What is the term for the process of removing seeds from cotton fibers?

The process of removing seeds from cotton fibers is known as ginning. This critical step in cotton processing occurs after harvesting and involves the separation of the cotton fibers from the seeds. Ginning ensures that the fibers can be further processed into yarn and fabric, making it a vital part of the cotton production cycle.

During ginning, the cotton bolls are opened, and machines called cotton gins are used to extract the fibers from the seeds. This not only helps in producing clean cotton fibers but also collects the seeds, which can be used for planting or processed for oil extraction. Understanding ginning is essential for anyone in the cotton industry, as it directly impacts the quality of the raw material used in fabric production.

Spinning, weaving, and harvesting each represent different stages in cotton production and processing but do not refer to the removal of seeds specifically. Spinning involves twisting the cleaned fibers into yarn, weaving is the technique of interlacing yarns to create fabric, and harvesting pertains to the collection of cotton crops from the fields. Thus, ginning is the appropriate term for this specific process.