Evaluation of strip tillage and direct drilling sowing methods for pasture renovation

Project details

Status: Current

The challenge

Renovating pastures in low-rainfall dryland environments presents challenges for land managers.

Successful establishment of perennial pastures relies heavily on preparation; reducing likely competition from weeds, addressing soil constraints, and choosing appropriate species and cultivars are key steps.

However, once the seed is in the ground, success is largely determined by soil moisture and rainfall. While farmers can undertake practices that limit evaporation, they have little control over rainfall.

Direct drilling and strip tillage

This project seeks to evaluate the relative merits of direct drilling and the relatively novel method of strip tillage.

The key advantages direct drilling over full cultivation are related to less soil disturbance, resulting in reduced risk of erosion, reduced evaporation, and less volunteer weed germination.

Strip tillage and no herbicide application prior to sowing has been promoted as techniques for maintaining healthy microbial activity, building soil carbon and providing a low-risk method of renovating pastures.