Effect of controlled traffic farming on energy saving in Australian grain cropping systems

Abstract.

Controlled traffic farming (CTF) is a system in which all machinery has the same or modular working and track widths so that field traffic can be confined to the least possible area of compacted permanent traffic lanes. In well-designed CTF systems permanent traffic lanes usually occupy less than 15% of cropped area, and this has been widely adopted in Australia. CTF is a practical and cost-effective facilitator of no-tillage farming, and the basis for more precise cropping systems. Controlled traffic systems are often claimed to reduce power and fuel requirements of cropping operations, because motion resistance to traffic should be less on permanent lanes, and draft requirement of tilling or seeding should be less in non-compacted soil. Experimental work was conducted to assess the effects of tractor wheel compaction on the energy requirements of soil-engaging operations, particularly, during tillage and planting. Preliminary results from this investigation indicate that on average the draft of tillage sweeps, planter openers, and chisel tines increased by approximately 35%, 37%, and 54%, respectively, when positioned behind a tractor wheel.