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The cotton industry is evolving – climate, market demand, management processes and technology advancements necessitate Australian growers and CSD to remain on the front foot, growing a high-quality product that’s sought after, sustainable and profitable.
That’s why we’ve invested in developing new varieties, built for the conditions you face. The Try Before You Buy trials arm you with local variety performance data and insights to help inform your on-farm decision making and plant new seed varieties with confidence.
2026 Season | Balonne | Trial No. 2026091
Sicot 746B3F, Sicala 320B3XF, Siokra 253B3XF & Sicot 606B3F Try Before You Buy
‘Ninimbah’, St George QLD
Key takeaway
There were valuable insights gained from conducting the TBYB Trial and the grower got to see how upcoming varieties matched against the benchmark of Sicot 606B3F.
System
Irrigated
Solid 1m
Rainfall
94.5mm
10 irrigations
Top yield
14 b/ha
Sicot 606B3F
Trial snapshot
| Trial No. | 2026091 |
| Planting date | 8 October 2025 |
| Picking date | 18 March 2026 |
| Previous crop | Cotton |
| Varieties | Sicot 746B3F, Sicala 320B3XF, Siokra 253B3XF & Sicot 606B3F |
Season & field summary
All the varieties went into same field and were watered up. The Sicot 606B3F, Sicot 746B3F and Sicala 320B3XF had similar establishment ~ 9.5 seeds to the meter. The Siokra 253B3XF around a seed less. The season was a hot and dry one with little in crop rain to aid the crop and had 10 in crop irrigations. Defoliated on the 1st March it was a great turn around time to picking on the 18th.
I wanted to see the XtendFlex® lines on farm and compare them against the varieties we currently grow, with the main comparison being against the Sicot 606B3F — it’s the benchmark for our growing area. The trial delivered valuable data and clear comparisons across the lineup. With hindsight, the Sicala 320B3XF might have been a candidate for earlier PIX® application and a higher overall regulant rate. At picking time, Sicot 606B3F and Siokra 253B3XF presented well, great colour and boll presentation. Sicot 606B3F is so well-rounded and consistent which came through in the yield data. We do plan to increase our XtendFlex area next year with a stronger focus on Sicala 320B3XF, time will tell.
Trial results
TBYB yield results from Luke Stower, ‘Ninimbah’. Results are from Olam Beardmore, St George.
Yield & fibre quality comparison
| Variety | Yield | Staple length (imp) | Strength (g/tex) | Micronaire | Lint turnout (%) |
| Sicot 606B3F | 14.00 | 1.18 | 33.2 | 4.6 | 43.9 |
| Siokra 253BXF | 13.61 | 1.19 | 33.0 | 4.2 | 43.7 |
| Sicala 320B3XF | 13.59 | 1.25 | 34.0 | 4.3 | 45.2 |
| Sicot 746B3F | 12.91 | 1.19 | 33.2 | 4.5 | 45.3 |
Agronomy insights
All varieties looked good throughout the season at this trial and early on it was hard to pick a winner. At picking time, the Sicot 606B3F did pick well with the Sicala 320B3XF being a dark horse that achieved a good result through an excellent turn out. A good irrigation cycle helped the crop achieve its result in a year that suffered through multiple heat waves. In terms of insect management there were 2 mirid sprays but otherwise a quiet year for insect pressure.
Fit & management considerations
Sicot 606B3F has been the benchmark in the Balonne region and looking at the results for this trial it’s not hard to see why. Its broad adaption makes it a great variety. The Sicala 320B3XF did well in the trial and has done well elsewhere in the region and seems to favour hotter regions like the Balonne with its more intermediate growth habit. It’s did grow taller than other varieties in this trial and its denser canopy does make getting leaf off the crop at defoliation slower but the heat of St George at picking time more than made up for it.
