CottBASE can be used to explore 'what if?' decisions based around soil water holding capacity, soil water at sowing, crop type, time of sowing, soil Nitrogen (N) content, N fertiliser rate, irrigation options and South Oscillation Index (SOI), phase effects on likely yield, and the level of risk associated with a simulation choice. The CottBASE databases were created using the OZCOT cotton crop simulation model (CSIRO Plant Industry), to simulate a range of scenarios with different starting soil conditions and management options.  Each combination of district, sowing date, starting soil conditions, etc., defines a single simulation.  Each simulation is as long as the historical climate records available for that site.  This data has been collected over the last 50 years, and in some instances, 100 years.