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The whole-farm benefits of controlled traffic farming: An Australian appraisal

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  • Kingwell, Ross
  • Fuchsbichler, Amy

Abstract

Controlled traffic farming (CTF) uses a range of technologies to confine traffic-induced compaction to permanently defined tramlines within a farm's cropping area. CTF concentrates and improves trafficability whilst simultaneously supporting soil structure improvement between tramlines, thereby raising crop yields and offering other advantages such as reduced overlap that saves on crop inputs. This study uses whole-farm modelling to assess the profitability and role of CTF in different farming systems in Australian dryland agriculture. Farming system scenarios with and without the CTF are compared. Stepwise analysis, combined with sensitivity analysis, reveals the characteristics of CTF that most affect its value. Results indicate that the most valuable aspect of the technology is its beneficial impact on the yield and quality of crops grown on soils most subject to compaction. Hence, on farms dominated by these soils and where their faming system emphasizes cropping, CTF forms an especially valuable role. For a typical farm in the study region, employing conservative measures, farm profit increases by around 50% through use of CTF. Hence, CTF represents a remarkably profitable innovation for farming systems, offering input savings and output increases.

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  • Kingwell, Ross & Fuchsbichler, Amy, 2011. "The whole-farm benefits of controlled traffic farming: An Australian appraisal," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 104(7), pages 513-521, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agisys:v:104:y:2011:i:7:p:513-521
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    5. Gibson, Lauren & Kingwell, Ross & Doole, Graeme, 2008. "The role and value of eastern star clover in managing herbicide-resistant crop weeds: A whole-farm analysis," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 98(3), pages 199-207, October.
    6. Knight, Brad & Malcolm, Bill, 2007. "A Whole- Farm Investment Analysis of Some Precision Agriculture Technologies," 2007 Conference (51st), February 13-16, 2007, Queenstown, New Zealand 10406, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society.
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    8. O'Connell, Michael & Young, John & Kingwell, Ross, 2006. "The economic value of saltland pastures in a mixed farming system in Western Australia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 89(2-3), pages 371-389, September.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Graeme J. Doole & Alvaro J. Romera & Alfredo A. Adler, 2012. "A Mathematical Optimisation Model of a New Zealand Dairy Farm: The Integrated Dairy Enterprise (IDEA) Framework," Working Papers in Economics 12/01, University of Waikato.
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    7. Young, Michael & Young, John & Kingwell, Ross S. & Vercoe, Philip E., 2023. "Evaluation of the least cost option to manage pastures in a wet winter in south-eastern Australia," AFBM Journal, Australasian Farm Business Management Network, vol. 20(3), August.
    8. Pánková, Ludmila & Aulová, Renata & Jarolímek, Jan, 2020. "Economic Aspects of Precision Agriculture Systems," AGRIS on-line Papers in Economics and Informatics, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Economics and Management, vol. 10(3), September.
    9. Barnes, A.P. & Soto, I. & Eory, V. & Beck, B. & Balafoutis, A. & Sánchez, B. & Vangeyte, J. & Fountas, S. & van der Wal, T. & Gómez-Barbero, M., 2019. "Exploring the adoption of precision agricultural technologies: A cross regional study of EU farmers," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 163-174.
    10. T. Šima & M. Dubeňová, 2013. "Effect of crop residues on CO2 flux in the CTF system during soil tillage by a disc harrow Lemken Rubin 9," Research in Agricultural Engineering, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 59(SpecialIs), pages 15-21.
    11. Kaihua Liu & Marco Benetti & Marco Sozzi & Franco Gasparini & Luigi Sartori, 2022. "Soil Compaction under Different Traction Resistance Conditions—A Case Study in North Italy," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-23, November.
    12. Nordblom, Thomas L. & Hutchings, Timothy R. & Godfrey, Sosheel S. & Schefe, Cassandra R., 2021. "Precision variable rate nitrogen for dryland farming on waterlogging Riverine Plains of Southeast Australia?," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).

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