What Is Cotton Cultivation Process Soil Requirements Fertilizers and Crop Management
Cotton is considered to be a soft fluffy staple fibre that is grown in the form of a ball or we can say that it has a protective case around the seed. If we talk about cotton from a biological point of view then it belongs to the genus Gossypium and its family is Malvaxeae. Cotton fibre is really important for the economic growth of a country. This is because it is not a food crop but a commercial crop that is purely grown with the motive of making more money.
The cotton plant is basically a shrub that belongs to the subtropical and tropical regions all around the world. The cotton ball has surrounded the seed and whenever the favourable condition will occur, this cotton ball is going to spread the seeds for the process of cultivation or growing.
The main region where you can find the cotton crop is Egypt, America, Africa and India. If we talk about the use of this cotton fibre then, mostly the fibre is spun around a wheel and then it forms the thread. The thread thus formed is used to make clothes from this fibre or thread. In the clothing world, cotton is the most widely used fibre. Currently, the world produces nearly 25 million tonnes of cotton every year. This includes 2.5 percent of the arable land. If we talk about the world's largest producer of cotton, then it is India while the world's largest exporter of cotton fibre is America.
Cotton has mainly commercial uses and it is an important fibre that plays a major role in increasing the economic growth of a country. In this article, you will get knowledge about the cotton fibre, uses of cotton fibres, properties of cotton fibres uses of cotton thread, cotton cultivation and the making of cotton fabric from the cotton fibre that we get and so on. This article is provided to you by Vedantu and will help you to understand the cotton plant in detail.
Cotton and Its Various Uses
Fibres are thin strands that are used for making fabrics. Fibres are of two types as follows-
Natural Fibres
Natural fibres are those fibres that are obtained from nature. These fibres are again of two types-
Plant Fibres- Plant fibres are obtained from plants. For example - cotton fibres are obtained from the flowers of the cotton plant and jute fibres are obtained from the stem of the jute plant.
Animal Fibres- Animal fibres are natural fibres that are obtained from animals. For example - silk fibre is obtained from the cocoon of the silk moth and wool is obtained from the hairs of sheep.
Synthetic fibres
Talking about synthetic fibres, they are those which are synthesised by man chemically. These fibres are just opposite to the natural fibres that are extracted from the plants. Rayon, nylon are some examples of these fibres. They are opposite to the natural fibres and thus, are not from natural resources. Therefore, as compared to the natural fibres, they will be less costly but not as good in quality as the cotton fibres or other natural fibres.
Cotton is a widely used natural fibre and is used for a variety of purposes.
Cotton Cultivation
Cotton is a cash crop and is grown intensively by the farmers. Cotton plants are cultivated all over the world. It is best grown in black soil. Cotton is best grown in soil which has a very high water holding capacity so black clayey soil is the best suited for growing cotton. In India, it is cultivated in states like Maharashtra and Gujarat in the majority.
In other states like Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, etc cotton cultivation is also carried out. When it comes to climate, cotton grows best in a warm or slightly hot climate. Cotton also requires a lot of water for its irrigation.
Uses of the Cotton Plant
The cotton plant has several uses which makes it an important crop that supports the industrial development and the agricultural development of a country. Some of the uses of cotton are-
Cotton fibres are used to make cotton fabrics that can be used to make clothing ranging from undergarments to jackets to kurtas, shirts, and many more.
Cotton fabrics are also used to make curtains, bedsheets, pillow covers, dining clothes, towels, etc. People prefer cotton materials because of its comfort and durability.
Stock feeding - cotton seeds that are removed from the cotton balls during the process of ginning are used for feeding the cattle and other domestic animals.
To make rubber and plastics cotton is used. Thus besides the clothing industry cotton is supporting other industries also.
In the making of soaps and cosmetics also cotton is used. Cottonseed oil is nowadays used for cooking food and is being used by various restaurants as this oil is cheaper than other oils.
Uses of Cotton Fabric
Cotton fabrics are used for various purposes other than making clothes and garments. Some of the uses are mentioned below-
Cotton fabrics are used as strainer while making paneer, sweet dish rasgulla, etc.
Cotton fabrics are used to make face masks.
Cotton fabrics are used to make tea bags.
Cotton is also used to make semi-synthetic fabrics.
Cotton Properties
People always prefer cotton over other fabrics. This is due to the properties of cotton. Some of these are mentioned below-
Cotton is porous which makes it breathable. The pores are very small and of desirable size.
Cotton fabrics do not cause itching and are comfortable for the skin.
Cotton clothes cause cooling in summer as cotton allows the sweat to evaporate easily.
