Controlled traffic farming: A review of the environmental impacts

• Published in: European journal of agronomy 2013-07, Vol.48, p.66-73
• Main Authors: Gasso, Vicent, Sørensen, Claus A.G., Oudshoorn, Frank W., Green, Ole
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: agrochemicals; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; ammonia; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; controlled traffic systems; emissions; Energy use; environmental assessment; environmental impact; farming systems; fertilizers; fuels; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; leaching; life cycle assessment; methane; nitrous oxide; nutrients; Permanent traffic lane; pesticides; Runoff; seeds; soil; Soil compaction; Soil gaseous emission; traffic; Tramline farming
• ISSN: 1161-0301; 1873-7331
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eja.2013.02.002

► Controlled traffic farming (CTF) reduces fertiliser, pesticide and fuel use. ► CTF reduces soil N2O and CH4 fluxes, runoff and in-field operations emissions. ► CTF effects on infield leaching and soil C balance are not yet fully understood. ► An environmental impact assessment is needed to quantify the actual CTF impacts. Controlled traffic farming (CTF) is a strategy to minimise soil compaction, which is being implemented worldwide. The aim of this study was to review and analyse the state-of-the-art regarding the environmental impacts of CTF. CTF, when compared with random traffic farming (RTF), was able to reduce environmental issues, such as soil emissions of nitrous oxide (21–45%) and methane (372–2100%), water runoff (27–42%), in-field operations direct emissions (23%), and indirect impacts associated with fertilisers (1–26%), pesticides (1–26%), seeds (11–36%), and fuels (23%). CTF, in addition, is likely to cause reductions on environmental issues, such as ammonia emissions, and runoff of soil, nutrients, and agrochemicals. Effects of CTF on soil-C balance, leaching of nutrients and agrochemicals, and in-field-machinery indirect impacts cannot be determined by the currently available literature. Research on the non-determined environmental issues and a quantitative environmental impact assessment, such as life cycle assessment, would contribute to advance agriculture towards more environmentally-friendly systems.