Proposed Study tour on

Development and Application of Process-based Simulation Models for Cotton Production

Subject Brief

The development and application of cropping system simulation models for cotton production has a long and rich history, beginning in the southeastern U. S. in the 1960s and now expanded to major cotton production regions globally. This paper briefly reviews the history of cotton simulation models, examines applications of the models since the turn of the century, and identifies opportunities for improving models and their use in cotton research and decision support. Cotton models reviewed include those specific to cotton (GOSSYM, Cotton2K, COTCO2, OZCOT, and CROPGRO-Cotton)

and generic crop models that have been applied to cotton production (EPIC, WOFOST,SUCROS, GRAMI, CropSyst, and AquaCrop).

Model application areas included crop water use and irrigation water management, nitrogen dynamics and fertilizer management, genetics and crop improvement, climatology, global climate change, precision agriculture, model integration with sensor data, economics, and classroom instruction. Generally, the literature demonstrated increased emphasis on cotton model development in the previous century and on cotton model application in the current century. Although efforts to develop cotton models have a 40-year history, no comparisons among cotton models were reported. Such efforts would be advisable as an initial step to evaluate current cotton simulation

strategies.

Increasingly, cotton simulation models are being applied by nontraditional crop modelers, who are not trained agronomists but wish to use the models for broad economic or life-cycle analyses. Although this trend demonstrates the growing interest in the

models and their potential utility for a variety of applications, it necessitates the development of models with appropriate complexity and ease-of-use for a given application, and improved documentation and teaching materials are needed to educate potential model users. Spatial scaling issues are also increasingly prominent, as models originally developed for use at the field scale are being implemented for regional simulations over large geographic areas. Research steadily progresses toward the advanced goal of model integration with variable-rate control systems, which use real-time crop status and environmental information to spatially and temporally optimize applications of crop inputs, while also considering potential environmental impacts, resource limitations, and climate forecasts.

Overall, the review demonstrates a languished effort in cotton simulation model development, but the application of existing models in a variety of research areas remains strong and continues to grow.

Destination Brief

Cotton: Australia

Cotton had been grown in Australia experimentally from time to time in the first half of the nineteenth century, but it took reverberating events in the USA to induce large-scale production in Australia. A world shortage of cotton during the American Civil War and later depredations of the boll weevil, exacerbated by shortage of foreign exchange after World War I, stimulated

production of rainfed cotton in Queensland. Additionally, in the early 1960s restrictive US Farms Bills persuaded Californian growers to bring their methods of intensive (irrigated) production to Australia. So began the modern

Australian industry. Over the next 30 years the industry expanded dramatically and in the course of 15 years Australia swung from being an importer of cotton to being the world’s fourth largest exporter. Cotton ranks third in Australia in value as an export crop.

Graph: Distribution of Global Cotton Fiber production

Visitors to the Ord Valley in 1970 witnessed an ecological disaster when Heliothis armigera (genus subsequently renamed Helicoverpa) became resistant to DDT. Cotton research resumed on the Ord with new technology and a lot of hard-won wisdom.

Intensive cotton production in the tropics is a great challenge, being afflicted by an interaction between pests and rank growth and is rarely successful. Synthetic growth substances and transgenic varieties now offer hope of success.

Narrabri sustains temperate climate production in irrigated valleys between the 22nd and 32nd parallels in eastern Australia. The crop has brought much prosperity and wealth to those valleys, to their towns and to individuals who live there, and even to the nation as a whole. Such are the economic realities. But when we consider the ecological realities, cotton is a disruptive crop. Production on the vertisol plains is intensive, highly mechanised, with heavy inputs of nitrogen (up to 200 kg ha–1), irrigation water (up to 9 ML ha–1), and pesticide (one or two herbicide and 8 to 10 insecticide sprays). Given such requirements, is cotton production sustainable.

Program Objectives

1. To learn about Agro-economic characterisation and constraint analysis of rainfed cotton based production systems in relation to soil, rainfall and socio economic factors - P Ramasundaram and N K Perumal

2. To characterize the bio-physical and socio-economic factors under the selected area of that Agro Ecological sub-regions.

