Water is a finite resource and the most universally limiting determinant of crop yield in Australia. In the face of climate change, and in one of the driest and most variable environments on the planet, water loss through evaporation, run-off and deep drainage frequently present an opportunity lost. At the other extreme, excess water can limit crop yield through waterlogging and present challenges around trafficability, effectiveness and timing of application of crop inputs. Major gains in water use efficiency have been delivered in Australian grain crops from improved summer and in-crop weed control, crop improvement, canopy management, stubble retention, water harvesting and conservation through advanced seeding systems and zero/minimum tillage. Soil amelioration has increased the ‘size of the bucket’, drainage solutions helped to address waterlogging and together with new varieties and agronomic practices delivered ongoing improvement. But what’s next? What more can we do to transform the capture, storage and availability of water for use by crops? How do we change the game regarding the uptake and conversion of available water to crop yield and quality to find new ways to get more crop, per drop?
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