Soil compaction is a hidden and continuing constraint to cotton productivity due to increasing size and weight of equipment and is estimated to be in the order of >$30M in lost revenue.

In the Murrumbidgee, with the rapid uptake of cotton production there has been a trend to continuous production systems, with some farmers doing as many as 5 consecutive cotton crops.

This travel was undertaken to participate in the CRDC one day forum on 'Soil Constraints' held at Moree on the 14th July.

Technological innovations in the cotton industry are advancing mechanisation and seeking to create improved efficiencies of labour and energy inputs.

Cotton growers and consultants are becoming concerned with the level of compaction in soils in the Gwydir.