Summary

This project is part of the CRCNA’s Integrated Farming Systems – Cotton, Grains and Cattle Program.

The Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA) boasts the highest water security in Australia, thanks to the vast storage capacity of Lake Argyle. The high water security, combined with deep, well-structured soils, abundant sunshine, and warm temperatures, creates ideal growing conditions – particularly for crops such as cotton and maize.

Over the past five years of research, wet season cotton planting has consistently delivered high yields. This success is largely due to flowering occurring during the optimal early dry season period (March to May). Prior to the introduction of Bollgard 3 (BG3) technology, this flowering window was highly vulnerable to Lepidoptera pest damage, which had previously limited the development of a northern cotton industry. The agronomic success of cotton, along with its ability to supply two high-value commodity markets, presents a strong opportunity to establish an integrated cotton-grain-cattle farming system, where each component complements the other.

This project aims to move beyond a single-year, single-issue approach by investigating multiple metrics within an integrated farming system.  Key focus areas include:

• Identifying suitable crop rotations with cotton and maize.
• Optimising nitrogen (N) inputs.
• Incorporating agricultural technology (AgTech) into a farming systems.
• Building local skills and expertise
• Supporting a PhD student to contribute to the research and development.

Nitrogen management in cotton will be a major focus, given its implications for productivity, profitability, and environment sustainability. Nitrogen availability is a key driver of crop yield, but it is also the largest contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from cotton production.

The project will also build local capacity through the adoption of AgTech in the cotton-grain system. It is anticipated that this technology will enhance broadacre cropping in the ORIA. A key focus will be identifying and validating technologies that can either enhance ongoing trials or address systems-level challenges identified through stakeholder engagement.

In addition to extending knowledge and lessons learned to the local farming community, the project will support a PhD candidate to undertake critical R&D. While the student will be based at The University of Queensland, in southern Queensland, all fieldwork will take place in Kununurra, ensuring that the knowledge generated is directly applicable to cropping in the ORIA.

Expected outcomes

Investigating cotton nitrogen management and extending the findings through field days, workshops, and seminars will support the establishment of best practise for cotton production specific to the Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA).  If nitrogen use efficiency improves by 30%, the estimated benefit across the industry could exceed $6 million per annum over the next 15 years, as more land is developed.

Current GRDC supported research in maize suggests that efficiency improvements of 30% are achievable. Enhancing fertiliser efficiency by this margin could reduce the carbon footprint by more than 50%, as fertiliser losses are the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in irrigated agriculture.

Complimentary crop rotations involving grain, fodder, and pulse crops will reduce the reliance on a monoculture systems, which are more vulnerable to pest and disease build–up and declining soil functionality. Grain and fodder crops can also be used to intensify nearby beef production, with several cattle stations located in close proximity. Pulse crops such as chickpea and mungbeans are already established cash crops in the ORIA and offer additional benefits, including disease breaks and nutrient contributions to subsequent crops.

Growers will gain access to data-driven insight to support farming system decisions that optimise both the economic returns and sustainability.

The scope of this study also presents a strong opportunity for academic contribution, with potential for one or more PhD’s thesis to emerge – further supporting industry development.