摘要：

Cotton is an important crop in the southern and southeastern parts of USA, but cotton plant residues are under utilized. In this study, whole cotton plants were collected at mid season and just before harvest and chemically characterized to explore multiple uses. These plant samples were separated into six (mid season) or eight (pre-defoliation for harvest) biomass fractions. The contents of macro and trace elements, protein, fiber, and lignin in these biomass materials were determined. Growth stages affected the relative contents of some, but not all, the measured parameters. Regression analysis of the measured data revealed that some of the parameters were well related to each other, but others were quite independent. The information reported in this work would be helpful in exploring and optimizing management practices and processing strategies for best utilization of these cotton crop biomass materials as renewable natural resources.

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