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Controlled Traffic

Controlled Traffic, Control Traffic, Tramlines, Tram lines, Controlled Traffic Farming, CTF

- Controlled Traffic Primary Tillage

- Controlled Traffic Secondary Tillage

- Controlled Traffic Minimum Till

- Controlled Traffic Direct Drill / Zero Till

- Controlled Traffic Air Seeders

- Tramlines / Tramline Farming

Gyral and Controlled Traffic.

In the mid to late 70’, when I first joined the company, strip farming was evolving on the Darling Downs and Breeza Plains in the Gunnedah region of NSW. Erosion was an issue which needed to be dealt with. The relevant departments of Agriculture were working on ways to combat the increasing degradation of our fertile black, self mulching soils. Farmers where surveyed to assess water flows and the farm was split up into strips positioned to cross the natural water flow and impede its progress. Many farms in these regions remain structured with a strip farming program today.

The strip widths were calculated to allow the farming equipment an exact number of passes up and back to sow each strip or bay. Machinery was as a consequence designed to suit the width of the strips. Gyral as an organisation understood the difficulties in establishing seedlings in the tractor and implement tracks and took measures to minimise the impact of these wheels on the plants growth. Wheel placement, row spacing and overall frame design were issues taken into consideration when designing these specialised machines.

Eventually interest groups from the broad acre areas started to discuss a concept called ‘Controlled Traffic’. Groups within the farming sector and professionals that support the industry started promoting the advantages associated with Strip Farming also known as Controlled Traffic.

As I run through the essential parameters for Strip Farming and Controlled Traffic, the list is almost identical. Issues like implement width and wheel spacing have changed in terms of their number, but the reasons for their being are identical. 

If I was to seek the opinion of experts to describe ‘Controlled Traffic’ it would go something like this: "Implement widths in exact multiples of one another with wheel placement designed to minimise excessive soil compaction. Implements used in such a way, so as to eliminate overlap hence increasing farm efficiency and productivity. All of this means improved profitability and viability." 

It is hard to think of Controlled Traffic without embracing to some degree the concept of precision farming. The challenge for the farmer is to commit to a system that suits his operation and is cost effective. 

So from our point of view, we have produced equipment meeting controlled traffic parameters since before it was so called. To us it was simply a matter of determining the width and minimising the effect of wheel tracks. Ensure sowing rows are not impeded by wheels and minimise overlap. The refinements in falling into line with 1 metre row multiples and not sowing in tractor tracks was merely a logical extension of successful summer crop methodology. This style of farming practice must be supported with a sustainable spraying program for weed control. It is important for us to understand that we are a part of a program and must be flexible enough to adapt to the needs of the area in which we are selling our product. 

The service side of our business performs an important roll on keeping us in touch with what the end user, the farmer, really wants. We as manufacturers must not loose contact with the needs of the rural community. They pay the bills.

Roger Fuss.  Managing Director - Gyral Implements

What is Controlled Traffic?

Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF) is about separating traffic zones from cropping zones. This means that the same wheel tracks are used for every tillage, planting, spray and harvest operation. In practice, this usually means all tractor and harvester wheels are aligned on the same tracks — although significant advantages are still available simply by using the same wheel track for each tractor and spraying operation. CTF impinges on many facets of a cropping system including weed management, water management, crop production, crop nutrition, disease management, and farm machinery.

Controlled traffic improves traction and field efficiencies, avoids damage to soil structure through continual compaction and re-loosening and facilitates zero till management. (Precision farming in the northern grains region - QLD - DPI, 2004)

(Precision farming in the northern grains region - QLD - DPI, 2004)

Benefits of Controlled Traffic.

Through the use of controlled traffic, tractive and field efficiencies are improved, damage to soil structure through continual compaction and re-loosening is avoided, and zero till management is facilitated. A reduction in fuel use of up to 40% may be expected on some soil types from using permanent wheel-tracks even when cultivating, due to reduced draft and improved tractive efficiency.

Research results indicate that CTF, in association with zero tillage, significantly improves water infiltration into the soil, and thereby increasing the amount of moisture available for crop growth. The crop loss from unplanted wheel tracks may be an issue with narrow spaced rows, but crop roots explore under the tracks and crops yield better from within the non-compacted areas. This effect, along with the greater moisture storage, generally leads to a potential increase in yield over the whole paddock.

Other potential benefits include:

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