Cotton is a material that most of use daily. We have become so accustomed to using it that we probably don’t think twice about where it came from. With all the synthetic materials available on today’s market, it can be hard to remember that cotton is farmed. In fact, the farming process has many steps and involves a lot of different equipment. Learn more about how cotton farming works in modern times.
The Preparation Stage
The seeds of cotton are planted just like any other crop. The planting season for cotton begins as early as February and can last until late June. This depends on where the farm is located. Farmers may use either conventional tilling or a conservation style to prepare the land for seeding. To carry out conventional tilling, farmers plow the land in neat rows to create seed beds. On the other hand, conservation tilling involves using special machinery to insert the seeds inside the layer of residue that covers the surface. Both styles can be effective if done properly.
The Seeding Stage
The next step is to seed the land. Again, special equipment is used to efficiently distribute seeds. These planters create small holes in the ground and drop seeds inside. The planter then covers up the seeds with dirt. Amazingly, this machinery can plant seeds in a uniform fashion across the field.
Following the seeding, it is important to carry out cultivation. This is the process of removing nearby plants, such as weeds, that may steal nutrients from the crop. Modern cultivation practices involve uprooting these plants so that they cannot continue to grow.
Harvesting Cotton
A few months down the line, squares will appear on the cotton plants. A short time later, these squares will begin to blossom. Next, they will wither into a shape referred to as cotton bolls. The interior of the boll is what contains the actual cotton fiber.
The Final Step
A lot of equipment must be used to harvest cotton. On a given cotton farm, it is common to see cotton picking machines, offers and a commercial cotton mover. Among the choices for cotton stripping machines, there are conventional styles and stripper harvesters. In either set-up, air is used to pull up the seed cotton and transfer it to a storage bin. At some point it will be placed into a commercial cotton mover for transportation.
Summing It Up
This is just a quick overview of the cotton growing process. Farmers rely a lot on machinery to be effective. Cotton farming is a huge industry that we all rely on to produce numerous products.