Cotton fibre has the ability to control moisture, insulation is the property and along with it, provide immense comfort. Thus, we wear it especially at the time of summer.
It doesn't show up with perspiration like other fibres such as synthetic and this is the reason that it is the most used fibre.
Making of Cotton Fabric from Cotton Fibre
Cotton bolls obtained from the cotton plants undergo a lot of processes to become a fibre. These processes indeed take a little time and only then, a good fibre is formed. The major steps are mentioned below
Ginning- It is the process of removal of the cotton seeds from the cotton bolls using big combs. This straightens the whole bunch of cotton fibres also.
Spinning- The fibres are spun continuously to make yarn from the fibres obtained. For spinning, today machines are used for spinning. But it can be done using charkha or takli.
Weaving- Now when the yarn is made from fibre this yarn is used to make the fabric or the cotton cloth. Weaving is done using traditional machines or modernised machines.
Dyeing- Once the cotton cloth is made it is dyed into several colours for the sake of variety. These cotton fabrics can be used for various purposes like making clothes like kurta, salwar, saree, etc.
FAQs on Cotton Cultivation and Scientific Principles of Growth
1. What is the chemical composition of cotton fiber?
Cotton fiber is composed of about 90–95% cellulose (C6H10O5)n, a natural polymer of glucose.
- Cellulose is a polysaccharide made of repeating β-D-glucose units.
- The glucose units are linked by β-1,4-glycosidic bonds.
- Minor components include water, waxes, proteins, and mineral salts.
2. What is cellulose in cotton cultivation?
Cellulose is a natural polymer in cotton made of repeating units of C6H10O5 derived from glucose.
- It forms the structural component of plant cell walls.
- Each glucose monomer is connected by β-1,4-linkages.
- Its linear chains form strong hydrogen bonds, giving cotton high tensile strength.
3. How is soil pH important in cotton cultivation?
The optimal soil pH for cotton cultivation is between 5.8 and 8.0, which ensures proper nutrient availability.
- Acidic soil (low pH) can reduce availability of calcium and magnesium.
- Highly alkaline soil (high pH) may limit iron and zinc absorption.
- Soil pH is chemically adjusted using CaCO3 (to raise pH) or elemental sulfur (to lower pH).
4. What fertilizers are chemically important in cotton farming?
The most important fertilizers in cotton farming supply nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K).
- Nitrogen is often applied as urea (CO(NH2)2).
- Phosphorus is supplied as superphosphate (Ca(H2PO4)2).
- Potassium is provided as potassium chloride (KCl).
5. What is the role of nitrogen in cotton plant growth?
Nitrogen is essential for cotton growth because it is a key component of amino acids, proteins, and chlorophyll.
- It promotes leaf and stem growth.
- It increases chlorophyll content for photosynthesis.
- Excess nitrogen can delay boll formation and reduce fiber quality.
6. How does photosynthesis occur in cotton plants?
Photosynthesis in cotton plants converts carbon dioxide and water into glucose using sunlight according to the balanced equation 6CO2(g) + 6H2O(l) → C6H12O6(aq) + 6O2(g).
- Carbon dioxide enters through leaf stomata.
- Chlorophyll absorbs light energy.
- Glucose produced is polymerized into cellulose for fiber formation.
7. What chemicals are used in cotton bleaching?
Cotton bleaching commonly uses hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as an oxidizing agent to remove natural pigments.
- H2O2 decomposes to form water and oxygen: 2H2O2(aq) → 2H2O(l) + O2(g).
- The released oxygen oxidizes colored impurities.
- The process improves whiteness and dye absorption.
8. What is the chemical structure of cellulose in cotton?
The chemical structure of cellulose in cotton is a linear chain polymer of β-D-glucose units with repeating formula (C6H10O5)n.
- Monomers are linked by β-1,4-glycosidic bonds.
- Each glucose unit contains three hydroxyl (–OH) groups.
- Extensive hydrogen bonding makes the fiber strong and crystalline.
9. How do pesticides chemically protect cotton crops?
Pesticides protect cotton crops by chemically disrupting vital biological processes in pests.
- Organophosphates inhibit acetylcholinesterase enzymes in insects.
- Pyrethroids affect sodium ion channels in nerve cells.
- Herbicides may inhibit photosynthesis or amino acid synthesis in weeds.
10. What chemical changes occur during cotton dyeing?
During cotton dyeing, dye molecules form chemical bonds or strong interactions with the hydroxyl groups of cellulose.
- Reactive dyes form covalent bonds with –OH groups of cellulose under alkaline conditions.
- Direct dyes attach through hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces.
- The alkaline medium often uses sodium carbonate (Na2CO3).
