CRDC's Annual Operating Plan for 2007–08 (AOP): the

fifth (and final) annual operating plan under the CRDC's Strategic R&D Plan 2003–2008.

CRDC's Annual Operating Plan for 2010–11 (AOP): the third annual operating plan under the CRDC's Strategic R&D Plan 2008–2013.

CRDC's Annual Operating Plan for 2005–06 (AOP): the third annual operating plan under the CRDC's Strategic R&D Plan 2003–2008.

This project has part funded field operation costs charged by DPI to CSIRO for experiments on ACRI at Narrabri. More than 21 projects have been supported over the three years and all field operations have been done well through collaboration within CSIRO and between CSIRO and NSW DPI.

CSIRO field research has addressed all important areas for yield and sustainability: breeding, disease resistance, soil and water management and insect management. Results of that research have substantially improved industry performance and value. Cotton breeding and decision support systems have been estimated to have added $5.2 to regional economies in the past 20 years. IPM research (by all research organisations) has been successful in substantially reducing the volume of insecticide used on cotton.

CRDC's Annual Operating Plan for 2006–07 (AOP): the fourth annual operating plan under the CRDC's Strategic R&D Plan 2003–2008.

CRDC's Annual Operating Plan for 2003–04 (AOP): the first annual operating plan under the CRDC's Strategic R&D Plan 2003–2008.

Growers whose water supply is critically low and are experimenting with novel ways to grow cotton with this limited water. These include irrigated skip-row techniques which are showing promise following a number of successful crops in recent seasons. However

no recent studies to examine the response of new cotton varieties, particularly Bollgard II to varying irrigation regimes under various row configurations have been carried out. Answers are also sought on the results of applying minimal irrigations to skip-row plantings and on the long term economics of using skip-row cotton within cropping systems.

The focus of the project was on both irrigated and dryland farming systems and was involved with agronomy and physiology to understand water, in a systems context in relation to irrigation, raingrown cropping, crop rotation, fallow, management practice, row configuration etc., using modelling capacity, field research, farming systems approach and adult learning (associated with the RWUE 2 project).

Trials were conducted during 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons on an irrigated cotton growing property (27° 04.5′ S, 150° 59.7′ E) in the Daandine area near Macalister on the Darling Downs.

The initial objective was to be conduct over a number of seasons: row configuration x irrigation (quantity and timing) x variety (Bollgard II and conventional) x soil type (low and high PAWC soils) trials. Plantings were made in mid and late October 2003 and 2004 respectively to establish a single –skip configuration at 1 m row spacing. Varieties were Sicot 14B (Bollgard II) , Sicot 80 (conventional) in year 1 and Sicot 80B (Bollgard II), Sicot 80 in year 2. The plots received either 1 or 2 irrigations. Detailed crop growth and soil water extraction data were monitored as were yield and fibre quality.

As expected plots receiving 2 irrigations out-yielded those with only one irrigation. The grower co operator estimates the value of the second irrigation to him in 2003-04 was about $1000 per ha for the extra 1.1 ML applied. The project if completed will be capable of examining the economics of various of row configurations, variety, soil moisture , rainfall and irrigations applied.

The 2003-04 trial, in addition to adding to the data set on soil moisture uptake dynamics, provided the opportunity to make a direct comparison between Bollard II and conventional cotton, as Sicot 80B and its “equivalent”, Sicot 80, were planted. Given the same irrigation treatment Bollgard II and conventional were similar in yield (lint bales/ha) and fibre quality although Bollgard II was earlier maturing and appeared to use less soil moisture than conventional.

In both seasons soil moisture was used in and close to the plant line before the middle of the skip, where its use down the profile was rapid as shown by the higher extraction front velocity. There is some evidence that the roots position themselves into the mid-skip area and wait for a plant signal before water extraction commences in that area. Further evidence of this is required and investigations would be assisted by the use of mini-rhizotrons. If this theory is correct, then the search for the switch (fraction of transpirable water in the plant line could be conducted.

More trials need to be carried out so the data set can encompass various climatic conditions and soil types. Then Ozcot can be enhanced and management scenarios investigated. Funding restraints are presently preventing further progress of this work.

Research on irrigated soils used for cotton production at the Agricultural Research Centre, Narrabri, over the past six years has identified several areas of concern. Information in these areas is needed to improve soil management and thereby cotton production. Unfortunately, limitations on manpower and time have prevented further research on the identified problems being carried out. Many of the problems are well defined, and it was perceived that a modest input of research resources would 61icitiiifonnation of scientific and practical value. As such, these problems would make excellent Honours projects to be carried out by final year Rural Science students, Funds were sought from Council for operating costs, travel and casual labour to encourage students to partake in projects based at Narrabri. It was envisaged that two projects would be investigated within each academic year.

The second year of the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC has seen a great deal of activity. With the administration and research management systems and policies well established, focus shifted from project development to project consolidation. The Cotton CRC now has 160 active projects under way in every cotton growing region in Australia. Strong collaborative partnerships between industry, catchment and community partners have ensured the direction and relevance of research and extension priorities. The Strategic Plan was revised in January 2007. Several goals were clarified and key performance indicators were defined more clearly. The Cotton CRC created a new goal for climate change and variability and the focus of precision agriculture was changed from research to adoption. The Cotton CRC attracted additional research funds for new projects from the Australian Greenhouse Office, Monsanto Ltd, the Condamine Alliance, Queensland Murray Darling Committee, Borders Rivers-Gwydir CMA, National Water Commission, Central West CMA, SACOA Pty Ltd and Land and Water Australia.U

This project validated and enhanced the use of the BDI as a measure of the relative disruption

(‘softness’/’hardness’) of the insecticide regimes applied to cotton fields. The project focused on two

Area-Wide Management groups in Northern NSW: The Boggabilla landcare group in the Macintyre

valley, and the near Pilliga, NSW. Intensive

sampling of pest and beneficial insects was undertaken on fields within both groups, and the paddock

level data was analysed in association with agronomic, spray and yield data provided by growers and

consultants.

The project quantified how the insecticide programs applied to individual cotton fields affected

populations of beneficial insects and spiders present in those fields. The project also compared the

abundance and diversity of insects and spiders in Bt and conventional cotton fields. A comparison of

the effectiveness of different sampling methods for measuring the was also undertaken.

By exploring the relationships between pests, beneficials, spray regimes and economic performance of

individual fields within AWM groups, this project has collected a unique large scale and multi-season

data set. The results have been analysed within the context of area-wide management. The results

strongly suggest that IPM applied on an areawide scale is at least as profitable as more disruptive

approaches, whilst minimising environmental impacts and potentially reducing the risk of resistance to

insecticides increasing.

By quantifying the linkages between beneficial arthropods, Helicoverpa densities, spray regimes and

the economic performance of individual fields this project provides information that will assist AWM

groups to better manage their insect pests (particularly Helicoverpa) in a sustainable and profitable

manner.

Project CSE103C has been interwoven with the Macintyre Valley IPM / IRMS Trial. In particular, M.

Dillon was a member of the Trouble Shooting Committee for this trial, provided assistance with the

analyses of insecticide use and bug checking data arising from the trial, and helped present findings to

the TIMS Committee. The trial data were supplemented with invertebrate data collected

independently in this project, and earlier studies (especially through interactions with the Boggabilla

Landcare group when developing the BDI concept).