ARS | Publication request: DIRECT SEEDING INTO HEAVY IRRIGATED CEREAL STUBBLE INSTEAD OF BURNING

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 1, 2002
Publication Date: November 30, 2002
Citation: Schillinger, W.F., Paulitz, T.C., Kennedy, A.C. 2002. Direct seeding into heavy irrigated cereal stubble instead of burning. American Society of Agronomy.

Technical Abstract: A long-term irrigated cropping systems study was initiated in 1999 at Lind, WA, to evaluate a 3-yr rotation of winter wheat - spring barley - winter canola sown: i) directly into standing stubble, ii) after mechanical removal of stubble, or iii) after burning the stubble. The traditional practice of continuous annual winter wheat sown after burning and moldboard plowing is also included as a check treatment. There are 40 plots (3 crops x 3 stubble management practices + check x 4 replications). Measurements include: grain yield, diseases, soil quality assessment, soil water dynamics and weeds. Excellent stands and yields of spring barley direct seeded into 11 Mg ha-1 winter wheat stubble have been consistently achieved. Winter canola stands, weed pressure, and grain yield have been somewhat hampered by direct seeding into barley stubble compared to burning. Direct seeding into heavy residue with a diverse 3-yr rotation shows strong agronomic potential and, if adopted by farmers, would reduce smoke emissions and air quality concerns created by large-scale field burning.