The Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) has successfully facilitated the commercialisation of ground-breaking research by the University of Southern Queensland’s (UniSQ) Centre for Agricultural Engineering, empowering cotton growers to optimise irrigation scheduling from the crucial first irrigation.
Through collaborative efforts between CRDC, Australia’s national science agency CSIRO, UniSQ, and the Smarter Irrigation for Profit program, an algorithm was licensed to Goanna Ag in 2023, providing a vital tool to support growers in their irrigation decision-making process.
The introduction of a new algorithm, pioneered by UniSQ senior research fellow (irrigation and cropping systems) Dr Alison McCarthy, marked a significant advancement in this field.
Leveraging multiarray sensors, the mechatronic engineer says this state-of-the-art solution distinguishes between canopy and bare soil temperatures. This advancement allows for early-season canopy temperature measurements, particularly pertinent for the crucial first irrigation, while eliminating the necessity to adjust the height of sensors throughout the crop's growth cycle.
“It is exciting for my research with CRDC to be commercialised and available to growers in the coming cotton season. The collaboration across institutions and geographic locations in the Smarter Irrigation for Profit program enabled us to develop and test the algorithm under a range of conditions,” Dr McCarthy says.
“The algorithm linked to Goanna Ag's GoField service has further broadened the applications for canopy sensing technology, as well as save labour and improve precision in sensing for irrigation management.”
This innovative solution builds upon the remarkable achievements of previous research conducted by CSIRO in conjunction with CRDC.
The initial study involved the development of stress-time thresholds for cotton irrigation timing, primarily relying on canopy temperature measurements.
The original algorithm, created by the CSIRO team at the Australian Cotton Research Institute, was subsequently made available through Goanna Ag and has since enhanced irrigation practices within the cotton industry.
The initial irrigation decision, especially during the early growth stages, has historically posed challenges for growers due to limited technological support.
And traditional methods, such as visual inspections and soil probes, proved unreliable.
But the cutting-edge innovation presented by Dr McCarthy's algorithm filled the gap by providing decision support for that critical first stage.
The commercialisation of this research through Goanna Ag has not only enriched grower decision-making capabilities but also improved water use efficiency within the cotton industry.
