Water use efficiency is a key measure of an irrigation system and its management. Benefits from highly efficient irrigation systems include: greater whole farm water security, lower operating costs, improved production per megalitre of irrigation water supplied, maximised production during dry years, and improvements in environmental management both on-farm and within the broader catchment. In the context of the Australian cotton industry, increases in water use efficiency can be achieved through limiting irrigation losses within the system of conveyance, storage, distrlbution and field application of irrigation water.

As competing demands for water resources grow, so to does the need to find solutions for better and more efficient water use and irrigation practices to meet farm, industry, domestic and whole catchment requirements. Only recently has the environment been recognised as a user of water resulting in concerns regarding existing irrigation water allocations. The cotton industry in Australia is seen as a large user of water and consequently is one industry facing pressure due to competing demands for water. Some 80% of cotton grown in Australia is irrigated. Security of irrigation supply determines the level of production and hence the industry has a major interest in the efficient management of the water resource. Improvements in on-farm water use efficiency have been identified by government, industry, community and water providers as part of a solution to the competing demand for the limited water resource. In the past there has been debate about the level of efficiency of the cotton industry with regards to its water use practices. Most arguments have traditionally been based on perception rather than fact. Hence, there is a need for a system of benchmarking on-farm irrigation efficiencies in the Australian cotton industry, and to better evaluate irrigation design, management and practice options that assist in improving industry benchmarks.