This project explores the effectiveness of different stubble management/break down options (chemical and mechanical) in the Albany Port Zone and assesses how these treatments impact on soil nitrogen ‘tie-up’ and establishment of the following winter crop.

• No treatment consistently outperformed the untreated control across all trials.
• Nitrogen was generally not limiting, reducing the potential for product-driven responses.
• Biological products (Res+, Digest-It) did not consistently improve stubble breakdown or reduce disease loads.
• Nutritional treatments (particularly UAN) showed occasional yield or establishment benefits, but these were inconsistent.
• Broadscale trials provided clearer trends than small plots, particularly for establishment.
• Untilled plots had a higher plant tissue total N% compared to the tilled plots – possibly due to N tie-up in the tilled plots (faster OM decomposition). This translated to minor yield differences at South Stirling as well.
• Seasonal conditions and system factors (tillage) had a greater influence than chemical treatments on stubble management.