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ISTRO CTF Working Group

This document delves into the outcomes of extensive research conducted across the USA, EU, and Australia regarding Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF). It highlights various effects on soil strength, tillage energy, hydraulic conductivity, and crop yields, while addressing inconsistencies and methodological challenges in existing data. With a focus on environmental benefits, this work explores how attitudes and practices towards farming are evolving and emphasizes the need for long-term assessments to validate productivity and sustainability measures. What changes lie ahead for the future of CTF?

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ISTRO CTF Working Group

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  1. ISTRO CTF Working Group What has happened? Has anything changed? Where do we go from here? Perhaps Nowhere!

  2. What has happened? Extensive Research in USA, EU, Australia Draft* Summary of Wheel Effects on: • Soil Strength/Tillage Energy • Conductivity/Biological Activity • Crop Yield. *Current version: Includes many inconsistencies, Illegitimate averaging (kN/tool and L/ha, infiltration and ksat etc). No weighting of years x sites

  3. Traffic Treatments - Means * Voorhees Zero = < 4.5 t What is our “Control?

  4. Soil Strength/Tillage Energy Mean Ratio : CTF/Wheeled

  5. Hydrology/Biology Mean Ratio : CTF/Wheeled

  6. Production Mean Ratio : CTF/Wheeled System Effects Generally Not Assessed

  7. Outcomes Soil Strength and Tillage Energy, } Consistently Hydraulic Conductivity/Soil Biology. } Positive Effects Variability partly due to methodological differences? Small yield effect where crop is well-supplied with water/nutrients Largest effects in Australia - water- limited cropping - greater system emphasis* * Most comparisons between CTF ZT and Wheeled Tilled Soil

  8. Reflections 1 System advantages rarely assessed • Trafficability, Timeliness. • Improved Tilth, Evenness, Uniformity • Zero or Reduced Tillage Potential. Difficult to Quantify, but Vitally Important Challenge #1 – We don’t have the data

  9. Reflections 2 Current System Attitudes Accepted • Impractical, too difficult. • Equipment change not possible. • Land wasted in laneways Challenge #2 – do we believe this?

  10. What has Changed • Environmental Focus Replacing production focus • Guidance Is getting better/cheaper • Widespread Acceptance in Australia Ordinary farmers find it easier* Opportunity#1 Opportunity#2 Opportunity#3 *Principle of Reduced/Zero TillageWidely Accepted. Erosion Hazard. No Mouldboard Ploughs. Less Residue Problems (soil warming, etc)

  11. What Do We Need to Do? Long-term assessment of system Environmental/Social/Productivity Benefits • To achieve this we must: • Convince ourselves • Convince our colleagues • Back up the pioneer farmers • Encourage industry interest • Shake the environmental money tree

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