Minimise impact of long drys

By Bob Freebairn
September 21 2020 - 5:00am
Dual purpose oats mid May 2019, in the worst time of the drought, providing valuable grazing. Conserving rain from the odd summer rain event, plus sowing in early March on a minimal rain event were critical factors.
Dual purpose oats mid May 2019, in the worst time of the drought, providing valuable grazing. Conserving rain from the odd summer rain event, plus sowing in early March on a minimal rain event were critical factors.

We all appreciate that only rain can break a drought or protracted dry period. But for many long periods of dry weather it is possible to undertake quite a few measures to minimise their impact. Storing soil water prior to cropping, for example from a summer storm event, pasture types to use water when it falls, species that hang on longer into dry times, timely fallow weed control, stubble retention and moisture seeking sowing can all help shorten dry period impacts.

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