31/12/2011 4:53:00 PM by Yechiel Tal, Ph.D.
Upland cotton which belongs to the Gossypium hirsutum species of cotton constitutes most of the world’s cotton production and use (about 95%). Commercial varieties of this cotton are cultivated in all cotton growing countries. Many of the varieties are developed locally and so have been adapted to the particular local growing conditions. Some varieties of big international seed companies have a wide range of adaptation and are common in several countries.
Performance and yields depend on the variety and the growing conditions. In general, Upland cotton is regarded as having low to medium quality in fiber length, strength and fineness. However varieties differ according to their fiber characteristics; values range from less than 1″ to 1.17″ in length, from 24 to 29 gr’/tex’ in strength and fineness ranges from 3.5 micronaire (fine) to 6 mic’ (very coarse). Continue reading