Cotton

Botanical name: Gossypium species

Family: Malvaceae

Parts used: Surface hair of cotton seed called lint

Economic Importance

1. Cotton is greatly used in textile industry due to two qualities i.e. it is soft and supple. It is used alone or mixed with other fibres to make a wide range of clothings.

2. Many cellulose  industries use pure cellulose (absorbent cotton) as basic raw material.

3. It is used in the manufacture of rubber tyre fabrics, carpeting and cordage, machinery belts due to resistance to permanent change in its length and width.

4. It resists abrasion or friction with other materials and has a good weaving quality and launderability.

5. Due to high tensile strength, it can withstand any type of tearing or breaking when under stress.

6. Unspun cotton is used for stuffing purpose.

7. Cotton seed oil is an important semi-drying oil and is used for cooking purpose and soap making.

8. The seed cake left after the extraction of oil is used by cattle or is used as stock feed.

9. Seed cake is also an important nitrogen fertilizer.

10 The fuzz or tinters are used in stuffing pads, pillows, cushions and mattresses. They also yield cellulose absorbent cotton and low grade yarn.

11. the low grade yarn is used to manufacture twine, rope and carpets etc.

12. The stalks of cotton plant are used as fuel.

13. The fibre obtained from stalk is also used in paper industry.

14. The cotton seed cake hull is a very good stock feed. It is also a good fertilizer.

15. Leaves of cotton plant are used as fodder.

16. From the bark of the roots of cotton plant ergot like drugs are extracted.

17. Cotton can be chemically modified for use in different forms.

18. Cotton is a major cash crop.

19. Cotton fibre is very tensile so its application in the manufacture of currency paper is worldwide.