The Effect of Blends between Some Egyptian cotton Varieties and Introduced Cottons on Technological and Spinning Characters

Two Egyptian long staple cotton varieties (Giza 86 and Giza 80) were blended with imported Greek and Russian cottons at 100, 75, 50, 25 and 0 percent of Egyptian cotton component in blend. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of blending, with different percentages, on fiber and yarn properties. The study was set up as split plot design, where the varietal blends were allocated to the main plots and the blending percentages assigned to the subplots. Fiber properties, i.e., fiber length, uniformity and fiber strength values decreased, whereas fiber elongation, mirconaire value and neps count increased, with increasing imported upland cotton percentage in the blend. Differences were also found between Egyptian cotton cultivars where Giza 86 gave higher values for fiber length and strength values, but lower micronaire and neps values compared to Giza 80. Concerning yarn characteristics, most of the studied yarn properties were not affected by varietal blends, blending percentages and their interaction. However, number of neps places were lower for introduced cotton compared to Egyptian cotton. Yarn elongation varied significantly with the percentage of imported cotton in the blend and was highest (5.94) with 50:50% Egyptian to introduced cotton. The correlation between blended fiber properties and yarn characteristics varied according to varietal blend, but, generally, showed negative correlation between single yarn strength and fiber micronaire value (-0.54), and between yarn uniformity and blended fiber elongation (- 0.58).