Stubble Management to Improve Crop Yield

Chris Korte, Mick Brady, Chris Davies, Dave Monks.
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR)
Peer Review: Garry O’Leary, DEDJTR

Key Messages
• For different 2013 treatments, the amount of stubble ranged from 2.4-4.0 t DM/ha at harvest and from 1.6-3.0 t DM/ha at the subsequent sowing. The only statistically significant effect of 2013 treatments on 2014 pre sowing stubble was a difference between wheat and vetch stubble, 2.7 t DM/ha and 2.0 t DM/ha respectively, reflecting faster breakdown of vetch than wheat stubble.
• Despite significant differences in the amount and types of stubble generated in 2013, and remaining at sowing in 2014, there was no statistically significant effect of 2013 treatments on 2014 soil moisture at sowing or 2014 crop yields.
• There were significant differences between crop types in 2014. Significantly more wheat plants established than canola (49 and 15 plants per m2 respectively) and wheat had a significantly higher grain yield than canola (1.2 and 0.3 t/ha respectively). Both wheat and canola were affected by the dry spring and associated frosts, plus canola had poor establishment.