Stubble Management Practices and Research in Southern NSW

This guide provides an update on stubble management practices and research conducted in southern NSW and how stubble retention has become a key issue in the south of the state.

Items covered in this article were:

• About the cereal stubble management project

• Stubble

• Stubble management

• Stubble management snapshots

Key points were as follows:

• The cereal stubble management project was created to research stubble retention in southern NSW across 15 sites using various methods. This guide is full of the various techniques and results that were obtained during the research period from 2011 – 2013.• Stubble

1. Disc seeding can help improve soil structure while retaining stubble.
2. Thick stubble can reduce the effectiveness of herbicide efficacy.
3. Recent studies have shown that grazing doesn’t cause as much damage to soil structure as commonly believed.
4. Low carbon levels can be offset by applying fertiliser high in phosphorus and sulfur.

• Stubble management

1. Stubble management starts at harvest when stubble is cut at a suitable height that won’t cause issues later on.
2. Post-harvest stubble management varies depending on the type of enterprise i.e. mixed farming. Options include bale stubble, graze, mulch or leave as is.
3. During the summer fallow period, it’s important to keep weeds sprayed out.
4. Many farmers agree that in the pre-sowing period, stubble burning should be use strategically.
5. It’s important to consider a suitable row spacing when sowing.

• Stubble management snapshot include 4 separate farming enterprises and how they manage stubble on various types of farming cycles.

1. Curry Family, Junee Reefs (mixed farming, medium-high rainfall, tyne seeder)
2. DB Ag/Gleeson Family, Mirrool (continuous cropping, medium-low rainfall, disc seeder)
3. Lane Family, Lockhart (continuous cropping, medium rainfall, tyne seeder)
4. Smirl Family, Cootamundra (mixed farming, high rainfall, tyne seeder)

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