILDER
Robert B. Metzer, James R. Supak and Roy E. Childers*
Use of the cotton module builder as a storage and
transport system has increased since the early 1970s.
In 1982 more than 2,700 module builders were used
to module over 60 percent of the Texas cotton crop.
Several factors are responsible for the rapid accept-
ance of these machines. These include allowing the
harvest operation to be independent of trailer availa-
bility and ginning capacity and permitting cotton
harvest to proceed uninterrupted during favorable
weather conditions.
The module builder has helped stabilize cotton
acreage in areas with declining numbers of gins. This
is attributed to the improved handling and transport
system associated with the module builder which
permits a more orderly ginning operation. Module
storage allows gins to process cotton at a more con-
stant rate even when intermittent rainy periods tem-
porarily stop field harvest operations.
Although there are definite benefits associated
with the use of the module builder, associated prob-
lems develop in moduling unprocessed cotton con-
taining lint, seed and nonlint material as harvested by
stripper or spindle picker harvester. A large portion
of this problem is attributed to improper harvesting
techniques which frequently result in damp seed
cotton going into module storage. Further quality loss
is associated with improper building and covering of
modules. Reduced lint and seed quality during stor-
age costs the industry millions of dollars each year.
Excessive moisture in seed cotton not only re-
duces quality after a period in storage, but it also
increases the weight of seed cotton which contributes
to lower gin turnout and higher ginning cost. Wet
modules can reduce ginning capacity up to 50 per-
cent. The cost involved in ginning hot, wet modules
*Respectively, Extension cotton specialist, Extension agrono-
mist-cotton and Extension agricultural engineer-cotton ginning
and mechanization, The Texas A&M University System.
4.11
becomes prohibitive with current high energy and
labor costs.
Damp seed cotton also is costly for the oil mill
operator. High moisture content in seed from impro-
perly stored cotton not only reduces the processing
capacity of oil mills but also"causes severe reduction
in seed grade. Free fatty acid (FAA) content of seed in
properly stored seed cotton normally ranges from 0.2
to 0.5 percent but may be as high as 11 to 12 percent
in seed from hot, wet modules. Deteriorated seed
from improperly prepared modules can result in mon-
.etary losses of $30 to $40 per ton.
Even higher losses can occur in cotton seed
processed for planting purposes. Germination per-
cent can be reduced drastically in a short time after
the module temperature reaches the 1100 to 1200 F.
range. Cotton seed that cannot be used for planting
purposes are reduced in value and may result in
losses of $600 to $700 per ton.
Proper cultural and harvesting techniques help
increase the quantity of clean, dry seed cotton going
into module storage. Lint and seed quality losses are
minimized if certain key practices are followed during
production, harvest and the module-building process.
This fact sheet provides information on manage-
ment operations that help preserve lint and seed
quality. Five key management recommendations are
given below.
FIRST KEY.; Manage. cultural practices that con-
tribute to high quality seed cotton.
Production of clean, mature cotton starts early in
the season when the crop is planted. How well cultur-
al practices are carried out in a timely manner during
the season largely determines the quality of the crop
at harvest time. This requires careful attention of the
following practices.
• Use high quality planting seed to obtain an early,
uniform stand with a final plant population of 40
thousand to 60 thousand plants per acre.
Texas Agricultural Extension Service. The Texas A&M University System. Zerle L. Carpenter, Director. College Station, Texas
• Conduct early season insect control to encourage
early fruiting.
• Base fertility program on soil test results and
realistic yield goals. Avoid excess nitrogen that
could promote rank vegetative growth and delay
maturity.
• Develop sound weed control programs and produc-
tion systems to help reduce grassy and barky bales.
• Plan irrigation to maximize water use efficiency for
optimum yields of mature fiber and seed.
Properly managed cultural practices encourage
earlier maturity which enables the crop to be pre-
pared more easily for harvest with harvest-aid
chemicals.
SECOND KEY: Harvest clean, dry cotton.
