Beneftis of Controlled Traffic Farming

Overall, controlled traffic farming systems result in a better gross margin from improved income and lower costs. The following is a list of benefits of controlled traffic farming:

Of course the primary reason for implementing a controlled traffic system is to improve the business bottom line.  There are however significant environmental benefits of a controlled traffic farming system.  CTF protects your soil structure from mechanical compaction. Where traffic is random, between 60% and 85% of the paddock is driven over. When managed properly, controlled traffic systems can result in less than 15% of a paddock being affected by compaction from wheel tracks.

Preventing mechanical compaction maintains lower soil strength; improving freedom for root and shoot growth, infiltration of water, and aeration. This provides a more ideal environment for plant growth and experience has show that yield increase of 15% can be expected. Some farmers have reported yield increases of over 25% on a controlled traffic farming system.

Underlying problems with your soil

The benefits of controlled traffic systems will not be as noticeable if there are residual structural problems under the plant bed, such as a hardset layer, compaction from livestock, or smearing from tillage implements. These problems can be minismised by taking measures during the move to controlled traffic farming system. The use of soil inspections can indicate the need for measures such as one-off chisel ploughing at an appropriate soil water content to disrupt pre-existing compaction problems between the wheel tracks. Soil pit inspections are one such method of soil inspection and are considered vital and making an informed move to CTF. Some farmers have modified existing ripping equipment to perform soil structural works while in a controlled traffic system without disrupting the tramlines.

Loss of growth area from tramlines

Even though there is lost yield on the wheel tracks, the improved crop growth between the permanent wheel tracks more than compensate for this loss. If yields do not increase because of improved soil structure then other components of the management system will have to be reconsidered such as are plant nutrients being replenished.

Lower tractor energy and fuel use

By driving on compacted tramlines, the energy input required for moving vehicles across a paddock is much less than that required in conventional systems. Tractors require less energy to travel on wheel tracks than on loose soil where they have to put energy into creating their tracks. When tramlines are used, there is very little need to break up mechanical compaction. Approximately 30% more force is required to pull a tillage implement through compacted soil.

Compacted soil is better for vehicle movements, while uncompacted soil is preferable for plant growth.

Improving operation timeliness

Controlled traffic systems provide ideal conditions for both vehicle movement and plant growth. Controlled traffic farming systems allow for greater timeliness of paddock operations. Due to soil moisture, sowing and harvest are not always possible at the ideal time. As many farmers know, sometimes sowing or harvesting has to be carried out even if the soil is too wet for safe vehicle movements across the soil. Under conventional systems mechanical damage will occur and much effort will have to go into fixing the resultant compaction. With set wheel tracks, vehicles can get onto a paddock sooner after rain than under a conventional system. The plant bed will not be compacted, although some lateral compaction next to the wheel tracks is likely if the soil is very wet.

Improving soil structure

In a controlled traffic system, the plant bed should not be excessively cultivated. Structural damage caused by excessive tillage is still possible, for example smearing of the soil by tillage implements. Plan your tillage operations and only carry out operations that are necessary.  Do not be tempted to spoil good soil structure with thoughtless tillage.

Other benefits of controlled traffic farming

Minimum- and no-till are compatible with a controlled traffic system. Direct drilling should be more effective under controlled traffic conditions. Mechanical compaction is often the cause of very high strength soil, which limits the success of direct drilling.