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High climatic variability in northeast Australia, combined with limited water resources and increasing demand, makes the task of managing irrigation water and cropping decisions more complex. In this paper we explore the relationship between the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Inter-decadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) on long-term streamflow. A functional relationship for forecasting streamflow and water availability will allow improved management of water resources and cropping decisions. Our results show that streamflow can be forecast during the peak irrigation demand period (October–January) using the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) up to four months in advance. The impact of ENSO on streamflow is modulated by IPO phases with a substantial strengthening of La Niña episodes during the cold (negative) phase of IPO. Simulation of dam inflow and water allocation shows that the volume of irrigation water in La Niña years is significantly more than that in El Niño years; the resulting increase of some 20% in total crop area has a potential revenue of Au$40 million in the study catchment. Economic analysis using gross margin shows that SOI-based planting strategies would result in the best economic return for cotton growers in this region.

High climatic variability in northeast Australia, combined with limited water resources and increasing demand, makes the task of managing irrigation water and cropping decisions more complex. In this paper we explore the relationship between the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Inter-decadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) on long-term streamflow. A functional relationship for forecasting streamflow and water availability will allow improved management of water resources and cropping decisions. Our results show that streamflow can be forecast during the peak irrigation demand period (October–January) using the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) up to four months in advance. The impact of ENSO on streamflow is modulated by IPO phases with a substantial strengthening of La Niña episodes during the cold (negative) phase of IPO. Simulation of dam inflow and water allocation shows that the volume of irrigation water in La Niña years is significantly more than that in El Niño years; the resulting increase of some 20% in total crop area has a potential revenue of Au$40 million in the study catchment. Economic analysis using gross margin shows that SOI-based planting strategies would result in the best economic return for cotton growers in this region.

High climatic variability in northeast Australia, combined with limited water resources and increasing demand, makes the task of managing irrigation water and cropping decisions more complex. In this paper we explore the relationship between the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Inter-decadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) on long-term streamflow. A functional relationship for forecasting streamflow and water availability will allow improved management of water resources and cropping decisions. Our results show that streamflow can be forecast during the peak irrigation demand period (October–January) using the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) up to four months in advance. The impact of ENSO on streamflow is modulated by IPO phases with a substantial strengthening of La Niña episodes during the cold (negative) phase of IPO. Simulation of dam inflow and water allocation shows that the volume of irrigation water in La Niña years is significantly more than that in El Niño years; the resulting increase of some 20% in total crop area has a potential revenue of Au$40 million in the study catchment. Economic analysis using gross margin shows that SOI-based planting strategies would result in the best economic return for cotton growers in this region.

Decision-making in agriculture is carried out in an uncertain environment with farmers often seeking information to reduce risk. As a result of the extreme variability of rainfall and stream-flows in north-eastern Australia, water supplies for irrigated agriculture are a limiting factor and a source of risk. The present study examined the use of seasonal climate forecasting (SCF) when calculating planting areas for irrigated cotton in the northern Murray Darling Basin. Results show that minimising risk by adjusting plant areas in response to SCF can lead to significant gains in gross margin returns. However, how farmers respond to SCF is dependent on several other factors including irrigators’ attitude towards risk.

Decision-making in agriculture is carried out in an uncertain environment with farmers often seeking information to reduce risk. As a result of the extreme variability of rainfall and stream-flows in north-eastern Australia, water supplies for irrigated agriculture are a limiting factor and a source of risk. The present study examined the use of seasonal climate forecasting (SCF) when calculating planting areas for irrigated cotton in the northern Murray Darling Basin. Results show that minimising risk by adjusting plant areas in response to SCF can lead to significant gains in gross margin returns. However, how farmers respond to SCF is dependent on several other factors including irrigators’ attitude towards risk.

Calcium (Ca2+) is an essential plant nutrient that plays a key role in plant growth and development and an essential second messenger that controls a variety of cellular functions. It also plays a role in cellular regulation of plant cell signaling. Plants rely on the unique properties of Ca2+ for a range of structural, enzymatic, and signaling functions. Of the many nutrients essential for normal growth and development of plants, Ca2+ occupies a unique position both chemically and functionally. Soils vary widely in their Ca2+ content and therefore, adaptations shown by plants, mainly to this factor, have led to the emergence of two very distinct ecological divisions termed as calcicoles (grow on calcareous soils) and calcifuges (grow on acidic soils). As excess Ca2+ is toxic to plants the sequestering of incoming Ca2+ as Ca2+ oxalate in epidermal trichomes has been studied in calcicoles from high Ca2+ enriched environments (calcareous soils). However, much less is known about the molecular basis of adaptation to this ecological phenomenon as well as the morphological adaptation patterns of calcicoles and calcifuges in response to varied levels of rhizospheric Ca2+. In this study, six ecotypes of A. thaliana, comprising two putative wild calcifuges (Glenisla and Penicuik), two putative wild calcicoles (Halifax and Elland) collected from varyingly calcareous regions around UK, and two lab grown ecotypes (Col-4 and Cal-0) were subjected to varied concentrations of Ca2+ stress under invitro conditions and a difference in growth and morphology of these ecotypes was measured. Also, DNA microarray analysis was utilized to detect genes that are regulated by Ca2+. A differed pattern in the root growth was observed in all the ecotypes at varied external Ca2+ application ranging from 0 mM to 30 mM. The primary root structure and growth differed markedly in Glenisla plants grown at 30 mM Ca2+. TUNEL assay determined the occurrence of apoptosis in the same Glenisla roots. Also

Calcium (Ca2+) is an essential plant nutrient that plays a key role in plant growth and development and an essential second messenger that controls a variety of cellular functions. It also plays a role in cellular regulation of plant cell signaling. Plants rely on the unique properties of Ca2+ for a range of structural, enzymatic, and signaling functions. Of the many nutrients essential for normal growth and development of plants, Ca2+ occupies a unique position both chemically and functionally. Soils vary widely in their Ca2+ content and therefore, adaptations shown by plants, mainly to this factor, have led to the emergence of two very distinct ecological divisions termed as calcicoles (grow on calcareous soils) and calcifuges (grow on acidic soils). As excess Ca2+ is toxic to plants the sequestering of incoming Ca2+ as Ca2+ oxalate in epidermal trichomes has been studied in calcicoles from high Ca2+ enriched environments (calcareous soils). However, much less is known about the molecular basis of adaptation to this ecological phenomenon as well as the morphological adaptation patterns of calcicoles and calcifuges in response to varied levels of rhizospheric Ca2+. In this study, six ecotypes of A. thaliana, comprising two putative wild calcifuges (Glenisla and Penicuik), two putative wild calcicoles (Halifax and Elland) collected from varyingly calcareous regions around UK, and two lab grown ecotypes (Col-4 and Cal-0) were subjected to varied concentrations of Ca2+ stress under invitro conditions and a difference in growth and morphology of these ecotypes was measured. Also, DNA microarray analysis was utilized to detect genes that are regulated by Ca2+. A differed pattern in the root growth was observed in all the ecotypes at varied external Ca2+ application ranging from 0 mM to 30 mM. The primary root structure and growth differed markedly in Glenisla plants grown at 30 mM Ca2+. TUNEL assay determined the occurrence of apoptosis in the same Glenisla roots. Also