Cotton cultivation technology with Chinese characteristics has driven the 70-year development of cotton production in China

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, significant achievements have been made in cotton production in China. China has maintained its position as the world's largest cotton producer for 33 years (1983–2015), with average annual increases of 3.5 and 3.9% in the unit yield and total output of cotton, respectively. Cotton production has played an extremely important role in the development of the national economy and the improvement of living standards. Although the cotton planting area has been reduced in recent years, the total output has remained relatively unchanged due to the continuous increase in the unit yield. China's dominant position in global cotton production is undoubtedly attributed to the progress and development of cotton cultivation technology. Over the past 70 years, China has established a high-yielding and high-efficiency cotton cultivation mode that corresponds to its national conditions, including a large population and a limited land area. Furthermore, cotton cultivation technology is constantly being innovated and developed to keep pace with the times. In this paper, we review the development of cotton production and cultivation in China over the past 70 years, with a particular focus on the innovation and development of cotton cultivation technology with Chinese characteristics. This review is intended to provide guidance for the sustainable development of China's cotton production in the future and to provide a reference for global cotton production.