Cotton production has become one of the main in the world, suffering a gradual increase in recent years. considering that this product has contributed a lot to the country’s economy. For this reason, some care must be taken regarding planting, harvesting, storage and transportation of cotton, guaranteeing its quality.

Thinking about it, we have prepared this content to show some issues that deserve special attention throughout this process.

Harvesting and storage of cotton

In cases where the harvester has its baskets full of cotton, the ideal is that they are emptied. This can be done by means of a specific trailer, similar to the tipper, known as Bass Boy.

This Bass Boy is composed of a chassis, double wheels and a basket made of canvas and sheet metal, where it is pulled by means of a medium power tractor. The process works as follows: the equipment receives the cotton from the harvester, in large volume, but with light load, and takes it to a compactor press, where it will supply it.

Then, to unload the product that is in the press, it is necessary for the operator to activate the hydraulics in the machine, making the basket rise to the height of the press. Soon after, another command is triggered so that the dosing belt is moved, unloading the cotton in an organized way.

Among the aspects that must be observed in storage are:

• The degree of yellowing of cotton tends to increase as the storage time grows;
• the storage period influences the type of cotton fiber;
• over time, the tendency is that the fiber thickens.

Usefulness of the compactor

The compacting press aims to create the bales using the compaction of the collided product. It has a configuration similar to that of a metallic coffin, without bottom and built on tires.

Its sides have a reinforcement and, above them and on top, there is a structure that moves lengthwise. In it there is a piston with an apple tree, used to press the cotton in the compartment completely.

The press is activated by using the force of the tract, by means of roller chains. Generally, four baskets full of cotton are needed to create a bale, which weighs 10 tons on average.

Care during baling

Because it is a procedure that deals with a very important product for the Brazilian trade, several precautions must be taken so that the uniforming of the cotton happens in the safest and most efficient way possible. This is fundamental for the transportation to happen in the proper way.

The uniforms are the way to store the crop production. For this reason, the most recommended is, first of all, to clean the area and remove the stalks from the cotton plants, and put a layer of 5 centimeters of cotton bushes, obtained through the cotton trees. The intuition is to avoid that the bottom has contact with the soil and thus contaminate the product.

Care for transportation

After this process, all possible care must be taken when placing the cotton in the transport vehicle. In this case, one of the main alternatives is to use cotton cloth or tow bags.

It is also necessary to be careful not to force the limit of the bags, that is, to store cotton above capacity in order to make it fit more. This damages the fiber of the product to be transported.

When inserting and protecting the cotton in the vehicle used for transportation, the ideal is that the load is covered by a plastic canvas in perfect conditions, which must cover the whole volume. Besides, take the necessary measures so that no kind of perforation happens, avoiding the entrance of dirt or rain water.

Optionally, you can fix the bales with tape, avoiding the use of wires and other materials that can cause holes in the canvas or sparks.

Consider that cotton is a very flammable material and the use of equipment composed of metals can generate a fire in the whole load, causing serious damages and headaches.

Types of transport

There are several types of transport and, among the best known, are the seed cotton and the cotton seed, each with its own specificities. Knowing more about them is important to avoid as much as possible that the product falls on the roads during the journey.

Thus, you guarantee that it will arrive in perfect condition to the final recipient. Understand a little better how each one of these processes works.

Cotton seed

In the case of the transport of cotton seed, the most appropriate is to do the canning of the load or bales to prevent the hoods from falling on the carriers of the farms, roads, causing the growth of plants in places not prepared for their emergence.

In the case of transmodules, cover the bales with tarpaulins or place boards to avoid the displacement of cotton.

Cotton core

In the type of transportation carried out through the cotton seed, it is important to respect some basic principles, considering that the material’s path is made in bulk. However, due to the fact that it is light, in many situations, the plants have as a measure to raise the loads of the vehicles.

The objective is to increase its weight, which makes it very high, increasing the risk of the stones falling along the route. Among the efficient alternatives is to load the lump at the level of the truck body, since this is the most correct way to transport it.

However, it is necessary to verify that there are no holes in the structure of the vehicle, in addition to removing the remains of lumps that fall into the truck during loading, using a blower or other equipment. In case the load is bigger, the most suitable is to develop a strategy or technology that compacts it to the ideal level of the body.