The effect of burning and cultivating residual wheat stubble on the yield of oats and associated plants

Abstract

The effects of stubble burning, and of different methods of tillage, on the yield of oat grain were measured for one gem, and the effects of burning, tillage, and ammonium sulphate on the yields of oaten by and associated volunteer plants for three years. Both stubble burning and the addition of one cwt an acre of ammonium sulphate increased total oat yields on all cultural treatments. Early planting with no cultivation gave significantly higher yields of oaten hay than did late planting with cultivation. Burning reduced the yield of Wimmera ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaud) in all four years of the experiment and of barrel medic (Medicago tribuloides Desr.) and burr medic (Medicago denticulata Willd.) in one of them. Yields of most of the weeds present were not reduced by burning. It is concluded that burning can be advantageous when the stubble is not required for erosion control.