1. Germination: Cotton seeds are planted in the soil and begin to germinate, with the first signs of growth appearing as the seedling emerges from the soil.
2. Seedling stage: The cotton plant continues to grow, developing its first true leaves and establishing a strong root system.
3. Vegetative stage: During this stage, the cotton plant grows rapidly, producing more leaves and branches. It focuses on building a strong structure to support the development of cotton bolls.
4. Flowering stage: The cotton plant begins to produce flowers, which eventually develop into cotton bolls. Each flower is pollinated by insects or wind, leading to the formation of a boll that contains the cotton fibers.
5. Boll development: The cotton bolls continue to grow and mature, with the fibers inside the boll increasing in size and length.
6. Harvesting: Once the cotton bolls have fully matured, they are ready to be harvested. This typically occurs in the late summer or early fall, when the bolls have split open and the cotton fibers are fully developed.
7. Ginning: After harvesting, the cotton fibers are separated from the seeds and other plant material through a process called ginning. This results in raw cotton that can be further processed into textiles and other products.
0
Google Gemini AI
Oct 2
1. Germination (0-7 days)
- Seed imbibes water and swells. - Radicle emerges from the seed and grows into a primary root. - Hypocotyl elongates and raises the cotyledons above the soil surface.
2. Vegetative growth (7-60 days)
- Cotyledons expand and become photosynthetic. - True leaves emerge in a spiral pattern. - Stems and roots elongate. - Taproot develops and lateral roots emerge.
3. Reproductive growth (60-110 days)
- Flowering: Terminal buds produce flowers. - Fruiting: Flowers mature into bolls, which contain the seeds and fibers. - Boll development: Bolls enlarge and mature.
4. Blooming and boll development (110-160 days)
- Bolls continue to develop and harden. - Fibers elongate and thicken.
5. Maturity (160-200 days)
- Bolls reach maximum size and mature. - Fibers dry out and acquire their characteristic strength and elasticity. - Boll splits open, releasing the seeds and fibers.
6. Harvesting (180-220 days)
- Bolls are mechanically harvested and dried. - Seeds are separated from the fibers and used for planting or oil production. - Fibers are baled and processed for use in textiles.