The project has made significant contributions to further our understanding of causes

and consequences of climate variability and climate change.

Scientifically it has resulted in the publication of 3 international journal papers in

renown climate science journals (Journal of Climate, Climatic Change and

Geophysical Research Letters), 1 chapter in a text book for agricultural students and

practitioners (Principles of field crop production) and approximately 20 conference

papers. This led to better targeted follow-on research as well as increased recognition

by the rural sectors about the value of climate and agricultural systems science to

rural industries.From an industry view, the project has helped to improve the management of climate

sensitive systems by

• quantifying impacts and current limits to predictability of low-frequency

variability (decadal variability and climate change) in economic and

environmental terms

• identifying the MJO as a major contributor to intra-seasonal (high-frequency)

climate variability

• providing an operational prototype of an MJO-based forecast system that has

already proven very popular with rural practitioners

• providing scientific input into the debate on climate change and its likely impacts.

The project has helped to identify adaptation options and highlighted the need

for industry to become proactive regarding their overall attitude to climate

change.

We know energy's one of your fastest growing on-farm costs... but did you know there are ways to reduce both your energy use and the impact on your bottom line

Monitoring and assessing your electricity and diesel use is the key. Monitoring can be as simple as using EnergyCalc Lite to estimate use and costs, and track these over time.

The 2016-17 CRDC Researchers' Handbook is a key resource for all researchers working with, or interested in applying for funding from, the CRDC. Updated annually, the Handbook outlines the key information researchers need to know, including key dates, the application process, funding and stipends available, the payment, evaluation and reporting processes and the CRDC’s intellectual property policy. These, and other critical details needed by researchers are provided in the Handbook. The 2016-17 edition also contains two new items: the CRDC survey policy and our branding guidelines.

Introducing Cotton info Youtube channel with featured video on crop growth stages

SOILpak is a soil management manual for cotton growing on cracking clays. It leads you through the decision-making process to a number of options. The manual presents options rather than hard-and-fast rules. The approach is 'here are the options' rather than 'here are the answers'. Thus it is not a recipe book; it is a decision support system. You choose, and so you stay in control.

Waterlogging can affect both the availability of micronutrients in the soil and the plant's ability to absorb nutrients from the soil. Together, these effects alter the nutrition of plants and consequently the productivity of crops. Waterlogging generally increases the availability of iron and manganese in the soil, but total plant levels sometimes decline because the roots cannot function efficiently when they are stressed for oxygen. Waterlogging generally decreases the soil availability of zinc and copper, and plant tissue concentrations of these micronutrients generally decline under waterlogging. However, concentrations of copper and boron may remain constant, decrease or increase under waterlogging. For example, in a waterlogging experiment on cotton at Narrabri in Jan.1987, when siphons were run for 32 h instead of 4 h per irrigation, the uptake of Zn, Mn and Fe was reduced by 28%, 15% and 8%, respectively. However, Cu uptake increased by 14%

The objective of the experiments reported in this paper is to determine the fate of fertilizer nitrogen applied to the grey clays in the Namoi Valley.

In dealing with nitrogen and Pix, points to put the issues in context are that nitrogen is the most important because it can increase yield by much more than a growth regulator such as Pix can. However the two inputs interact because with nitrogen deficiency, Pix may decrease yield. My research aims to combine agronomic inputs so that we can manage cotton to improve efficiency or productivity in a sustainable way. The environmental ledger associated with nitrogen fertilizer use is a maintenance of soil fertility but potentially greater nitrate in the ground water and more nitrous oxide emission to air.

Rainfed cotton has been grown in Central Queensland since the 1920's but the total area has fluctuated in response to variable seasonal conditions as well as changing prices and market trends for cropping options.

The wild ancestors of cotton are found in the arid regions of the world. They are adapted to survive long periods of extremely dry weather and to respond to an occasional storm or flash flood by rapidly producing fruit while conditions are favourable. Modem cultivated cottons have inherited these attributes, making the crop uniquely adapted for both rain-fed and irrigated production. In Australia cotton was grown for over 100 years as a rain-fed crop before the introduction of the intensive irrigated technology. Rain-fed production is undergoing a renaissance prompted by a high cotton price and low grain prices resulting in the emergence of a new technology derived from a marriage of modem broadacre grain production and irrigated cotton production.