Stubble Review - March 2006
Stubble Retention needs careful planning to succeed.
By Rohan Wardle
Research and Extension Agronomist
With variable outcomes from each of the NLP stubble retention sites across SW Victoria, it can be fair to say that any system with regards to retaining crop residues needs careful attention to detail if it is going to work on your farm. A vast treatments list was undertaken across all locations, with burning NOT the most profitable treatment in any of the trials conducted.
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| Above photo shows Josh Walter of Murnong Farming Inverleigh with his newly acquired scratch till unit | The above photo shows the results of scratch tillage on heavy clay (baled stubble) at the Waverley property |
Scratch tillage (see above photos), using a purpose built disc traveling at pace has shown some early promise, with yields at the Inverleigh site achieving the best returns (although if farming on raised beds, the need to reform does come at a cost). Additionally, for this practice to succeed, there is a reliance on Summer rainfall to aid in breakdown of the stubble once in the soil.
Other treatments that showed promise included incorporating spread chook manure, while inter-row seeding and application of cellulose digesters, for the season gone, only showed invariable outcomes. Where stock had been allowed to graze the stubbles, significant weed densities at early post-emergence was also identified in comparison to non- grazed scenarios.
Southern Farming Systems is now in the process of finalizing a purpose built seeder to be used for seeding trials in all stubble retained scenarios. The seeder has been fitted with locally designed residue managers to push aside fallen stubble, minimizing blockages and optimizing crop establishment. This seeder will be on display at the Hamilton ‘Stubble Bash’ on the 23rd March.
More details Stubble Bash - Hamilton or by contacting Pru McAlpin on 0438 772534. Any suggestions, comments and questions about future research can be directed to Ben O'Connor on 03 5265 1685, or emailed to boconnor@sfs.org.au
