Key Messages

• Strip and disc systems improve seeding and harvest efficiency but come with upfront investment and management considerations.
• Retaining stubble may improve moisture infiltration and support soil health over time.
• Yield and grain quality were not negatively affected by high-stubble systems.

Project Summary

This three-year demonstration investigated how different stubble management systems, particularly the ‘strip and disc’ approach, impact moisture retention, weed control, yield, and operational efficiency in WA’s cropping regions. While strip and disc setups were faster and more fuel-efficient during seeding and harvest, they also showed variability in establishment under dry conditions and higher upfront costs. The project found no negative yield impact, long-term stubble build-up, or weed bank issues from high-stubble systems. Pre-seeding moisture in the topsoil improved in high-stubble plots, suggesting potential benefits for moisture retention.

Project Background

This three-year demonstration explored how different stubble management strategies, particularly the ‘strip and disc’ system using stripper front harvesters and disc seeders, impact farming operations, soil health, crop establishment, and long-term system performance in the WA wheatbelt.

Conducted on a working farm near Wickepin from 2021 to 2024, the project compared three stubble management systems:

1. Stripper Front + Disc Seeder (High stubble retention)
2. Draper Front + Tyne Seeder with Windrow/Bale stubble treatment
3. Draper Front + Tyne Seeder with Chop/Spread stubble treatment

The ‘strip and disc’ system offered notable operational efficiencies, including faster sowing and harvesting, and lower fuel use. However, it required significant capital investment and came with establishment risks in marginal moisture conditions, highlighted by reduced wheat emergence in 2024.

Topsoil moisture at seeding was consistently higher in the high-stubble system across all three years. Although deeper soil moisture and core soil chemistry did not vary significantly across treatments, this surface moisture advantage could improve early crop vigour and resilience.

Spray efficacy in high-stubble systems remained adequate in 2024, and weed pressure was low across all treatments. Significantly, higher stubble retention did not negatively affect grain quality and yield, and no evidence of increased frost risk was found.

The host farmer ultimately reverted to a draper front harvester due to logistical constraints, underlining the practical trade-offs growers face when adopting new systems. The project demonstrated that while strip and disc systems hold promise, their adoption will depend on balancing agronomic benefits with real-world economic and operational considerations.

Further Information

GRDC WA Stubble Retention Report

Project Start Date:                  2021

Project End Date:                    2024

Project Funding:                      Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)

Project Lead:                            Liebe Group

Project Collaborators:

• Liebe Group
• Facey Group
• Corrigin Farm Improvement Group (CFIG)
• Analytics for the Australian Grains Industry (AAGI)

Host Farmers:

• Daniel and Danelle Bird