Composition and Economic Possibilities of the Cotton Bur1

Abstract

Analyses of cotton burs produced in the snapping or sledding methods of harvesting cotton show that they do not possess a high feeding value for cattle without some form of hydrolytic treatment, such as has been proposed for increasing the digestibility of cottonseed hulls. They have no value as a source of furfural. The pentosan content is quite low, but they possess a content of cellulose which might possibly make them valuable as a source of pulp for paper, rayon, etc. That large quantities of inorganic fertilizer constituents are removed from the soil is evident from the ash analysis. This deficiency should be repaired either by application of artificial fertilizer or by returning the burs to the soil. The latter may be done either in the form of the ash, the whole burs, or preferably, by the artificially decomposed burs.