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Development of a Framework for the Evaluation of the Environmental Benefits of Controlled Traffic Farming

Author

Listed:
  • Abdul Mounem Mouazen

    (Cranfield Soil and AgriFood Institute, Cranfield University, Cranfield, MK43 OAL Bedford, UK)

  • Martin Palmqvist

    (Cranfield Soil and AgriFood Institute, Cranfield University, Cranfield, MK43 OAL Bedford, UK)

Abstract

Although controlled traffic farming (CTF) is an environmentally friendly soil management system, no quantitative evaluation of environmental benefits is available. This paper aims at establishing a framework for quantitative evaluation of the environmental benefits of CTF, considering a list of environmental benefits, namely, reducing soil compaction, runoff/erosion, energy requirement and greenhouse gas emission (GHG), conserving organic matter, enhancing soil biodiversity and fertiliser use efficiency. Based on a comprehensive literature review and the European Commission Soil Framework Directive, the choice of and the weighting of the impact of each of the environmental benefits were made. The framework was validated using data from three selected farms. For Colworth farm (Unilever, UK), the framework predicted the largest overall environmental benefit of 59.3% of the theoretically maximum achievable benefits (100%), as compared to the other two farms in Scotland (52%) and Australia (47.3%). This overall benefit could be broken down into: reducing soil compaction (24%), tillage energy requirement (10%) and GHG emissions (3%), enhancing soil biodiversity (7%) and erosion control (6%), conserving organic matter (6%), and improving fertiliser use efficiency (3%). Similar evaluation can be performed for any farm worldwide, providing that data on soil properties, topography, machinery, and weather are available.

Suggested Citation

  • Abdul Mounem Mouazen & Martin Palmqvist, 2015. "Development of a Framework for the Evaluation of the Environmental Benefits of Controlled Traffic Farming," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(7), pages 1-25, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:7:y:2015:i:7:p:8684-8708:d:52061
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Wei Li & Guomin Li & Rongxia Zhang & Wen Sun & Wen Wu & Baihui Jin & Pengfei Cui, 2017. "Carbon Reduction Potential of Resource-Dependent Regions Based on Simulated Annealing Programming Algorithm," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-17, July.
    2. Miroslav Macák & Jana Galambošová & František Kumhála & Marek Barát & Milan Kroulík & Karol Šinka & Petr Novák & Vladimír Rataj & Paula A. Misiewicz, 2023. "Reduction in Water Erosion and Soil Loss on Steep Land Managed by Controlled Traffic Farming," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-16, January.
    3. Jianli Liao & Qicong Xu & Huilian Xu & Danfeng Huang, 2019. "Natural Farming Improves Soil Quality and Alters Microbial Diversity in a Cabbage Field in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-16, June.

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