Variety and irrigation strategy: results from a Darling Downs trial

Abstract

In 2006–07 a field scale cotton variety by irrigation demonstration was established on a 25 hectare site (which had grown a failed sorghum crop in the 2005–06 summer). This site was on a commercial farm in the Nandi area near Dalby as part of the Natural Resources and Water funded Rural Water User Efficiency 3 project. The varieties assessed were Sicot 71B, Sicot 80B and Sicot 43B (Sicot 80B was also sown in a single skip treatment). The three irrigation treatments applied were: 1. Early (Strategy A) — 80 mm deficit; 2. Commercial (Strategy B) — 100 mm deficit; and, 3. Late (Strategy C) — 120 mm deficit.