Project Number: 6435-44000-070-02
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Jan 01, 2005
End Date: Dec 31, 2009

Objective:
The objectives are to determine the ability of advanced portable instrumentation (spectroscopic, etc.) to monitor critical cottonfiber properties of breeder samples both at-line and in the field; to evaluate the impacts of field and cotton planting variables (temperature, humidity, sample size, plant variety, etc.) on the portable instrumentation results; and if feasible to develop a portable advanced instrumentation system/protocol to monitor key cotton fiber properties of breeder samples in the field.

Approach:
The research will emphasize initial evaluations and field trials on the capabilities of advanced NIR portable instrumentaitkon to measure cotton fiber properties (seed and ginned/cleaned). Additional advanced portabale technologies will be evaluated as resources and funding become available. Specifically, the NIR analyses with a portable unit will continue, with emphasize expanded to include moisture analyses as well as maturity analyses. Initial maturity analyses will be initiated on intact bolls (seed cotton and bur) of various cotton varieties and their subsequent cleaned fiber in the laboratory with the NIR units in order to determine the impact of seeds and trash on the NIR measurement and to develop techniques and protocols for measuring small size samples with the portable units. If research instrumentation and resources are available, the NIR unit(s) and personnel will visit several diverse locations and measure cotton bolls "on the plant."