Outline the background to the project. Colored Cottons Over the last few years there has been a resurgence In Interest in naturally coloured cotton fibres to service a small, but growing, niche market in organic or natural textile products. These natural fibres can bring a premium to the growers over the conventionally produced white cotton because textiles and clothing produced from this cotton is sold at a high price to a small section of the community willing to foster products with minimal environmental Impacts relative to the standard cotton production system with its heavy reliance on chemical pesticides and artificial fertilizers

A system of 24 artificial streams was constructed on the banks of the Namoi River, New South Wales (NSW) to simulate the lotic environment of the rivers in the surrounding cotton-growing region. The streams were built to test the effects of the organochlorine pesticide endosulfan on aquatic macroinvertebrates under realistic environmental conditions.

For the fourth season, the CRDC have commissioned a survey to examine the impact of, INGARD Cotton, (by Monsanto) on pesticide use in the Australian cotton industry. This, section of the survey examines the differences in use patterns by examining details of paired, comparisons of INGARD and Conventional cotton. This years survey is similar in many, aspects to surveys done in previous seasons, with additional information on qualitative, aspects and inclusion of statistical analysis of yields., Heliothis pressure this season was lower compared to previous season. Incidence of some, sucking pests, in particular aphids was higher in some valleys. Tipworm pressure was very, low and no records were made this season.,

project objectives To investigate the use of cotton-processing wastes as organic soil amendments for cotton production. Establish field-trials with composted gin-trash to: a. determine effects on cotton growth and yield. b. assess effects on essential soil properties. To conduct a field-assessment of organic-wastes as soil amendments in cotton production: a. design and establish field-trials in collaboration with a commercial cotton producer. b. apply prescribed rates of worm-composted organic-wastes prior to sowing. c. monitor responses in cotton at critical stages of growth. d. determine the cost-benefit of processing wastes for reuse on cotton soils

Information on the distribution of rainfall (the key driving variable for inland populations of H. punctigera) has been obtained from the Bureau of Meteorology. NOAA satellite images showing Normalised Difference Vegetation Indices (NOVI; a measure of vegetation greenness) have been obtained from NASA. These data have been used as inputs for a GIS model which predicts the suitability of inland areas for Helicoverpa breeding (details of the model can be found on the web site of Dr. Wayne Rochester, University of Queensland). This model was developed as part of earlier CRDC and GRDC funded research on Helicoverpa ecology in inland Australia

Cotton industry participants Peter Cottle and Harvey Gaynor recently graduated from Course 5 of the Australian Rural Leadership Progra

The stated objectives/proposed outcomes in the grant application were: * Testing of biocontrol agents in diverse geographical regions. * Sharing of methodology to study endophytic biocontrol agents. * Potential for faster development of biocontrol agents for use on commercial cotton farms.

The principal tasks of the conference were to: * review progress in the context of agriculture and related land-use towards the principles containect in the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro - specifically, the Declaration on Environment and Development Agenda 21: "Program of Action for Sustainable Development"; * identify new practices and the necessary enabling environments that will lead to less degradation and ultimately to sustainability; * identify the main issues to be addressed, taking into consideration the continually evolving nature of agriculture and related land-use.

Deep drainage of cotton based rotation systems were estima!ed on two soils in the Macquarie Valley: on a heavy cracking clay at "Auscotf', Warren and on a hard setting reel soil on the Twynam property "Elengerah", near Trangie. Analysis of soil chloride profil~s at the beginning and end of the 18 month rotations showed that none of the systems were maintaining chloride levels at a steady state (ie. The mass of the solute applied to the soil profile was not equal to the mass of the solute leaving the profile). Water entry into the soil profiles decreased markedly after the first irrigation in the hard setting red soil. Estimations of deep percolation were made on all rotations. In both soils, the treatments not including a winter crop had a substantiaily higher calculated deep percolation. The calculated deep percolation was much higher on the cracking grey clay than the hard setting red soil.

The N nutrition of cotton crops was investigated with respect to the effectiveness with which rotation crops improve the supply of N to cotton and reduce the amount of N fertilizer required. The CRC farming systems experiments were examined to demonstrate these principles by monitoring the N status of each system. This has helped to identify the more N efficient cropping systems and allow for more effective N nutrition of cotton. Summer and winter growing rotation crops (including grain, green-manure and forage legumes) were compared in field experiments at ACRI and the benefit of these legume systems and savings in N fertilizer for cotton was assessed. Both back-to-back and rotational cotton systems were investigated. The biofumigatory effect of Brassica species will also be determined through lint yield and VAM assessment. The value of other rotation crops was evaluated in terms of improved N nutrition, soil structure, weed and insect management, VAM and cotton pathogen survival. Improvements to soil and crop nitrate tests for predicting N fertilizer requirement and crop N status will enhance grower confidence and adoption of this technology by allowing on-farm determination of soil nitrate levels. These results will be incorporated into the Nutripak /Nutrilogic program