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'''Cotton''' is a [[plant fiber]] attached to the seeds of the cotton plant. Cotton is widely grown as a [[crop]] and used for raw material in [[textiles]], with the species ''Gossypium hirsutum'', also called upland cotton, being the most commonly cultivated.<ref>{{Citation|author=Khawar Jabran, et. al.|year=2020|title=Cotton Production|chapter=An Introduction to Global Production trends and uses, History and Evolution, and Genetic and Biotechnological Improvements in cotton|quote=Cotton is the most important fiber crop in the world and belongs to the family Malvaceae and the genus Gossypium, and this genus has nearly 50 species. Four cultivated species of cotton are Gossypium hirsutum L., Gossypium barbedense L. (Egyptian cotton), Gossypium herbaceum L. (Asiatic cotton), and Gossypium arboreum L. (Asiatic cotton), out of these, upland cotton (G. hirsutum) is the most cultivated (on >90% area of total worldwide cot- ton cultivation) species all across the world, which is mainly due to its high yields.|pdf=https://sci-hub.st/10.1002/9781119385523.ch1}}</ref><ref name=":0">[https://unctad.org/es/conference/ntfc-global-forum-2022/news/fibre-fabric-celebrating-value-cotton "From fibre to fabric: Celebrating the value of cotton."] UNCTAD, 2019-10-03.</ref> | '''Cotton''' is a [[plant fiber]] attached to the seeds of the cotton plant. Cotton is widely grown as a [[crop]] and used for raw material in [[textiles]], with the species ''Gossypium hirsutum'', also called upland cotton, being the most commonly cultivated.<ref>{{Citation|author=Khawar Jabran, et. al.|year=2020|title=Cotton Production|chapter=An Introduction to Global Production trends and uses, History and Evolution, and Genetic and Biotechnological Improvements in cotton|quote=Cotton is the most important fiber crop in the world and belongs to the family Malvaceae and the genus Gossypium, and this genus has nearly 50 species. Four cultivated species of cotton are Gossypium hirsutum L., Gossypium barbedense L. (Egyptian cotton), Gossypium herbaceum L. (Asiatic cotton), and Gossypium arboreum L. (Asiatic cotton), out of these, upland cotton (G. hirsutum) is the most cultivated (on >90% area of total worldwide cot- ton cultivation) species all across the world, which is mainly due to its high yields.|pdf=https://sci-hub.st/10.1002/9781119385523.ch1}}</ref><ref name=":0">[https://unctad.org/es/conference/ntfc-global-forum-2022/news/fibre-fabric-celebrating-value-cotton "From fibre to fabric: Celebrating the value of cotton."] UNCTAD, 2019-10-03.</ref> | ||
Cotton is a major global [[primary product]], making up about 80% of the natural fibers produced in the world each year.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">[https://www.kew.org/plants/cotton "Cotton."] Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.</ref> While the cotton plant is most commonly grown for its fiber, other parts of the plant have applications as well.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> | Cotton is a major global [[primary product]], making up about 80% of the natural fibers produced in the world each year.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">[https://www.kew.org/plants/cotton "Cotton."] Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.</ref> Around 80% of cotton is used in apparel, 15% in home furnishings. Around 5% is used in mostly non-woven applications, such as filters and padding.<ref>[https://www.fao.org/markets-and-trade/food-and-agricultural-markets-analysis-FAMA/cotton/ "Cotton."] Markets and Trade, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.</ref> While the cotton plant is most commonly grown for its fiber, other parts of the plant have applications as well.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Cotton seeds consist of about 20% oil which can be used for various purposes. Cotton processing byproducts may also be used in [[livestock]] feed.<ref>Jabran, K., Ul‐Allah, S., Chauhan, B. S., & Bakhsh, A. (2019). [https://sci-hub.st/10.1002/9781119385523.ch1 "An Introduction to Global Production Trends and Uses, History and Evolution, and Genetic and Biotechnological Improvements in Cotton. In Cotton Production."] (pp. 1–22) Wiley; Portico.</ref> | ||
As of 2025 data, the world's top cotton producers are [[People's Republic of China|China]], [[Republic of India|India]], [[Federative Republic of Brazil|Brazil]], the [[United States of America|United States]], and [[Islamic Republic of Pakistan|Pakistan]].<ref>[https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/cotton-production-by-country "Cotton Production by Country 2026."] World Population Review. Accessed 2026-05-02.</ref> China is the largest cotton-spinning country in the world, with [[Cotton mill|mill]] use accounting for nearly a third of global consumption.<ref>{{Citation|year=2025|title=OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2025-2034|chapter=Cotton|pdf=https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/55998366-f87e-4a4a-b89f-3c802df489d9/content|publisher=OECD-FAO}}</ref> | |||
