Burning Wheat Stubble (July 22, 2015)

It is necessary to remove wheat stubble from harvested fields. Although windrowing and baling wheat straw has become increasingly popular, burning stubble to remove it is still a common practice. The burning of wheat fields is a controversial practice and various reasons are sometimes given for doing it. Weed and disease control are sometimes cited as reasons for burning wheat fields. Although burning has some value in controlling these pests, it is not enough to significantly affect either. Some annual weed seeds that are within the top quarter inch are killed. It has little effect on most of the others. Wheat is not one of the weedier crops grown in this region and there are commonly not a lot of weeds left in the field at harvest. Some weed seeds with hard seed coats actually germinate better after being burned. The most common reason for burning wheat fields after harvest is to economically and quickly remove stubble from the field to prepare for the next crop.

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To contact Barry Tickes go to: btickes@ag.arizona.edu.