Controlled Traffic Farming

Transcription

1 Controlled Traffic Farming - from research to adoption (northern Europe) & future prospects

2 Principles of CTF any system that confines all tracks to least possible area of permanent traffic lanes CTF is NOT prescriptive about tillage CTF is a whole farming system embracing controlled traffic

3 Background The term soil compaction was absent in 1825 Wheelings referred to moving loads with a wheelbarrow

4 Soil compaction research for field cropping - SCOPUS Relatively modern phenomenon 1960s most related to civil engineering projects how to create compaction most efficiently!

5 Papers on soil compaction and on soil compaction in agriculture Decade % related to agriculture 1960s 5 c. 50 Total papers 1970s s 30 c s

6 First mention of CTF principle Kouwenhoven, 1967 Recent development in potato ridging on marine soils in the Netherlands use of narrower tyres to leave more loose soil

7 1960s: none 1970s: Search on soil compaction plus zero & traffic 4 all relating to maize all by Raghavan et al 1980s to the present: gradual rise levelling off at around 20 per decade wider range of crops and topics

8 Search on CTF Term doesn t appear in Scopus until 1982 Morling ASAE paper entitled: Pros and cons of CTF the main advantages of CTF were listed, e.g. improved tractive effect increased crop yield reduced compaction reduced tillage reduced erosion reduced water and nutrient losses

9 Distinction between Controlled Traffic and CTF Controlled Traffic (CT) is a field traffic management system CTF is a whole farm production system that optimises production using controlled traffic reducing depth and intensity of tillage actively pursuing no-till when possible appropriate agronomy and rotations precision management of crop rows and interrows

10 Subtle change in research on CTF from 2000 onwards Longer term assessments Reviews Environmental effects Economics Efficiency and machinery requirements

11 Lamers et al., 1986 Landmark research in northern Europe unique in using a 3 m track gauge confirmed the main benefits of controlled traffic BUT machinery not easily transferred to farms

12 Ag Engineers built novel machines Carter et al., 1991 as research tools Taylor, 1992

13 Development of wide span tractor not a research tool Chamen et al., 1992, 1994, 1995

14 Development of wide span tractor not a research tool Addressed challenges in design but funding withdrawn: too near market!

15 Research to adoption - Australia Started in 1993 by Tullberg and Yule supported by federal government and UQ sold controlled traffic on basis of complementarities between no-till and cropping frequency = water availability 6 growers in first year 100,000 ha by year 5 Successes advertised through national conferences

16 Research to adoption in Australia Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) with RTK accelerated uptake >2 million ha in CTF by 2007 Farmer s comments: It s an easier way to farm We started with no-till and then CTF we should have done it the other way around

17 Research to adoption in N. Europe By 2004, large uptake in Australia, little or none in Europe large research base showing positive outcomes BUT, very little concentrating on farm use and economics Depth of operation, mm 100 (4 ) 200 (8 ) 500 (20 ) Draught savings with CTF, %

18 move to subsidiarity farmer s groups Change in extension services in the 1990s participatory involvement producer-funded bodies monitor farms BUT little or no impact on CTF uptake

19 Change is brought about by individuals Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world it is the only thing that ever has Quote from Margaret Mead European adoption of CTF is following same model as the Australian one but: little or no government funding of extension

20 Contact with Unilever the catalyst! 1998 Unilever published new mission statement protection of soils underlying theme made contact and gave presentation on CTF In 2004, Unilever offered field on their research farm outcome John Deere and Dale Drills offered equipment Unilever funded a 5 year trial and promotion programme turning point in CTF uptake

21 Turning point in CTF uptake Tractor from John Deere, drill from Dale Drills Harvester from John Deere Strong focus group of farmers with support from industry and Australian practitioners

22 Charitable funding to promote Douglas Bomford Trust sponsored 20 talks to farmers on CTF in 2007/2008 reported on research data and Unilever project By 2014: Approximately 50,000 ha in CTF further 15,000 ha in conversion mostly combinable crops on clay soils benefits not perceived on light soils Around 500 members of CTF Europe

23 OTHER DRIVERS FOR ADOPTION

24 Repeatable positioning with RTK GNSS GNSS satellites e.g. GPS, GLONASS Galileo x Geo-stationary satellite CTF 2015 Conference, L2 Prague, CULS and CTF Europe L2 L2 EPHEMERIS ERRORS RTK Base Network centres

25 Environmental drivers Promotion through internet and social media Environmental issues diffuse pollution soil erosion soil carbon loss Climate change energy use N 2 O emissions

26 Long term Constraints to adoption inertia can t be bothered! more planning and discipline Short term belief appropriate machinery signs of change amongst suppliers Non-matching to matching

27 Future research No question that CTF works compaction can be managed New research needed on different soils and in different climates is tillage necessary for soil restructuring? can we control weeds? does the soil need firming?

28 Site preparation Research should be well planned and funded crucial if results are to be meaningful often neglected in the past leading to inconclusive results Machines owned not borrowed Crop yields control should achieve local potential for season

29 Near market research Should be partnered with farmers good agronomy and timeliness farmer research design and discipline researcher systems approach farmer and researcher economically and practically sustainable CTF farms ideal for soil-centred research avoids variability caused by random compaction

30 Opportunities offered by CTF shallower, less intense and targeted tillage greater opportunities for direct planting permanent stone separation spatially precise cropping

31 Future development of CT machinery More compatible commercial equipment Greater supporting technologies Trend to wider systems what s the limit? Move to wide span or gantry tractor systems

32 Future development of CT machinery Move to wide span or gantry tractors the ultimate CTF system

33 Unique advantages of wide span Flexible operating width Subsoil protection in bed cropping Ploughing without compromising traffic lanes Inherently stable vehicle Less costly implements Improved precision Selective harvesting Engineered traffic lanes Better across slope control In-built free guidance system! Flexible crop row spacing Much new AgEng research associated with wide span

34 Conclusions Controlled traffic: provides compaction control and improved efficiency with soil care Research has consistently shown its benefits but transfer to farms has relied on individuals future research should be conducted in partnership with farmers

35 Conclusions Controlled traffic: Present CTF systems are constrained by the machinery Major opportunity for Ag Engineers to develop wide span systems