Stubble/Straw burning for volunteers/weeds

Dukes Fit

Member
Location
Aberdeenshire
Just wondering if anyone has tried this for weed control in front of a Mzuri.

Last time I was in Australia in 2017 after coming off a ship, I visited my old boss and spent a couple days driving round fields in a ute with what can only be described as a small flamethrower mounted on the side setting fire to straw and stubbles. I think they were having problems with resistance.
Been thinking it might be worth trying here and see if it’s beneficial (fond memories as a child too ;))

For winter crops (ww after sb) would you bale the straw and burn stubbles or chop the straw and burn the whole lot to get a more complete burn and higher temperature?

Spring crops, would burning take care of volunteers/weeds and avoid a pass of the sprayer?

Any immediate downsides? Apart from barbecuing a few worms
 
Last edited:
Just wondering if anyone has tried this for weed control in front of a Mzuri.

Last time I was in Australia in 2017 after coming off a ship, I visited my old boss and spent a couple days driving round fields in a ute with what can only be described as a small flamethrower mounted on the side setting fire to straw and stubbles. I think they were having problems with resistance.
Been thinking it might be worth trying here and see if it’s beneficial (fond memories as a child too ;))

For winter crops (ww after sb) would you bale the straw and burn stubbles or chop the straw and burn the whole lot to get a more complete burn and higher temperature?

Spring crops, would burning take care of volunteers/weeds and avoid a pass of the sprayer?

Any immediate downsides? Apart from barbecuing a few worms
Loss of food for the worms leading to dead soil in the long run
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
Just wondering if anyone has tried this for weed control in front of a Mzuri.

Last time I was in Australia in 2017 after coming off a ship, I visited my old boss and spent a couple days driving round fields in a ute with what can only be described as a small flamethrower mounted on the side setting fire to straw and stubbles. I think they were having problems with resistance.
Been thinking it might be worth trying here and see if it’s beneficial (fond memories as a child too ;))

For winter crops (ww after sb) would you bale the straw and burn stubbles or chop the straw and burn the whole lot to get a more complete burn and higher temperature?

Spring crops, would burning take care of volunteers/weeds and avoid a pass of the sprayer?

Any immediate downsides? Apart from barbecuing a few worms

Oh Happy Days.... but long gone now... :rolleyes:

Times have moved on but burned (carefully) many a wheat stubble in the past when it was allowed. Speading long straw was the best method prior to burning for us. Burning swathes not really the ideal, but would work.

Never burned chopped... choppers came in to address the loss of burning! ;)

Great before stubble turnips, cleared wild oats and other weed seeds well. Imagine would hammer BG seeds too...
 

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