Influence of harvesting system in cotton fiber characteristics

ABSTRACT Choices in crop management such as cultivar and harvesting system can influence fiber quality parameters. This study aimed to evaluate fiber characteristics of two cultivars in narrow row cotton submitted to different mechanized harvesting systems (picker and stripper). The experiment was conducted in season 2012, with 0.45 m, at Juscimeira - MT. It was used randomized block design in split plot with two factors, factor A in the plots (two cultivars) and factor B in the subplots (three harvesting systems - manual, picker and stripper), with five replications. The quality of the fiber was determined in manually collected samples of plants and after harvest, withdrawn inside the basket of each harvester. The analysis of the characteristics of fiber, were analyzed in Laboratory of Classification of Fiber in apparatus by HVI (High Volume Instrument). Fibers picked with manual, followed by picker system have characteristics and better quality compared to fibers harvested with stripper.