Enhancing the resilience of the Northern Territory’s rain-fed cotton: A comprehensive approach to yield prediction and water management

  • Xu, Stephen (Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator A)
  • Irvine, Dylan (Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator A)
  • Mwando, Edward (Co Investigator/Chief Investigator B)

Project: Research

Project Details

Description

Australian cotton offers high profitability and has potential to become a cornerstone crop in the Northern Territory (NT), where growth of cotton industry would build capacity and strengthen the whole agricultural sector. Unlike irrigated cotton in southern states, NT’s rain-fed cotton relies on wet season rainfall, making it less water-intensive but more vulnerable to unfavourable rainfall. However, our knowledge about water use of rain-fed cotton and potential impact of rainfall is limited.

This project aims to enhance our understanding of the water use patterns and efficiency of rain-fed cotton in the Katherine and Douglas-Daly regions using a combination of physiological measurements, ground and soil sensors, and remote sensing. By integrating these data into numerical crop models, the project will predict rain-fed cotton yields, including under variable rainfall, addressing potential impacts. This knowledge may serve to guide supplementary irrigation in the future, further bolstering the resilience of the NT cotton industry.
Short title2023 IL Agricultural Science 35285
StatusActive
Effective start/end date1/01/2431/12/27

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