Analysis of the cotton varieties under production in Ethiopia

Abstract

In Ethiopia, cotton is trademarked by the name of the farm and the location or the farm owner. Variety name and fiber quality characteristics are not part of the labeling. The aim of this research is to identify the cotton varieties in Ethiopia. Dp 90 covers 90% of the total acreage while the rest of the area under production is planted with local varieties and Stam 59A. In this study Ethiopian cotton classification is done by using USTER® HVI 1000 and USTER® AFIS PRO2. Comparative analysis of the quality characteristics of Ethiopian cotton such as UHML, strength, uniformity, short fiber content, color were analyzed by USTER® HVI 1000 and fineness, maturity UQL and short fiber content by number were considered by USTER® AFIS PRO2. The data analysis using Minitab® 17 shows that local type cotton gives the best fiber properties followed by Stam 59A and Dp 90. Compared to Texas cotton, Ethiopian cotton has better uniformity due to the presence of a single variety Dp 90 despite the limitations within bale variability. For other properties, findings reveal lower quality especially in strength and upper half mean length which are the main fiber characteristics that determines the spinning quality.

Keywords

• ethiopian cotton
• dp 90
• stam 59a
• texas cotton
• afis fineness
• cotton fiber classification