Determination of variation limits of cotton fibre qualitycharacteristics of the Southeastern Anatolia region

This study aims to determine the limits of variation in fiber quality characteristics in cotton varieties produced in the Southeastern Anatolia Region and two important provinces where cotton production is intensely made (Şanlıurfa and Diyarbakır), to reveal the fiber quality criteria in cotton varieties available both in the region and in the provinces and to compare the quality characteristics of cotton varieties widely cultivated in the region. In the study, 1090 fiber samples obtained from 6 cotton varieties collected from ginning factories in Şanlıurfa and Diyarbakır provinces within the scope of the EU/IPA Project "Regional Industrial Collaboration in Cotton Fibre Manufacturing Project" conducted under the coordination of the GAP International Agricultural Research and Training Center (GAPUTAEM) were used as material. These varieties are Lima, Stoneville 468, Candia and Babylon varieties for Şanlıurfa, Lima, Stoneville 468, Lodos and Gloria for Diyarbakır. Fiber quality analyzes were carried out in the GAP Cotton Fiber Test and Analysis Laboratory established within GAPUTAEM, by using the High Volume Instrument (HVI) device after performing the necessary conditions. In the study fiber length, fiber strength, fiber fineness, fiber uniformity index, short fiber index, fiber elongation, fiber maturity index, spinnig consistency index, fiber reflectance, fiber yellowness, trash count and trash area characteristics were examined and obtained data were analyzed by using Excel and TOTEMSTAT programs. In the frequency distribution, cotton varieties produced in the Southeastern Anatolia Region are in the medium and long fiber group in terms of fiber length, short and extra long fibers were not exist among the observed material. They were in the medium (only two samples), strong and very strong group in terms of fiber strength, there was no material in weak and very weak group. The fibers were generally in the medium and thick group in terms of fiber fineness, and only one sample was in the very thick fiber group, it was determined that thin and very fine fibers were not exist among observed samples. This obtained results indicates that there is no maturation problem in cotton fibers. In terms of fiber uniformity index, it was observed that the majority of the fibers were in the middle group and there were one each in the very low and very high groups. In terms of short fiber index, the majority of the fibers were in the very low and low group. The majority of the samples were in the high and medium group in terms of fiber elongation, in the mature and very mature group in terms of fiber maturity. In terms of spinnig consistency index 59,2% of the fibers were between 119,41 and 135,83; 31,3% of them were between 135,83 and 152,24. 58,2% of the material has a fiber brightness value of 74 and above. Yellow and very yellow colored fibers were not exist, all materials were in white and light yellow groups in terms of yellowness. It has been observed that the majority of the fibers (66%) are in low group in terms of trash count. These values showed that the cotton fibers produced in the Southeastern Anatolia Region meet the demands of the textile industry. Keywords: Analysis, change, cotton, fiber, frequency, quality