3. To integrate bio-physical and socio-economic factors under GIS environment.

4. To identify the agro economic constraints in rainfed cotton based production systems.

5. Optimising nutrient supply in relation to moisture availability for enhanced productivity and stability of rainfed cotton based production system

6. To develop database from across the rainfed cotton growing area and optimize nutrient requirement in relation to rainfall pattern and moisture availability in different soil types to refine existing fertiliser recommendations.

7. To evaluate integrated nutrient supply systems that improves synchrony between crop demand and supply for fertiliser use efficiency in cotton.

8. To investigate the interactive effects of nutrients supply and moisture status on pest and disease incidence under sole and intercropped situations.

9. To validate simulation models with special reference to N and P transformations and assess their utility as decision support systems for cotton.

10.To estimate the gossypol content in the different plant parts (leaves, squares, flowers and seed) at different growth stages in working collections of cotton germplasm being grown at CICR.

11.To generate a database for gossypol content among the germplasm lines12.To classify the lines in terms of high, medium and low gossypol content to

use them as a source of resistance in breeding programme

Participant’s Expected Learning Outcomes

1. Learned about Delineating the efficient productive zones for cotton production system using GIS based crop models- S Vennila and K B Hebbar

2. Learned about Characterisation of existing cotton production zones with reference to area, productivity, soils, climate and socio-economic conditions.

3. Learned about Delineation of potential growth environments for sustainable production.

4. Learned about Prioritisation of research domains using yield gap analysis.5. Learned about Rain water conservation, harvesting and recycling/recharging

techniques for enhanced productivity of cotton-based system - K S Bhaskar, S M Wasnik, A R Raju and G Majumdar

6. Learned about the present status of moisture conservation practices followed by the farmers in the region.

7. Learned about suitable toposequence based cropping system for efficient moisture use, improved productivity and GMR.

8. Learned about suitable land configuration and cropping system to minimize the adverse effect of excess moisture.

9. Learned about the harvested run-off water in farm pond and recycling through drip and to increase the recharge capacity of irrigation wells.

10.Learned about Improving cotton productivity in salt affected soils through identification of species / genotypes and farmer's participation under rainfed eco- system.

11.Learned about Comparison of cotton species and their promising genotypes and / or hybrids for salt tolerance under different agro-ecological situations.

12.Learned about Identification of potential genotypes of salt tolerant species assessed as in objective I with large number of genotypes that are in pipeline.

13.Learned about Evaluation and demonstration of identified potential salt tolerant cotton genotypes on farmer's fields under said agro-ecological situations.

Program Brief

Study Tour Topic Development and Application of Process-based Simulation Models for Cotton Production

Destination Melbourne, Australia

Duration 7Days (Including Travel Time)

Study Tour Methodology

The training program is comprised of formal events, focusing on meeting officials or listening to prepared speeches. This is one way of finding out information about the host country/program. However, effective training programs are like a pragmatic form of learning and are composed of the following

Possible activities Formal meetings and presentations

The meetings are often with managers from the host organization or related programmers/organizations, and/or with government officials at local or national level.

Briefing

Inform managers/officials about the objectives of the tour, the background of the visitors’ work, and broadly what they want to learn about. This briefing can also advise them that the visitors will be keen to ask questions.

Balanced Schedule

Aim for a balance in the schedule. Formal meetings and presentations should take up no more than 25% of the available time. Keep each meeting/presentation session relatively short – unless you know that a particular manager/official is keen to have a lively debate.

Field visits

The chosen field visits will depend on the study tour location and objectives, but might include: schools, kindergartens, colleges, rehabilitation or vocational training centers, libraries and other resource centers, community centers or other community activities, parents or family members in their own homes, etc.

Logistics

The travelling times to/from each field visit are not too long, or allow for overnight accommodation. Work out clear arrangements for food, water, toilet breaks, etc, in advance.

Variety of interactions

During field visits, a variety of different activities would be planned to help the officials interact with the hosts and their stakeholder groups as such as

Focus group discussions Facilitation

Ideally the study tour facilitator should work with a co-facilitator from the host team who knows and can motivate or reassure stakeholder groups.

Observation

Interviews with key stakeholders Participatory activities Leisure activities

Leisure activities, such as cultural visits and shopping trips, need to be carefully planned so that participants get enough time to rest and experience local life without these activities taking priority over work.

