Abstract:
Mesta variety AS73 CP 560 grown in Institute of Organic Farming, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad was
selected for the study. Fibres were extracted from stalks harvested at two different stages of plant growth using urea
treatment and different steeping methods. Scoured, bleached and dyed mesta fibres were assessed for quality viz.,
length, fineness, strength and elongation. Results found that length of the fibres have gradually reduced on wet
processing treatmentsuch as scouring, scouring+bleaching, scouring+bleaching+dyeing, on subjecting such fibres to
chemicals and higher temperature tends to break these nodes and thereby reduce the fibre length. A successive
decrease in the fibre diameter was observed on wet processing treatment, because pretreatment leading to a larger
removal of impurities from the fibre. Due to the coarser characteristics of fibre there is hardly influenced of fibre
strength on scouring, but scouring+bleaching and scouring+bleaching+dyeing had adversed effect on the fibre
strength. Similarly, a successive decrease in the fibre elongation was noticed on wet processing treatment, fibres
break at certain point at higher load that creates extension in fibre structure.