Carbon Neutral Cotton Farms

The Australian Cotton Industry is developing a carbon (C) footprint calculator for cotton farms. The calculator determines C sequestration and emissions associated with agricultural production (irrigated and dryland crops and grazing enterprises), as well as the net primary productivity (NPP) and C sequestered by native vegetation. NPP is defined as the net flux of carbon from the atmosphere into green plants per unit time (Distributed Active Archive Center, 2014). A case study illustrating the C footprint of a cotton farm near Wee Waa has been developed and is reported here. The calculator will demonstrate how growers can be carbon neutral, or even better, generate carbon credits. In addition, carbon conscious consumers need reassurance that the system used to grow the product is environmentally sustainable (Maraseni et al. 2010).