COTTON
Cotton
is a unique crop in that it is both food and fiber.
Cottonseed is used as a supplement for dairy feed and is also
processed into oil. Uses
for cotton fibers range from heavy industrial to fine fabrics.
California's San Joaquin Valley cotton, characterized by long,
strong fibers, is among the highest quality in the world. Among U.S. grown varieties, California's Acala and Pima
cottons are preferred for fine fabrics and used in high quality table
linens, sheets, bath towels and dress shirts, among other fabric
products.
Cotton
grows best on fertile, well drained soils that have a good water
holding capacity, although it can grow on a variety of soils.
In California, cotton is found in the San Joaquin, the
Imperial, Palo Verde and Sacramento Valleys.
With their warm springs, hot summers, and dry falls, these
regions give cotton the long growing season it needs.
Planted
in March and April, cotton is furrow irrigated, although sometimes
border-strip or sprinkler methods are used.
The cotton plant requires about 180 - 200 days from planting to
full maturity and ready for harvest.
The irrigation water ceases in August and the plant is allowed
to dry out. The crop is
entirely mechanically harvested.
In 1997, the 1.1 million acres of cotton harvested in
California produced 2.5 million bales, or 625,000 tons, of cotton
lint, valued at $875 million, making it the state's second most
valuable crop and fifth most valuable agricultural commodity.
California is second in U.S. production of cotton.
Approximately 85% of all California cotton is exported.
Some
of the fine products Californians enjoy are made with California
cotton, although it is often inaccurately criticized for being a high
user of water. To
grow the fiber for one cotton diaper requires 105.3 gallons of water,
one T-shirt needs 256.6 gallons of water, one bath towel needs 401.4
gallons of water, a man's dress shirt requires 414.5 gallons of water,
and 987 gallons of water are required for one pair of jeans.
Although these water figures appear high, per acre, cotton uses
approximately the same amount of water as other crops in its region.
Source:
A Guidebook to California Agriculture,
Ann Foley
Scheuring, University of California Press, 1993 Calcot, Ltd.
California Agriculture Statistical Review 1992,
California Department of Food and Agriculture, July 1993
California Cotton Growers Association
