Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
ideal concept:
tracks of tractors and trailers fit into the combine track
grain harvesting
drilling
auger
trailer
appl. of chemicals
wide
narrow
sown tracks tramline track
(not sown)
compromise:
tractor and trailer do not fit into the combine track, thus 3 tracks
grain harvesting
drilling
auger
trailer
appl. of chemicals
Fig. 7.14
Arranging the tracks of various farming operations for controlled traffi c farming in
order to avoid soil compaction in the growing area. The objective is the separation of growing area
from traffi cked soil (From CTF Controlled Traffi c Farming
2009
, altered)
running in the same tracks seldom is practised in densely populated countries. There
are alternatives,
e.g.
employing two standard track widths and to let the narrower run-
ning gears use only one track of the combine (Fig.
7.14
, bottom). Yet this increases the
tracked area of the land.
Controlled traffi c farming has gained considerably in Australia, where problems
with wider tracks on tractors and trailers on public roads are less common. This
makes it possible to operate there with one
standard track width
for all machines
(Fig.
7.14
, top). In Europe - where the concept was initiated (Chamen et al.
2003
)
- it is mainly used for rotations of small cereals and rape (colza). Concepts for rota-
tions with forage- or root crops should be developed. The prospects of getting rid of
technically induced soil compaction and thus to pave the way for a widespread
application of no-till practices deserve attention. It should be borne in mind that all
standards of present day track widths are man-made and therefore can in principle
be altered.
Another approach of reducing soil compaction and by this to eliminate cultiva-
tion needs is the introduction of
unmanned farm machinery
or
robots
.
The pres-
ent large and heavy farm machinery results from its ability to provide for a high
work-rate per time unit for the driver. But modern automatic guidance systems such
as RTK- GPS and other control systems can eliminate the need for a permanent
