Controlled traffic farming systems in the Netherlands

Abstract

In The Netherlands, research on controlled traffic farming systems has been conducted by the Research Station for Arable Farming and Field Production of Vegetables (PAGV) and the Institute of Agricultural Engineering (IMAG) during 1976–1984. Fields were divided into strips consisting of a relatively large area (91% at PAGV and 83% at IMAG) of permanent beds with a loose soil structure, which is about optimal for plant growth, and narrow permanent lanes about 3 m apart designated for wheel traffic. The loose soil structure of the beds restricted tool resistance, and the compacted traffic lanes improved trafficability. In this way, a 25% lower tool resistance, a 20% shallower tilled layer for primary tillage and a 13% better tractive efficiency resulted in an energy saving of about 50%. To optimize plant growth on the permanent beds, plant densities near the traffic lanes should be increased, nitrogen dressings concentrated on the beds and, when sowing crops, the loose soil should be slightly pre-compacted. If 9% of the field area is set aside for traffic in this way, the loss in area is compensated for by higher yields in the rows bordering the lanes. On a hectare basis, yield increases in the order of 0–10% are feasible, due mainly to reduced compaction of the tilled layer, which results in an increased O 2 content of the subsoil under wet conditions. The intensity and the type of field traffic, the soil, crop and climatic factors determine to what extent yield increases are possible. In general, the quality of the yield components of the crops was not improved.