The cottonseed meal hydrolysate as nitrogen source with low price,had a potential value in the fermentation industry. The amino nitrogen concentration of cottonseed meal hydrolysate and soybean protein hydrolysate were 16. 38 g / L and 19. 11 g / L,respectively; and the total amino acid concentration were 97. 78 g / L and 91. 59 g / L,respectively,which indicated that the nutrients of the two hydrolysates were similar. In this study,the influence of the cottonseed meal hydrolysate and soybean protein hydrolysate as organic nitrogen sources on temperature triggered glutamate fermentation and biotin limitation glutamate fermentation were studied. Results showed that biomass and production of L-glutamate were similar by the two hydrolysates in the two types of glutamate fermentation. In conclusion,the cottonseed meal hydrolysate as an organic nitrogen source could provide practical values in the fermentation industry.