The principle behind the Stubble Management system is simple and based on
stubble height and the factors that affect a farmers’ ability to access the crop,
particularly where weather may be a factor, and the machinery involved in the process.
Established practice dictates that stubble cutting height is approximately 15cm.
However, recent findings indicate that considerable time and fuel savings can be
made by increasing the height at which the stubble is cut.
Similarly, dealing with
unwanted crop residue is currently time consuming and expensive. Up to 120hp can
be consumed by a fine-cut straw chopper on today’s large combines. This can account
for more than 20% of the combine’s available power. Consequently, operational running
costs are high and, similarly, the associated wear and tear on parts is more evident
and expensive in terms of maintenance, repair and down-time
The Stubble Management system increases the stubble height to at least 25cm. The
bar is quite literally raised and following the combine harvesting, the higher stubble
is then mulched and mixed with the soil.
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This mixing of mulch and soils brings the micro-organisms
responsible for breaking down the residue into contact with the mulch far earlier
than would otherwise occur. This has the beneficial effect of speeding up decomposition
and further assists in the far more effective establishing of the subsequent
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