Constructive feedback

Visitors should be encouraged to share their experiences with, and offer helpful feedback to, the hosts. To ensure this is a positive experience for everyone, facilitators may wish to advise all participants about giving constructive feedback:

Choosing an appropriate time for providing feedback when the recipient has time to listen and engage in a conversation;

Preparing what to say in a logical and clear way;

Balancing negative and positive observations

and opinions Start the conversation with positive feedback;

Offering suggestions for feasible solutions to any problems you are highlighting;

Acknowledging that the feedback is based on limited experience of the program.

Conference Objective:

Improving transitions in farming systems Improving knowledge utilisation (e.g. knowledge and learning systems; social implications of technological developments; building and engaging communities of practice; collaboration and collective action; multi- and trans-disciplinary approaches);

Improving extension and change management (e.g. public-private sector service roles; advisory capacity; extension design and delivery; capacity building; sustainability); and

Improving resource management (e.g. resilience; adaptation; social learning, community-based NRM, indigenous NRM, sustainable farming; rural community development).

Program Chart

DAY Time Session Training sessions and content Venue

Day 01

Departure Depart DhakaArrival in AustraliaCheck in at the hotelWelcome & GreetingsDinnerRest & Recreation

Day-02

10.00-13.00

Discussion Session On‘Agro-economic characterisation and constraint analysis of rainfed cotton based production systems’ at RMIT

Agro-economic characterisation and constraint analysis of rainfed cotton based production systems

Integrate bio-physical and socio-economic factors under GIS environment.

Identify the agro economic constraints in rainfed cotton based production systems.

RMIT

13.00-14.00

LUNCH BREAK

14.00-7.00

Discussion Session On‘Productive high quality cotton’ at BRADMILL TEXTILE FACTORY

Productive high quality cotton’ to meet the needs of marginal cultivators of rainfed ecosystem

Identifying productive superior medium, fine quality arboreum genotypes for rainfed ecology.

Evaluation of genotypes having glandless seed

BRADMILL TEXTILE FACTORY

Day-03

10.00-13.00

Session on Evaluation of suitable genotypes for different existing cropping systems at RMIT

Evaluation of suitable genotypes for different existing cropping systems.

Large scale demonstration of selected potential arboreum genotypes.

Large-scale seed production of identified arboreum genotypes to meet the seed requirement of different regions.

RMIT

13.00-14.00

LUNCH BREAK

14.00-7.00

Session On suitable cotton species for different agro-ecological situations at ‘US Consolidated Farm Service Agency’

Identification of suitable cotton species for different agro-ecological situations

Characterization of plant characters for sustainable production under each agro-ecological situation.

Isolation of genotypes of identified species/ situations

US Consolidated Farm Service Agency’

10.00-13.00

Meeting on Maximization of yield

Maximization of yield of the identified species/ genotypes by developing suitable

The Textile & Fashion

Day-04

of the identified species/ genotypes by developing suitable package at ‘The Textile & Fashion Hub’

package Develop and evaluate production

technology of indigenous cotton To identify the present constraints for

improving the productivity of indigenous cotton

To collect, evaluate, conserve and utilize indigenous cotton germplasm.

To develop improved production technologies like identification of superior genotypes,

Hub’

13.00-14.00

LUNCH BREAK

14.00-7.00

Meeting about “conserve soil and moisture in-situ in hill slopes for stabilizing crop productivity” at RMIT

To conserve soil and moisture in-situ in hill slopes for stabilizing crop productivity.

To estimate the lime requirement and exploring the possibility of using rock phosphate, PSB and VA mycorrhiza.

Demonstration of improved agro- technologies to progressing farmers.

Development of Bt trangsgenic diploid cotton against bollworm

RMIT

Day-05

10.00-13.00

Meeting on “Confirmation of gene integration” at Cargill Cotton

Confirmation of gene integration. To determine the tillage requirement for

cotton and cotton based system. To identify suitable land configuration

practices to overcome drainage problem in cotton and cotton based system.

To study the effect of organic residue incorporation and green manuring for improving the soil fertility and economizing inorganic fertilisers.

Cargill Cotton

13.00-14.00

LUNCH BREAK

14.00-7.00

Session about ‘The impact of tillage, land treatment and organic residue management” at RMIT

To evaluate the impact of tillage, land treatment and organic residue management

Identification of research gaps in inter-cropping systems under rainfed conditions

Standardisation of protocol for induction of multiple shoots from shoot apex in popularly grown herbaceum and arboreum cottons.

