This project aimed to fill a gap that existed in developing management strategies in the field that optimised cotton fibre properties.

Final Report abstract - Transformation and gene silencing technologies to control helicoverpa armigera

Project aimed to :Identify new scouting and information collecting tools and decision support systems for the Australian cotton industry that utilise wireless internet technologies and advanced handheld device.Develop new decision support tools and explore means of commercialising these to a wider agribusiness community. Demonstrate real commitment to developing regional solutions using the latest technology and research from the CCC CRC and Telstra.

Contamination, even if it is a single foreign fibre, can lead to the downgrading of yarn, fabric or garments to second quality or even the total rejection of an entire consignment and is thus a very important fibre parameter.The Australian Cotton CRC Mill Survey rated contamination as one of the most favourable fibre properties of Australian cotton. However, there has been concern that incidences of some contaminants are increasing. This was supported by ITMF Contamination Survey findings from 1999 to 2005, which showed an increase in the number of contaminated Australian cotton bales delivered to overseas spinning mills. The major source of contamination identified in these surveys is organic matter such as leaves, feathers, paper and leather followed by string and fabric made from plastic film and from jute and hessianThe objective of this project was to accurately quantify the degree and sources of contaminants found in Australian cotton. CSIRO conducted a survey of ginning companies and gathered samples to determine the type and amount of contamination present in modules. The survey found that the majority of contaminants found in modules were metallic pieces from harvesters, module builders and from transportation of modules to the gins. This was followed by 'other', which included items such as mobile phones, shotgun shells, beer cans, oil cans, two-way radios, etc., followed by module ropes, plastic which included plastic bags, grass and timber, grease and oil which is mainly due to hydraulic oil, followed by fabric which includes rags and cloth followed by tarp which refers to module covers.

There is consensus both locally and internationally that the measurement of cotton fibre properties by the traditional method o subjective classing should be replaced with the measurements by the relevant instruments in High Volume Instrument (HVI) lines. However, there are a number of technical and operational issues to overcome before objective measurement of these parameters is accepted with confidence by the cotton trade.

Project CRC109 was a separately funded project with aims to examine the whole ginning process critically and focus on identifying new technology and systems in gin pre-cleaning, ginning itself, lint cleaning and/or baling appropriate for Australian cotton. To this end CRC109 has been an information gathering project partly extending on the knowledge gained through the CRDC project CTFT9 but also initiating new understanding of other areas in the gin. The outcome of CRC109 is represented in the second of the new CRDC and CCC CRC ginning projects, which has the objective of measuring fibre moisture accurately in the gin and providing a feedback system to driers and/or humidifiers in order to modulate moisture in the fibre.

PICSE Program: The Mission of the Primary Industry Centre for Science Education or PICSE is to: &quote;Increase participation in science professions that support primary industries&quote; The program aims to attract an increased supply of high quality young people into science based primary industries through engagement with them during school years and early university. The Core Activities of the PICSE program are: Science Class Engagement including the Science Investigation Awards (SIA), Industry Placement Scholarships (Camps and Industry Placement, IPS), Teacher Professional Development (PD) and creating teacher resources.

This project has delivered on two key areas. The first, providing a regional extension focus delivering cutting edge, emerging research information, extension support and information on major production issues and the promotion and adoption of best practice to growers, consultants and industry service providers. The second key area of delivery, focuses delivering national outcomes in the target lead area of soil health and crop nutrition in cotton production systems.This project has established strong linkages and collaborations between growers, consultants, researchers, servicer providers and industry representatives and government allowing the unhindered flow of information between all key stakeholders. This has successfully delivered information and support on issues including, but not restricted to, crop nutrition, soil health, mealybug, Cotton Bunchy Top, IPM, fusarium, , compaction, waterlogging and government support programs. The project supported the development, implementation and adoption of national programs particularly the industry Best Management Practice program, myBMP. It o provided input into industry information products and tools including the Cotton Pest Management Guide, Australian Cotton Production Manual and Symptoms Guide. 19 of 19Having a national focus on Soil Health and Crop Nutrition, the project promoted importance and increased the awareness of soil health and crop nutrition as a critical management component in cotton production. The re-established soil health and crop nutrition working group, nitrogen management and nitrogen use efficiency, the promotion of soil and tissue testing, P, K and S research, carbon in cotton systems and the use of Nutrilogic as a critical management tools were all part of the industry wide program supporting and assisting growers in achieving a sustainable viable cotton industry.The success of this project has played its role in overall success of the Cotton Development and Delivery Team supporting the Cotton Industry during a very difficult period for the industry as a whole.

The effects of rotation crops and stubble management on soil quality, carbon sequestration, deep drainage, nutrient leaching, yield and profitability of succeeding cotton in irrigated and dryland Vertosols was studied from 2005 to 2008 in seven irrigated experiments (near Ashley via Moree, Narrabri and ACRI in NSW and Goondiwindi in Queensland), and one dryland experiment in Queensland (Brigalow in the Darling Downs). Key management issues considered were tillage systems, rotation crops and stubble management, sowing cotton into standing wheat and vetch stubble, in particular.

The aim of this project was to test the use of simple on-farm water quality test kits. The approach was divided in two phases, firstly to develop a kit with potential for simple and practical use on an irrigation property. The second aim was to review the eagerness of the test group to adopt the technology.