Evaluation of polymer coated cottonseed as an alternative method of preparing cottonseed for planting

For the past ninety-five years, cottonseed intended for planting purposes has been exposed to one of three acid delinting procedures. Cotton planting seed is required to flow in a single seed manner, and through the years the importance of having cottonseed that will flow in a singulated manner has increased with the development of modern planting equipment. This flowing action required is restricted by linters and small amounts of long fibers that remain on the seed after the ginning process. These linters that remain on the seed cause the seed to clump together preventing a singulated flowing action required for mechanical planting. Therefore, cottonseed is exposed to an acid delinting procedure, which removes the linters from the seed enabling it to flow without restriction in a singulated manner. Even though the acid delinting procedure is very effective and inexpensive, there are certain concerns associated with these processes which include: (1) potential seed damage, (2) worker safety, (3) environmental issues such as waste disposal, and (4) deterioration of equipment exposed to the acid. The use of an alternative method could address some of these concerns. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of polymer/starch coated cottonseed as an alternative method of preparing cottonseed for planting purposes.

Data from the Field studies indicated no significant differences among the treatment (Acid delinted, Mechanical delinted, and Coated) comparisons. Results obtained from the field studies did not show any differences among any of the treatments tested; the Coated treatments performed equal to or better than the Acid delinted treatment in all parameters tested. Treatment comparisons for all parameters tested, within each cultivar, did not show any negative effects when the seed was mechanically delinted and then treated with the polymer/starch coating. For the most part, treatments followed the same trends in performance for all three cultivars tested. Test results further indicated that polymer/starch coated seed can be separated into various density fractions.

Emergence and Establishment data for both the cool and warm tests conducted in the Environmental Control Chamber exhibited the same trends. Data indicated that cottonseed can be mechanically delinted and coated with the polymer/starch coating and not suffer any loss in Emergence or Establishment. Separation data in the Environmental Control Chamber showed the same trends as the Laboratory data, indicating that coated cottonseed can be separated into various density fractions.

Test results from Petersburg indicated that it is possible to plant the Coated seed with modern planting equipment; however, the coated seed did show a slight reduction in the seeding rate under the same planter calibration settings. The Coated seed did not show any negative effects or losses in Emergence, Establishment, or Yield when compared to the Acid delinted seed. Data from this one study conducted in 2004 did not show any differences between the performance of Acid delinted and Coated seed, therefore, we conclude that Coated seed can be planted on a large scale and not suffer any losses.