Standardisation of plant transformation techniques through Agrobacterium via shoot apex culture.

RMIT

Day-06

10.00-13.00

Conference on ‘AUSTRALIAN manufactured textiles and AUSTRALIAN cottonseed and products’ at ‘Cottonways’

Provide timely, effective and reciprocal access to foreign markets for AUSTRALIAN cotton fiber

AUSTRALIAN manufactured textiles and AUSTRALIAN cottonseed and products.

Bound rates of tariffs should be made equivalent with applied rates and then made comparable to AUSTRALIAN rates;

Non-tariff barriers, which are being increasingly erected to block imports, should be eliminated; and

AUSTRALIAN textile and apparel exports

Cottonways

should enjoy the same level of market access that textile-exporting countries enjoy in the AUSTRALIAN market

Improve disciplines applicable to the state trading of agricultural commodities

13.00-14.00

LUNCH BREAK

14.00-7.00

Session on ‘Technology assessment and refinement cotton based production system in Australia’ at Mosanto

Technology assessment and refinement cotton based production system in Australia

The Rural Innovation Research Group (RIRG) generates new knowledge on effective actions for managing change through research, development and practice.

Improving transitions in farming systems (e.g. farm decision making; rural workforce development; business management and risk;

Improving knowledge utilisation (e.g. knowledge and learning systems; social implications of technological developments; building and engaging communities of practice; collaboration and collective action; multi- and trans-disciplinary approaches);

Improving extension and change management (e.g. public-private sector service roles; advisory capacity; extension design and delivery; capacity building; sustainability)

Mosanto

Day-07

10.00-7.00

Closing CeremonyCertificate giving ceremonyWrap-up SessionDepart for DhakaArrive At Dhaka

Brief of the Profiles to visit

BRADMILL TEXTILE FACTORY

Bradmill was original established back in 1927 under the name 'Bradmill Cotton Mills' and later becoming the aforementioned 'Bradmill Textiles'.

The Textile & Fashion Hub

The Textile & Fashion Hub is all about increasing our industry's capability. A centralised facility aimed at supporting textile & fashion SMEs and offering access to the latest machinery and technology as well as the opportunity for participants to develop skills, conduct R&D, undertake sample production and network with others in the industry.

Cargill Cotton

Cargill Cotton is very proud to be one of the world’s largest and oldest cotton businesses. We serve growers, ginners, buyers and textile mills worldwide through our network of buying, selling and shipping offices and our cotton gins and warehouses. We are committed to achieving your objectives through trusted global expertise, proven reliability and comprehensive risk management solutions.

Cottonways

Cottonways® was openend February of 2006 in Downtown Melbourne, Florida after 22 year-old Jennifer Davis turned down post graduation job offers in her field of study, Economics. She had a bigger dream to follow: offering a comfortable and sophisticated clothing line that she had enjoyed for years and wished to share with others! The cotton gauze clothing at Cottonways offers nearly maintenence-free, comfortable fashions. The clothing is both washer and dryer safe, will not shrink, and no ironing is necessary.

Mosanto

The original Monsanto Company began its operations in Australia in 1928 with a focus on the commodity chemicals business before expanding into agricultural products in the 1950s. In 2000, the original company entered into a merger and changed its name to Pharmacia Corporation. Pharmacia Corporation then formed a new subsidiary for its agricultural business and called it Monsanto Company. The new Monsanto Company began operating as a business in 2000 and was spun off as an independent company in 2002. This new company is the Monsanto we know today.

RMIT

The School of Fashion and Textiles is world renowned as a dynamic and progressive educational leader whose impact influences the future of fashion and textiles. Informed by global awareness and astute knowledge of industry, the School leads in creative and entrepreneurial practices.

Staff are engaged as both practitioners and researchers, and are active as fashion and textile designers, curators, business innovators and leaders of industry.

US Consolidated Farm Service Agency

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is the United States Department of Agriculture agency into which were merged several predecessor agencies, including the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS). The ASCS was, as the FSA is now, primarily tasked with the implementation of farm conservation and regulation laws around the country. The Administrator of FSA reports to the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services.