Application of a resistance moisture meter to HVI strength measurements

A series of four studies were conducted with the assistance of two U.S. Dep artment of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service offices to determine the range of fiber moisture encountered in cotton classing and to examine t he potential of using on-line moisture readings to assist with fiber streng th readings. These studies showed that the meter could be used with the exi sting high volume instrument (HVI) cotton classing equipment and that the m easured moisture content (m.c.) correlated with the HVI strength, as it sho uld. The first study, conducted at the Memphis Quality Control Section, dem onstrated the usefulness of the resistance moisture meter and showed a stro ng relationship between measured m.c. and HVI strength. The second study wa s conducted at the Greenwood, Mississippi, Classing Office (CO) during the regular classing season to determine if the meter could operate under CO pr oduction conditions and determine the range of moisture contents which must be measured. The meter functioning well during the classing season. The me asured m.c. of cotton samples was found to have a greater range than expect ed during classing and was directly proportional to the HVI strength. Ninet y-four percent of the samples were within the range of 6.3% to 7.6% wet bas is (w.b.) but the entire observed range was 5.8% to 10.0% w.b. The third st udy was conducted at the Greenwood, CO on samples prepared at the U.S. Cott on Ginning Laboratory, USDA, ARS, Stoneville, Mississippi, and ginned under several moisture treatments. Ginning machines and post-ginning moisture tr eatment affected the fiber m.c. relatively little, but a significant reduct ion in strength was attributed to ginning at m.c. below 7% w.b. The fourth study was conducted at the Greenwood, CO where samples were subjected to no nstandard moisture conditions and then HVI classed. This study showed that even when the m.c. variation measured by the experimental meter was low (0. 3%) there was a measurable effect on HVI strength. All four studies resulte d in a significant correlation between the measured m.c. and the measured H VI strength showing that the resistance moisture meter is a promising addit ion to the HVI classing line.