ISHS Acta Horticulturae 210: Controlled Traffic Cropping Systems for Management of Soil Compaction, XXII IHC
CONTROLLED TRAFFIC RESEARCH WITH MODIFIED PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT |
| Author: | J.R. Williford |
| Abstract:
The soil compaction created by tractor wheels has been shown to be a deterrent to growth of crop roots and often reduces crop yield. Mechanized agriculture has evolved with little concern for wheel induced compaction resulting in production systems that include random wheel traffic before planting and wheel traffic close to the rows after crop emergence. A research program was initiated to develop a production system that would provide some control over the degree and location of wheel induced compaction. The basic requirement set forth for the controlled traffic system was that tractor wheel traffic be restricted to predetermined traffic zones throughout the production and harvest cycle and from year to year. To facilitate the transition from a conventional production system to a controlled traffic system, maximum use was made of equipment presently found on the farm. It was found that most equipment used in conventional systems would also be used in a controlled traffic system by making slight modifications. After six years of production, cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., yields from a controlled traffic system without annual deep tillage was equal to yields from conventional systems with annual deep tillage. | |
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