Study of physical and mechanical properties of cotton stalks in relation to plant pulling machinery

A study was undertaken to determine the mechanical properties of the cotton stalk (F-1861 Variety) in relation to design of cotton stalk pulling machinery. The physical properties like root depth, stalk diameter and stalk height while mechanical properties of the cotton stalk such as hardness, crushing and bending strength were studied. Wide variations in physical as well as in mechanical properties of cotton stalks were observed. The root depth, stalk diameter and stalk height of this variety varied from 130 to 260 mm, n.23 to 22.25 mm and 760 to 1570 mm respectively. Hardness, crushing and bending strength of cotton stalks (cantilever loading) varied from 29.64 to 55.42 Nrmm′, 4.54 to JJ.31 Nrmm″ and 61.22 to 102.34 Nrmm′ respectively at moisture content of 60.00 percent and 36.14 to 61.46N/mm², 5.74 to 15.34 Nrmm′ and 54.35 to 132.20 Nrmm′ respectively at moisture content of 55.50 percent. The effect ofstalk moisture content was significanton all the mechanical properties.