NLP Stubble Project - Your Help Required!
NLP Stubble Project - Your Help Required!
24th November 2005
Hello to all who may be interested in helping create a seeder that can sow into all retained stubble scenarios throughout South Eastern Australia.
All comments are welcomed and appreciated.
As you may be aware, Southern Farming Systems (through the National Landcare Program & GRDC) has been conducting research into stubble retention and the associated physical and mechanical requirements to grow successful & sustainable crops. Already this year, it has been shown that stubble retention can be achieved (with minor modifications at seeding), that will offer valuable benefits in the higher rainfall cropping zones. Over the next couple of months, SFS will now begin the process of building a seeder that will achieve all desired goals of this important three year project.
Your help required!
For seeding of the 2005 crop, we used ‘residue managers’ to push aside surface stubbles, creating mini windrows between seeding lines. These additions were quite successful in allowing for the emergence of the crop, while also suppressing weeds in the inter-row.
The question I pose, are they practical/suitable for our cropping system?? What else works?? Are any of the new disc seeders an option for the heavy clays throughout the southern districts??
Your comments, suggestions or even personal experiences can now be used to help us build a seeder that can deliver all our stubble retention seeding needs. Ideas so far have looked at ‘wider row seeding for inter-row sowing using GPS’, ‘one metre band seeding – with sowing in alternate years’, ‘stubble mulching/slashing/rolling/crunching immediately after harvest for maximum breakdown potential’, and ‘incorporation of stubbles immediately after harvest’.
What is your experience and what would you like to see on seeding equipment if you were to make an upcoming purchase??
All comments are welcome and appreciated.
Additional SFS material on stubble retention can be found by following the link to our webpage: http://www.sfs.org.au/cb_pages/Pr_NlpStub.php ensuring you click on the full download section to view any photos. Updates of this years harvest will follow and be available at our result day in 2006.
Thanking you in advance.
Regards,
Rohan Wardle
Research and Extension Agronomist
