Previous PageTable Of ContentsHome PageNext Page

Tillage components of conservation cropping in the South Burnett

R.J. Bateman and R.W. Rowlings

Department of Primary Industries, Kingaroy. Qld 4610.

A stubble mulch cropping system is being investigated for the control of soil erosion and productivity decline in the South Burnett.

Since 1974, tillage and sowing implements have been evaluated under experimental and farm conditions for their ability to conserve surface stubble and moisture, to provide weed control, and to prepare suitable seed beds. The relative performance of the implements evaluated is shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1. Relative performance of implements in stubble mulched conditions.

Operation and Implement

Stubble
conservation

Moisture
conservation

Weed
kill

Seed
bed

Primary tillage

       

Disc plough

x

x

xxx

N/A

Blade plough

xxx

xxx

x

N/A

Tine/chisels

xx

xx

x

N/A

Tine/semi chisels

xx

xx

xx

N/A

Secondary tillage

       

Disc harrow

x

x

xx

xx

Blade

xxx

xxx

x

x

Blade/rod

xxx

xxx

xx

x

Tine/sweeps

xx

xx

xx

x

Tine/sweeps/driven rod

xxx

xxx

xxx

xx

Scarifiers

x

x

xx

x

Rod weeders

xxx

xxx

xxx

xxx

Harrows

x

xxx

x

xx

Sowing

       

Cultivator/seeder

x

x

xx

xx

Drill

xxx

xxx

x

xxx

xxx - very good; xx - acceptable; x - unacceptable; N/A - not applicable.

In the South Burnett environment, weed kill and soil tilth are of greater importance than minimising moisture loss. Although blade ploughs rate highly in primary and secondary tillage, tine ploughs are preferred because of their weed kill ability and versatility. They have been successfully used with various ground tools for all operations from initial working to seed bed preparation, including the application of pre-emergent herbicide and aqua-ammonia.

The use of a rod weeder for final seed bed preparation has permitted the separation of cultivation from the sowing operation. This has simplified sowing, particularly under high stubble levels. The results show that suitable tillage and sowing implements are currently available for stubble mulching and conservation cropping in the South Burnett.

Previous PageTop Of PageNext Page