The ongoing development and adoption of decision support tools within the Australian cotton industry has led to the need for refinement of several crop data collection techniques.

At various times, strong interest develops within the industry for early crop maturity.

Irrigating cotton requires balancing excessive vegetative growth due to abundant water supply against limited yield potential due to water restriction.

Under conditions of reduced water availability, research over a number of years has indicated that optimum area to irrigate is that which allows around 5 to 6 ML per ha for the irrigated crop.

While among researchers simulation models are consider to be useful tools, modelling has a badreputation in the industry. Many people feel it has very little connection with what happens in the field.