Abstract: 【Objective】 According to the requirements of mechanical harvesting for cotton varieties, those more suitable for mechanical harvesting in northern Xinjiang were selected. 【Methods】 The representative early-maturing cotton varieties in the northern Xinjiang were used as testing materials, and the differences in growth, photosynthetic characteristics and yield traits were evaluated by comparison tests. 【Results】 The growth period of Xinluzao 71 was 123 d, the plant height was 80.1 cm, the height of the beginning section was 25.6 cm, and the beginning node was 6.2 knots. The plant type was compact and resistant to lodging, and the main agronomic traits quite good, which was more conducive to the later machine harvesting; Xinluzao 71 leaf area index (LAI) was more reasonable, and the leaf photosynthetic rate (Pn) and chlorophyll content (SPAD) were superior to other varieties in each growth period, which was conducive to the accumulation of dry matter. All of these promoted the increase of the number of bolls per plant, single boll weight, ginning outturn and seed cotton yield.【Conclusion】 Xinluzao No.71 has a good comprehensive performance and is suitable for harvesting in the northern Xinjiang cotton area.