[[File:Map of production of cotton and rubber in 1915.jpg|alt=A world map with various regions highlighted. Annual production of cotton is also shown, with the US, India, and Egypt being the top three producers, followed by: "rest of Africa", China, Turkestan, and "other countries".|thumb|A 1915 world map highlighting regions of cotton production, shown in red, and "experimental" cotton areas, highlighted in pink. [[Natural rubber|Rubber]] production is also depicted in blue.]] | [[File:Map of production of cotton and rubber in 1915.jpg|alt=A world map with various regions highlighted. Annual production of cotton is also shown, with the US, India, and Egypt being the top three producers, followed by: "rest of Africa", China, Turkestan, and "other countries".|thumb|A 1915 world map highlighting regions of cotton production, shown in red, and "experimental" cotton areas, highlighted in pink. [[Natural rubber|Rubber]] production is also depicted in blue.]] | ||
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Cotton has been cultivated by humans throughout many parts of the world for thousands of years and was independently domesticated at least four different times in four different regions of the world.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Web citation|author=Nicoletta Maestri|newspaper=ThoughtCo|title=The Domestication History of Cotton (Gossypium)|date=2020-01-30|url=https://www.thoughtco.com/domestication-history-of-cotton-gossypium-170429}}</ref> | Cotton has been cultivated by humans throughout many parts of the world for thousands of years and was independently domesticated at least four different times in four different regions of the world.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Web citation|author=Nicoletta Maestri|newspaper=ThoughtCo|title=The Domestication History of Cotton (Gossypium)|date=2020-01-30|url=https://www.thoughtco.com/domestication-history-of-cotton-gossypium-170429}}</ref> | ||
Cotton is believed to have first been domesticated about 7000 years ago, with the earliest archaeological evidence for cotton use, of the species ''G. arboreum'', being found in the region of the [[Indus Valley Civilization]]. ''G. hirsutum'' is believed to have been domesticated in [[United Mexican States|Mexico]] about 5000 years ago.<ref name=":2" /> | Cotton is believed to have first been domesticated about 7000 years ago, with the earliest archaeological evidence for cotton use, of the species ''G. arboreum'', being found in the region of the [[Indus Valley Civilization]].<ref name=":2" /> ''G. hirsutum'' is believed to have been domesticated in [[United Mexican States|Mexico]] about 5000 years ago.<ref name=":2" /> | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 17:28, 2 May 2026
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Cotton is a plant fiber attached to the seeds of the cotton plant. Cotton is widely grown as a crop and used for raw material in textiles, with the species Gossypium hirsutum, also called upland cotton, being the most commonly cultivated.[1][2]
Cotton is a major global primary product, making up about 80% of the natural fibers produced in the world each year.[2][3] Around 80% of cotton is used in apparel, 15% in home furnishings. Around 5% is used in mostly non-woven applications, such as filters and padding.[4] While the cotton plant is most commonly grown for its fiber, other parts of the plant have applications as well.[2][3] Cotton seeds consist of about 20% oil which can be used for various purposes. Cotton processing byproducts may also be used in livestock feed.[5]
As of 2025 data, the world's top cotton producers are China, India, Brazil, the United States, and Pakistan.[6] China is the largest cotton-spinning country in the world, with mill use accounting for nearly a third of global consumption.[7]
History
Cotton has been cultivated by humans throughout many parts of the world for thousands of years and was independently domesticated at least four different times in four different regions of the world.[3][8]
Cotton is believed to have first been domesticated about 7000 years ago, with the earliest archaeological evidence for cotton use, of the species G. arboreum, being found in the region of the Indus Valley Civilization.[8] G. hirsutum is believed to have been domesticated in Mexico about 5000 years ago.[8]
References
- ↑ “Cotton is the most important fiber crop in the world and belongs to the family Malvaceae and the genus Gossypium, and this genus has nearly 50 species. Four cultivated species of cotton are Gossypium hirsutum L., Gossypium barbedense L. (Egyptian cotton), Gossypium herbaceum L. (Asiatic cotton), and Gossypium arboreum L. (Asiatic cotton), out of these, upland cotton (G. hirsutum) is the most cultivated (on >90% area of total worldwide cot- ton cultivation) species all across the world, which is mainly due to its high yields.”
Khawar Jabran, et. al. (2020). Cotton Production: 'An Introduction to Global Production trends and uses, History and Evolution, and Genetic and Biotechnological Improvements in cotton'. [PDF] - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "From fibre to fabric: Celebrating the value of cotton." UNCTAD, 2019-10-03.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Cotton." Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.
- ↑ "Cotton." Markets and Trade, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- ↑ Jabran, K., Ul‐Allah, S., Chauhan, B. S., & Bakhsh, A. (2019). "An Introduction to Global Production Trends and Uses, History and Evolution, and Genetic and Biotechnological Improvements in Cotton. In Cotton Production." (pp. 1–22) Wiley; Portico.
- ↑ "Cotton Production by Country 2026." World Population Review. Accessed 2026-05-02.
- ↑ OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2025-2034: 'Cotton' (2025). [PDF] OECD-FAO.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Nicoletta Maestri (2020-01-30). "The Domestication History of Cotton (Gossypium)" ThoughtCo.