Effects of harvesting methods on foreign matter content, fiber quality, and yarn quality from irrigated cotton on the high plains

Picker and stripper harvest systems were compared for harvesting irrigated cotton on the High Plains. Stoneville 4554 B2RF was harvested using a picker harvester and a stripper harvester with and without field cleaning. The effect of harvest treatment on foreign matter, fiber quality, and yarn quality were compared. Picked cotton generally had less foreign material, higher micronaire and a higher length uniformity than stripped cotton, likely due to the presence of more immature fibers in stripped cotton. Little difference was detected between harvest treatments in carded yarn quality. However, more substantial differences were detected in the quality of carded and combed yarns based on harvest treatment.