Clay soils in Australia largely underpin the cotton industry due to their excellent water-holding capabilities. However, this beneficial trait can pose challenges when rainfall coincides with cotton harvest season, particularly between defoliation and picking. When clay soils become wet, they lose their structural stability, become plastic and are vulnerable to compaction
This comprehensive fact sheet from CottonInfo's Soil Health Tech Lead, Blake Palmer, looks at how best to assess the impact of soil compaction following a wet pick, and how to best repair the damage.