Paddock Practices: Stubble management and nitrogen mineralisation – NSW (Factsheet)
This Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) factsheet explains the findings of an experiment conducted near Temora in southern NSW. It found that different stubble management practices affect how much nitrogen is tied up or released for crops. Grazing or burning wheat stubble can reduce nitrogen immobilisation and improve nitrogen availability, particularly for a second wheat crop after canola. Over eight years, grazing stubble (while retaining at least 70% ground cover) never reduced yield and often increased it, mainly due to higher soil mineral nitrogen. Late strategic burning also increased second-wheat yields, partly by reducing nitrogen tie-up and, in some years, frost damage. Where large cereal stubble loads are retained, growers may need to reduce residues, avoid growing wheat after wheat, apply extra nitrogen or deep-band nitrogen to improve crop access and maintain yields. While this research was conducted in southern NSW, it may also be of interest to growers in other regions.#
This is a carefully curated database of important soil resources. The data base is not exhaustive but rather a library of the resources we believe are the most useful for the audience. Each resource has been added after careful consideration against our selection criteria, including but not limited to its scientific validity, accessibility, and readability. The library generally does not include most academic research papers but may include some open-source papers written in accessible English.
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