MAHALE, GEETAMANJULATHA, C.2019-01-222019-01-222015-06http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810091988The present investigation titled “Effect of softeners on Deccani wool blanket” was conducted at University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka, during the year 2013 2015 with an objective to study the prevailing practices of wool processing in Northern Karnataka, to optimize a protocol for softener finishing of Deccani wool Blanket, to assess the quality parameters of processed Deccani wool Blanket and to estimate the cost of softener finished Deccani wool Blanket. A self structured schedule was administered for randomly selected 150 shepherds belonging to Medleri village, Ranebennur taluk, Haveri District, to collect the general information of the shepherds and to know the prevailing practices of wool processing. Pure Deccani woollen blanket woven by Medleri weavers was collected for the softening treatment. Based on ionic nature of the softener, three softeners i.e., cationic, non ionic and silicon were selected for the treatment. In order to optimize the pH, concentration, time, temperature for different softeners three replications with 81 combinations was carried out. The treatment procedure was optimized based on the highest value of tensile strength and GSM of the treated blanket sample. The Deccani wool blanket treated with optimized parameters were further assessed for its quality parameters and subjective evaluation of the samples was done by the textile experts. The cost of softener finished Deccani wool blanket was calculated. The data was analysed using frequencies, percentages, one way ANOVA and regression. Results revealed that performance properties of softener treated samples were improved and the highest was attained by silicon treated sample. The extensibility and TIV of the treated sample was increased while tensile strength and air permeability was decreased. Textile experts opined that the handle, appearance of the Deccani wool blanket was improved after softening treatment. The softening treatment was found to be economical and can be recommended to the shepherds.ennullThesis