Achiever of the Month October 2008

This month’s Achiever of the Month is PhD student Warren Contay of Sydney University,

Based at the Australian Cotton Research Institute in Narrabri. Warren is looking to develop new methodologies relating to the thermal leaf optima for irrigation scheduling in cotton.

It is well established that water stressed plants exhibit higher leaf temperatures due to reduced evaporative cooling. BIOTIC (Biologically Identified Optimal Temperature Interactive Console) uses this concept to determine when the crop canopy temperature, as measured by infra red thermometers, exceeds a pre-determined species-specific optimum. This optimum temperature threshold is based on enzymatic and physiological responses.

Warren's project examines the application of BIOTIC to Australian conditions through field and laboratory experiments. Warren’s field experiments will determine whether employing BIOTIC as an irrigation scheduling tool can improve water use efficiency in both furrow and precision application systems

Warren wins this month’s award not only for his excellent science but for his featured article in the current issue of Journal of Cotton Science entitled "Genetic Variation for Waterlogging Tolerance in Cotton" http://www.cotton.org/journal/

More on Warren's Projects

 

 Warren in the Glasshouse

 Warren checking soil moisture