As the crop is prepared for harvest, most manage-
ment decisions are directed at insuring clean, dry
cotton for storage and ginning. Cotton free of green
leaf trash with moisture content below 12 percent is
the most important factor to insure high quality lint
and seed during the module storage period. This
begins after a killing frost or with a well planned
harvest-aid program, making sure all plant parts are
desiccated. Reducing leaf trash and drying out the
plant eliminates the main source of moisture in seed
cotton. Some of the major factors essential for a
successful harvest-aid program are listed below.
• Treat crop during open weather when daytime
temperatures are above 60° F. and the 5-day
weather forecast is favorable.
• Treat when fiber is mature; 65 percent or more of
the bolls should be open for defoliation, and 85
percent or more should be open before desiccation.
• Allow sufficient time after treatment to insure good
leaf drop with defoliants and complete drying of
leaves and stems after desiccation. Depending on
weather conditions, 5 to 10 days may be required
after treatment to obtain full defoliation or desicca-
tion.
• Adjust spray equipment to insure adequate
coverage.
Careful management in harvesting insures that
clean, dry cotton goes into module storage. Allow
morning dews to evaporate before harvesting and
stop harvesting when cotton begins to collect mois-
ture in the evenings. Seed cotton moisture should not
exceed 12 percent to avoid hot modules. A moisture
level of 8 to 10 percent is considered ideal for harvest-
ing and storage.
A relative humidity of 60 percent or below ~n the
field is associated with 8 percent or lower moisture
content on seed cotton. Use a moisture meter to
determine the moisture content of cotton before har-
vest. With experience one can also check moisture
content by the squeeze test. If the seed cotton springs
back or fluffs after squeezing it, it is likely dry enough
to start harvesting. However, if it remains wadded up
and does not spring back after the squeeze test, the
cotton is probably too damp for harvest and safe
storage in modules.
THIRD KEY: Build proper modules.
Much of the time and effort required to insure
that high quality cotton goes into module storage can
be lost later during periods of adverse weather if the
module is not properly constructed. A well built
module is packed uniformly with a slightly rounded
top without depressions or valleys.
The ends need extra compaction to reduce han-
dling loss. Place the last dump in the middle of the
module to obtain a rounded top that can be protected
better with a tarpaulin. Modules with uneven tops
can collect rain or snow. Closely check each module
after rain or snow to determine if moisture ac-
cumulated. Remove snow from the module before it
melts. If moisture penetrates into the module, gin the
wet module as soon as possible.
FOURTH KEY: Protect module from weather.
If clean, dry seed cotton goes into module storage,
it can be stored for extended periods without quality
loss. Proper location of modules is one of the first
considerations for reducing weather damage.
Unless the module is located on an elevated site,
heavy rains can cause the seed cotton to deteriorate
from the bottom as moisture moves up into the cotton
mass by capillary action. Do not build modules on
cloddy ground or over old stalks that could increase
the amount of trash and soil that gets mixed with the
seed cotton during the loading operation.
Locate modules near an all-weather road to per-
mit hauling to the gin during wet periods. This be-
comes especially important when gins "catch-up"
during rainy periods and begin ginning modules
brought in from the field. In summary, the important
practices regarding module location are listed below.
• Locate module on well drained, compacted sites;
prepare an elevated site if necessary; site should be
free of clods and plant residue.
• Locate modules at sites that permit hauling during
wet weather.
• Allow sufficient space between modules to meet
insurance regulations.
A tarp is an important aid in protecting seed
cotton from weather damage during storage. There
are various companies that market several types of
tarps, including those made from cotton ducking or
various lightweight material. Tarp material and meth-
ods for applying tarps to modules are continually
being improved. Producers should check with their
equipment dealers or gin suppliers before purchasing
tarps. Tarps are frequently difficult to keep in place in
windy, low humidity regions such as West Texas.
Although the frequency of rain and snow in the West
Texas area is low during the harvest season, covering
modules is still recommended. Producers should at
least make provisions to cover modules if snow or wet
weather develops. When tarps are not used, produc-
ers in the West Texas region should use some type of
netting material to reduce losses from high wind.
Recommended uses of tarps on modules are listed
below:
• Consider tarps as insurance against weather
damage.
• Tarps are essential for maintaining seed cotton
quality in higher rainfall regions.
