Research and Development (R&D) at CSD extends beyond planting seed into issues growers face throughout the cotton production season – whether it be disease, management or plant physiology related. The types of trials in our program are heavily influenced by current issues in the industry, and must be assessed by the CSD R&D committee before planning begins. 

The number of trials conducted each season is dependent on water and land availability. Trials conducted in the 2020-21 season include: 

A delayed flowering trial, looking at delaying flowering in a dryland scenario to avoid heat and moisture stress. 
A Verticillium management trial and plant population trials, looking at minimising infection rates of Verticillium wilt. 
A moisture attractant trial investigating different moisture attractant products and their influence on plant establishment and early vigour.  
Seedling vigour trials. 

The design of each trial varies depending on the issue addressed and the type of equipment needed to plant, assess and pick individual trials. Once the trial is planted, members of the R&D committee monitor and assess each trial throughout the season. Types of assessments carried out include establishment counts, dry weight measurements, as well as final yield at the end of the season. 

Some trials require specialised assessments such as the CSD Verticillium management trial, which requires stem cutting post picking. This allows the visual identification of disease in the stem of the plant (if present). All trials are picked using a modified picker which allows small amount of cotton to be weighed and samples to be taken off the run for hand ginning and quality testing.  

Data collected from these trials is collated and analysed to show the final results and findings. These results are presented annually at the CSD Field Day, held at CSD Farms each February. The Field Day provides growers and industry members the opportunity to observe CSD’s R&D trials firsthand. Members of the R&D committee go though each trial explaining its purpose and presenting early and past season results. 

Future research is vital in the growth and sustainability of the Australian cotton industry; and CSD’s R&D committee are continually investigating new management techniques, products and ideas that could resolve many of the issues growers face.