An irrigated cotton project involves reducing emissions from the production of cotton in areas where irrigation is used. The main sources of emissions from irrigated cotton farming are synthetic nitrogen fertilisers and green manure. Green manure is any legume crop planted between cotton crops without harvest to improve the soil and reduce the amount of fertiliser needed for the subsequent cotton crop.
An irrigated cotton project can therefore help to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas entering the atmosphere by reducing synthetic fertiliser use while maintaining or increasing yield, or by increasing yield without a proportional increase in fertiliser use. The overall reduction in greenhouse gases as a result of a project is termed ‘abatement’.
The emissions avoided by the project are calculated by subtracting the emissions generated during the project from those generated in a defined period before the project began. The difference in emissions before and after the project is the net abatement, which is used to apply for ACCUs.
Due to the exponential nature of emissions produced above a certain level of nitrogen fertiliser applied, cotton growers who currently use large amounts of fertiliser can achieve good levels of abatement by making only moderate reductions in fertiliser use.
To conduct an irrigated cotton project and earn ACCUs, make sure you read and understand the method and other legislative requirements. To do this, you will need to:
- Download the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative - Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Fertiliser in Irrigated Cotton) Methodology Determination 2015 and its Explanatory Statement.
- Download and understand how the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 (the Act), the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Regulations 2011 and the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Rule 2015 apply to your project.
- Download and use the Irrigated Cotton Calculator.
- Ensure you have the legal right for conducting your project.
- Apply to register as a scheme participant, to open an account in the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units (ANREU) and to conduct an irrigated cotton project.
- Set up your project according to the instructions in Part 3 of the method. Set up record keeping and monitoring systems for your project as required by Part 5 of the method.
- Obtain an audit schedule for your project from the Clean Energy Regulator and engage a Category 2 Greenhouse and Energy Auditor early on in your project. Submit audits of your project according to your audit schedule.
- Estimate the average annual abatement of your project using the Irrigated Cotton Calculator.
- Determine the amount of emissions avoided by your project using the Irrigated Cotton Calculator.
- Submit your project report and application for ACCUs to the Clean Energy Regulator for assessment.