More effective capture and storage of rainfall are major challenges for both grain and cotton growers across the northern region where only 20-40% of rainfall is typically transpired by dryland crops, while up to 60% of rainfall is lost to evaporation, and a further 5-20% lost in runoff and deep drainage. Recent research suggests that cover crops and increased stubble loads can reduce evaporation, increase infiltration and provide net gains in Plant Available Water over the traditional fallow periods.

This project will assess and quantify the effectiveness of cover crops to increase rainfall infiltration, reduce evaporation, and so increase the Plant Available Water for dryland grain and irrigated cotton production systems.