Impact of stubble height on cropping systems in the Western Regin

Currently in the Western Region, there is a lot of interest in the 'Strip and Disc' system (high residue system) and Western growers are looking to understand the benefits in water use efficiencies, reduced wind erosion and increased yields, and the fit within the WA landscape.
Grower Network members have expressed the need to understand the following issues and opportunities of moving to a taller stubble retention system before they would be comfortable with changing their current farming system:
- Soil moisture - increased water infiltration and decreased evaporation
- Lower weed germination due to less disturbance
- Improving soil structure
- Disease carryover
- Hair pinning of stubble at seeding
- Herbicide tie up in stubble
- HWSC options
- Lack of cultivation below seed, if moving to disc seeding
- Increased fire risk over summer
- Pre-emergent herbicide efficacy
- Nitrogen inefficiency when top spreading into straw
- Frost risk