Managing Stubble - Grains Research & Development Corporation

• Graze
Advantages
- Provides a source of summer feed
- Helps keep some summer weeds under control
- Heavy grazing can help break up the stubble and start the decomposition of the straw
Disadvantages
- During wet conditions the topsoil can become poached if grazing management is poor
and overgrazing can leave soils prone to erosion.
- Stock camps and walking tracks to water are very prone to compaction.
- With long stubble stock can often fold the straw down and leave it complete to wrap
around tines in subsequent sowing operations
• Mulch
Advantages
- Mulched stubble may slow evaporation during the early growing season (before
canopy closure) and improve water availability to crops on wider rows.
- Mulching is used to break lengths of straw into smaller pieces, increasing the rate of
breakdown and reducing the problems of trash flow at seeding.
- Allows the option to increase stubble cut height to harvest more area in less time with
heavy stubble loads.
- There are a wide range of methods used to mulch crop residues:
Harrows - knock stubble over and break some of the straw into pieces. If done soon
after harvest it can increase the rate of stubble breakdown, providing there is rainfall
to aid the process.