New research shows that growing chickpeas in tall winter cereal stubble, as opposed to flattened stubble, does not significantly increase the yield in the short term by producing more erect plants or getting pods higher off the ground.

However, stubble in the longer term increases the yield of most crops including chickpeas through greater moisture retention in the fallow, with the added advantage of reducing erosion and increasing moisture infiltration.

NSW Department of Primary Industries conducted the research in collaboration with QDPI as part of the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s Eastern Farming System Project.

NSWDPI Research Agronomist and now district agronomist at Gunnedah, Bill Manning, said the research set out to test the theory that growing chickpeas in tall stubble would increase yield.

'We found no evidence that stubble management affects chickpea architecture and yield in any commercially significant way,' Mr Manning said.

'Chickpea growers should therefore continue to base their decisions on cereal stubble management on other factors.'

Trials were established in the Eastern Darling Downs of Queensland and at Moree in NSW during 2003 and 2004 and subjected to a range of stubble treatments, including flattening and cutting stubble very low.

During dry seasons, deep planting of chickpeas has been a valuable management tool; however harvest difficulties and herbicide damage can result if furrows from deep planting are not levelled after sowing.

The research found levelling by dragging chains and harrows, or rolling after planting, reduced the amount and height of cereal stubble remaining in a zero till situation, without reducing yield.

Mr Manning said overall the 2003 results showed very little influence of stubble treatment on chickpea growth. In 2004 standing stubble produced significantly higher plants, however this did not significantly increase the height to the lowest pod.

There were no significant differences in yield or biomass at either site.

Contact: Bill Manning, Gunnedah on 02 6741 8366.

This story appears in Agriculture Today.