Field studies were conducted in 1986 and 1987 to investigate dry matter production and nutrient uptake by four cotton varieties: 'Deltapine 901; 'Stoneville 8251; 'Coker 3151; and 'Paymaster 1451. The experiment was conducted on a nonirrigated Decatur (Rhodic Paleudult) and Norfolk (Typic Paleudult) soil having uniform fertility. Intact cotton plants were harvested at 14 day intervals throughout the growing season starting 15 days after emergence. Harvested plants were separated into leaves, stems and fruiting forms. Mature bolls were separated into burs, seed and lint. Total dry matter production averaged 7923 kg ha^-1 in 1986 and 7691 kg ha^-1 in 1987 on the Decatur soil, and 6726 kg ha^-1 on the Norfolk soil in 1986. The four varieties grew similarly within a location, but dry matter distribution within the cotton plants was different between locations. Total N, P and X uptake averaged 128, 17.3 and 106 kg ha^-1, respectively. Cotton plants from the study required an average of 19.9 kg N, 2.5 kg P and 15.3 kg K to produce 100 kg lint. Dry matter production and nutrient uptake by a plant part, and total dry matter production and nutrient uptake were not affected by the cotton variety.