The impact of Palmer amaranth on mechanical harvesting, ginning, and fiber quality in dryland cotton was documented. Only the highest Palmer amaranth density (3,260 weeds/ha) reduced lint and seed yields. However, all weed densities increased harvesting time 2- to 3.5-fold. Two factors increased the time required for stripper harvesting: slower ground speeds due to large weeds and work stoppages that required hand removal of weed stems lodged in the harvester. Ninety-eight percent of the weedy plant material was discarded in the field by the harvester, and the remaining 2% was successfully removed in ginning and lint-cleaning processes. Weed infestations did not result in any differences in moisture content of seed cotton, ginning time, fiber quality, or the percentage of cleaned lint.

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Seven sources of cotton representing a wide range of fiber properties were roller ginned, saw ginned, or saw ginned plus processed through tandem saw lint cleaners or through an aggressive carding-type cleaner (Cottonmaster1). Lint cleaner induced changes in fiber length and nep count were compared to fiber property measurements from roller ginned samples. Fiber length deterioration from saw ginning was negatively correlated with fiber strength. Fiber breakage in lint cleaning was positively correlated with fiber fineness. Resistance to fiber length damage in ginning was explained best by fiber strength and fineness, or an estimate of individual fiber strength. Initial and final nep level were related to fineness, nonlint content, and upper quartile length, but an increase in neps due to lint cleaning had no significant relationship to fiber properties.

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Little quantitative information is available that relates physical cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plant characteristics to lint grade for stripper harvested cultivars. In a 4‐year study, the effect of varying levels of leaf and bract pubescence and degrees of boll compactness on lint grade index of hand‐harvested seedcotton and burcotton were investigated. Leaf and bract trash, mechanically mixed in raw cotton after harvest, did not adhere to raw lint as tightly as trash incorporated by natural field weathering. Variations in growing season had more effect on lint grade index than specific plant characteristics. However, the following plant character effects were observed: (a) Increasing levels of blade trichome density (BTD) in leaves and bracts reduced lint grade index, (b) Maximum bur diameter was positively correlated with boll fluffiness index (BFI), (c) BFI was inversely related to grade index for lint obtained from burcotton. (d) Bur strength did not affect lint grade index. The results indicate that the bract attached to the bur is responsible for burcotton having lower lint grade indices than seedcotton.