World Cotton Production

The cotton plant grows in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world. It is native to various continents including the Americas, Africa, Asia (India) and Australia. The region with the most diverse native species is Mexico.

Historically cotton has been known both in Eurasia and the Americas for thousands of years. Cultivation as we know it spread from India to Egypt, China and South Asia. In the Americas, the fiber was used by the pre-Hispanic cultures, Maya, Aztec and Inca.

Large scale production began in North America with the arrival of colonists to what is now the southern USA. The real rise in production came in 1784 with the invention by Eli Whitney of the saw tooth cotton gin which really started the industrial era of the spinning and weaving industry, particularly in England. 

90% of today’s commercial cotton stems from Gossypium hirsutum, a plant native to Mexico and Central America. Presently the world’s production amounts to 25 million tons. The largest exporter is the USA, although China and India are the largest producers, but consume most of their production domestically.

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Cotton Crop Nutrition – Finding the Right Program

Creating the right nutrient management strategy in Cotton production is not a “one-size-fits-all” prescription. Cotton is grown in vastly different environments with differing soil conditions and yield potentials. Any nutrient program needs to be designed for these variables. But where do you start? Find these answers and more in this free webinar by Cotton Grower.

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Trey Cutts
Trey Cutts
Market Development Director