Key Points
In three similar trials employing direct drilling and shallow cultivation techniques chopped wheat straw reduced the yield id the following cereal and grass seed crops, but for different reasons.
- With second wheat using a tyne drill, establishment was unaffected by the presence of straw in comparison to the burnt straw control blocks, however yields in the presence of chopped straw were reduced by up to 1.5 t/ha, a result linked to greater take-all infextion
- Direst establishment of both herbage seed and autumn sown barley with a disc drill led to poorer establishment and subsequent yields where chopped wheat steaw was retained, however the yields of both crops could be brought up to the level of the burnt straw control with one cultivation pass.
- Where wheat straw was burnt there was no subsequent yield benefit associated with mineral tillage over direct sowing. In addition with herbage seed burning removed the volunteer wheat problem.