On-farm soil conservation measures in cotton farming systems of Australia: A sustainability analysis

Soil conservation measures are critical to any cropping industry to minimize soil erosion and maximize the crop yield and quality. In Australia, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production is one of the most successful cropping industries with an annual gross value of AUD$2 billion (Roth 2014). Until the early 2000s, the Australian cotton industry was in the spotlight for its environmental impact due to the use of agricultural chemicals. However, with the introduction and adoption of improved cotton cultivars with genetic modification in conjunction with improved soil, water, and crop management practices, as well as the support of Australian state and federal government agencies, the Australian cotton industry now leads the world in producing high-yielding, environmentally sustainable cotton. Cotton (lint) yield (kg ha−1) in Australia is 2.5 to 3 times higher than the global average (Cotton Year Book 2015). Nevertheless, there are still opportunities for improvement in sustainable cotton production practices being used by Australian growers.