Description

Organic cotton is generally understood as cotton, from non genetically modified plants, that is to be grown without the use of any synthetic agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers or pesticides.

Its production also promotes and enhances biodiversity and biological cycles.

As of 2007, 265,517 bales of organic cotton were produced in 24 countries and worldwide production was growing at a rate of more than 50% per year.

Ecological footprint

Cotton covers 2.5% of the world's cultivated land yet uses 16% of the world's insecticides, more than any other single major crop.

Other environmental consequences of the elevated use of chemicals in the non organic cotton growing methods consist of:

High levels of agrochemicals are used in the production of non-organic, conventional cotton. Cotton production uses more chemicals per unit area than any other crop.
Chemicals used in the processing of cotton pollute the air and surface waters.
Decreased biodiversity and shifting equilibrium of ecosystems due to the use of pesticides.

Advantages

Cotton growers who make the transition to biologically based growing practices expect not only to offer a healthier and cleaner product, but also to benefit the planet. Some of the contributions to the different ecosystems include:

Protecting surface and groundwater quality (eliminating contaminants in surface runoff)
Reduced risk insect and disease control by replacing insecticide with the manipulation of ecosystems
Long-term prevention of pests through beneficial habitat planting.
Conservation of biodiversity
Eliminate the use of toxic chemicals used in cotton.
Organically grown crops also yield soils with higher organic matter content, thicker topsoil depth, higher polysaccharide content, and lower modulus of rupture; therefore reducing considerably soil erosion.

Link and rating

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_cotton

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Information

LENA

2010.12.23 (516 Days Ago)

Environment Lifestyle

cotton organic clothes style

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	LENA wrote 516 Days Ago (warm)
	1 Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium.

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	LENA wrote 516 Days Ago (neutral)
	0 Just found this: "To harvest cotton, the plant must be defoliated (the green leaves removed to get at the white fibers). Conventional cotton uses chemicals to defoliate. Organic cotton uses seasonal freeze and water starvation to naturally defoliate the cotton plant." http://www.paper-cloud.com/blog/2010/04/25/how-is-organic-cotton-different/ It is not really fruitarian method! Is there any other way? "Most steps involved in the production of cotton have been mechanized, including seeding, picking, ginning, and baling. Samples are taken from the bales to determine the quality of the cotton. At this point the cotton plant is defoliated if it is to be machine harvested. Defoliation (removing the leaves) is often accomplished by spraying the plant with a chemical. It is important that leaves not be harvested with the fiber because they are considered "trash" and must be removed at some point. In addition, removing the leaves minimizes staining the fiber and eliminates a source of excess moisture. Some American crops are naturally defoliated by frost, but at least half of the crops must be defoliated with chemicals. Without defoliation, the cotton must be picked by hand, with laborers clearing out the leaves as they work." http://www.madehow.com/Volume-6/Cotton.html So, it is possible, but not convinient.

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Visitor wrote 506 Days Ago (neutral)

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cotton monger

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