Project overview
With new varieties and production regions emerging across Australia, a clearer understanding of how Mepiquat Chloride (MC) should be used to balance canopy control, yield, and fibre quality is needed. The Industry Investigation into MC Management project brought together researchers, agronomists, and growers to refine best practice approaches across a range of growing environments.
The project focused on how environmental conditions, soil moisture, and variety differences influence plant responses to MC. By combining on-farm observations, replicated trial data, and grower input, the team built a more complete picture of how to optimise PGR programs for consistent results.
The findings are now being used to update industry guidance, helping growers make more informed, region-specific decisions about MC timing, rate, and interaction with crop nutrition and stress.
Outcomes and achievements
- Gathered data from multiple industry trials across major cotton regions
- Identified how temperature, crop stress, and soil type impact PGR effectiveness
- Developed practical recommendations for optimising MC programs by region and crop maturity stage
- Provided insights supporting integrated canopy management across the Australian cotton industry.
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Key contributors and partners
Project status
- Complete
Industry Investigations into Mepiquat Chloride (MC) Management was completed in 2024.
Contact
Dr Katie Broughton
CSIRO Agriculture and Food
Australian Cotton Research Institute
katie.broughton@csiro.au
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