USDA Central Great Plains Reasearch Station, Akron, Colorado, USA
According to Vigil, stripper header harvested stubble provided more moisture conserving benefits than conventionally harvested stubble. His research has found that the stripped wheat stubble reflects heat, reducing evaporation; increases water infiltration; slows down the wind, furthering reducing evaporation; traps snow and, ultimately, increases soil water storage.
Dave Wagers, Woodrow, Colorado, USA
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“I feel like the standing stubble gives the ground more ability to retain moisture,” David said. “It shades the ground more, lasts longer (than shorter stubble) and keeps the wind off the crop growing in the stubble, which also helps retain the moisture. The taller stubble also captures more snow. Typically a lot of our moisture is from snowfall and snow melt. It’s all economics to try and save the moisture.” |
Ed Getz, Hoxie, Kansas, USA
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“The wheat is a byproduct. We want the straw to put the corn back into it,” Getz said in explaining his decision. “A significant number of people will agree with me. If you had to pay off ground in this part of the country with wheat, you’d have to raise a lot of it. The economics aren’t there. But, we need that straw to save moisture for the corn.” |
Stacy Hoeme, Scott City, Kansas, USA
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He believes the no-till is paying off, even in the extremely dry conditions the region has experienced this year. He raised an average of 41 bushel wheat in 2006, well above what many farmers experienced. His grain sorghum after wheat has also averaged higher than conventionally tilled and harvested fields during the recent drought years. The difference, he believes, lies in the straw. “One of the great benefits of the stripper header is the wheat stubble it leaves for the milo,” Hoeme said. “If there is good stubble, then you’ll get a good, solid milo stand that maintains even in the dry years.” He has compared his stripper-cut fields with ones harvested with conventional or draper heads and has found significant differences. The advantages of the stripped straw is especially noticeable when conventional and stripper heads have been used in the same or adjacent fields. |