• Check tarps after rain or snow storms to make sure
moisture does not collect in pockets or valleys.
• Remove snow from uncovered module before melt-
ing occurs.
• Check closely for moisture condensation beneath
tarps made from material other than cotton
ducking.
• Tarps should be ofadequate size to cover module (6
feet wider and 6 feet longer than the module).
• If high winds or hurricanes are anticipated, loop a
wire around the module and through the tarp pins
to keep tarp in place.
• To avoid lint contamination, do not use black poly
twine as tie-down materials.
FIFTH KEY: Check temperature during storage.
The most important indicator of lint and seed
quality preservation during the first 3 to 4 days of
storage is the rise and decline in temperature within
the module. To obtain a representative temperature
check, make readings at three locations along the
module at waist high levels. A 3-foot long, dial-type
thermometer is recommended to obtain tempera-
tures near the center of the module. Once the probe-
type thermometer is inserted into the cotton mass,
keep it in position until an accurate reading is ob-
tained (3 to 5 minutes).
Even when seed cotton is below 12 percent mois-
ture, a normal temperature rise of 10° to 20° F. can be
expected during the first few days of storage, followed
by a gradual decline after 48 to 72 hours. A rapid
(overnight) increase in temperature of 15° to 25° F. or
more indicates that seed cotton has excessive mois-
ture and that the module is going to heat. If the
temperature increases to 110° to 120° F., lint and
seed quality may be reduced. Seeds are usually more
subject to quality deterioration than lint. Gin hot
modules immediately to prevent further quality loss.
When the air temperature is high (100° F. or more)
during harvest, seed cotton may go into module
storage at a relatively high temperature. However,
high seed cotton temperature due to high ambient air
temperature during harvest does not have an adverse
effect on quality. Expect a gradual temperature de-
cline in the cotton mass after storage when the seed
cotton is below 12 percent moisture.
Normally, a rapid rise in temperature during the
first 2 days of storage indicates high moisture trash
and/or damp seed cotton. However, any time dry
seed cotton is exposed to excess moisture, a rise in
temperature can be expected. S~ow, rain storms or
hurricanes that allow moisture to penetrate the top or
sides of the module can start heating in a matter of
hours. After such storms, check the temperature to
ascertain if water damage has occurred. A list of
important points regarding temperature checks dur-
ing module storage is given below.
• Check temperature daily until the module temper-
ature starts to decline.
• Expect a gradual temperature increase of 15° to 20°
F. the first 3 to 5 days.
• A rapid overnight temperature rise of 15° to 20° F.
indicates the presence of excess moisture and
should be considered a warning of potential prob-
lems.
• Temperature readings over 110° F. and 120° F. can
result in reduced lint and seed quality. Seed ex-
posed to these temperature levels should not be
saved for planting purpose ..
• Temperature is an indicator of seed and fiber quali-
ty maintenance; unfavorably high temperatures in-
dicate potential quality deterioration.
• Obtain temperature readings at waist-high level at
three locations along the module.
SUMMARY
This publication discusses the five key manage-
ment areas necessary to produce and maintain high
quality seed cotton during production, harvest and
module storage. Good quality can be achieved and
maintained through cultural practices that contribute
to an early crop of mature cotton and which help
maintain a proper stalk size that facilitates effective
use of defoliants and desiccants. This contributes to
high harvesting efficiency and clean, dry cotton in
module storage. Protect the seed cotton from wet
weather during storage by selecting a well drained
site on which to locate the module. Construct mod-
ules that are rounded on top and well compacted for
proper covering. When these criteria are met, seed
cotton can be stored indefinitely in modules with
little or no reduction in quality.
Educational programs conducted by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service serve people ofall ages regardless ofsocioeconomic level, .race,
color, sex, religion, handicap or national origin.
Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, The Texas A&M University System and the United States Department of
Agriculture cooperating. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8, 1914, as amended, and June 30, 1914.
10M-4-83 AGR 2


Keys to High Quality Lint and Seed with a Cotton Module Builder.

https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/bitstream/1969.1/174695/4/2078/Leaf2078.pdf

Keys to High Quality Lint and Seed with a Cotton Module Builder.

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