In the last Rice Paper, you read a brief history of ecological weed control techniques we have tried. We also have invested time and energy finding ways to incorporate the straw into the soil since we do not burn it. What we do on the farm today is the result of many years of experimentation and observation. After harvest about three tons of rice straw per acre are left in the fields.
Most farmers eliminate the straw by burning.
The result is a smoky, hazy Sacramento Valley during the months of burning. The Lundbergs do not burn the straw and stubble left on the field. Following are some of the experiments done over the years to find the best way to incorporate the straw into the soil. Around 1970 we modified a harvester to chop the straw left in the field. We also tried chopping the straw with a piece of equipment pulled by a tractor.