Cotton Defoliation

Today almost all the harvested cotton is placed into module builders and stored in cotton modules on the edge of the field and transported to gins using module trucks that provide for a predictable, manageable, and economical ginning operation. Most gins have module storage areas that facilitate all weather access to modules for processing. The module storage system has decoupled ginning from harvesting, providing an economical and safe method of handling and storing seed cotton.

Safe storage of moduled seed cotton requires good defoliation and/or desiccation prior to harvest. Excess green vegetative material and late-season re-growth can contribute to high levels of trash and excessive moisture content (greater than 12%) of seed cotton in the module. High moisture content causes modules to heat and increases the frequency of light-spot (or lower) grades and reduces seed quality.

Modules vary in height and weight but they typically contain 14-16 bales of picked cotton (in picker harvested modules) or 10-14 bales of stripped cotton (in stripper harvested modules). The optimum number of harvesters per module builder depends on crop yield, row length, and operator proficiency. Too many harvesters per module builder can result in inefficiency caused by the inability of the module builders to keep up. Too few harvesters results in underutilization of the module builders. Six picker heads or 6 to 8 stripper heads per builder is a good ratio.