During this pilot study 20 water quality test kits were distributed across the industry, including properties growing crops other than cotton. Key water quality parameters including turbidity, temperature, EC, pH, carbonate hardness, total hardness and nitrite, nitrate, ammonium, phosphate and chloride ion concentrations were recorded during irrigations.

Although the feedback from participants was positive, the amount of data returned was insufficient to enable the comprehensive analysis of on‐farm water quality anticipated. We conclude that reduced staffing levels, as a consequence of very limited water availability, were too restrictive to allow sufficient resources to be made available for the trial.

However, analysis of the results available indicated that at least 15 to 30 % of nitrogen was lost to the tailwater systems as nitrate. This indicates that significant economic gain can be made through improving the efficiency of nutrient use by crops. The main benefit of the water quality kits was that they provided a quantitative basis for environmental management. Site‐specific water quality measurements could be collected that were directly related to local practice. Any change in practice that affects nutrient use efficiency could be assessed, thereby informing and quantifying environmental management systems such as BMP. The economic value of any improvement in practice can be readily determined from the water quality data thereby providing further impetus for improvements.

The water quality tests, which would cost approximately $120 per year per kit, provide the cotton and irrigation industry with a simple tool to seek, measure and record economic and environmental improvement.