Irrigation in the Australian cotton industry has traditionally been dominated by the use of furrow irrigation practiced almost exclusively on the heavy clay soils associated with riverine flood plains. However, increasing pressures on water availability, expansion onto more marginal soils, the potential yield benefits of improved control of soil-water in the root zone, and the potential for reduced labour, fertiliser and pesticide costs have raised grower interest in alternative irrigation application techniques. In order to make informed investment decisions regarding irrigation application systems, it is necessary to understand the characteristics and performance of both the existing and alternative systems available. This paper draws on the results of recent studies looking at the in-field irrigation performance of furrow irrigation, large mobile irrigation machines (LMIM's) and subsurface drip irrigation (SDl) within the cotton industry. However, in discussing alternative irrigation options, it is important to realise that no single application system and management practice will be appropriate for all growers in all environments. As with most things in life, one size does not fit all! Hence, it is important to understand the nature of the alternatives and the factors which influence the performance, operation and management of each option