Controlled traffic farming effect on soil emissions of nitrous oxide in Mollisols of Santa Fe, Argentina

Masola, M.J., Alesso, C.A., Oggero, E., Nicolier, J.G., Antille, D.L. and Imhoff, S. (2026) Controlled traffic farming effect on soil emissions of nitrous oxide in Mollisols of Santa Fe, Argentina. Soil and Tillage Research, 263. ISSN 01671987

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2026.107275

Abstract

Soil compaction from mechanized agriculture can increase nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions by restricting air diffusivity and water movement, fostering anaerobic conditions for denitrification. Controlled traffic farming (CTF) can reduce these emissions by confining compaction to permanent traffic lanes. This study evaluated the effect of CTF system on N₂O emissions from Mollisols at two farms located in the Pampas region of Argentina and relied on commercially available machinery. Measurements were conducted both from permanent traffic lanes (PTL) and permanent crop beds (PCB), providing a total of 12 sampling points. Two treatments were established, which involved two levels of soil compaction applied to the PTL; namely: T0, no-tillage soil without any additional compaction applied, and T1: no-tillage soil to which additional compaction was applied until a mean penetration resistance of 4 MPa was reached. Soil water content, air and soil temperature, soil bulk density, nitrate content, and N2O fluxes were measured over one month in autumn and summer. Results showed that soil water content was the primary factor controlling N2O fluxes. The effects of traffic-induced compaction become relevant only when water-filled pore space was ≥ 50%. N2O emissions recorded from PTL were significantly higher than those recorded from PCB in autumn, but they showed no differences in summer. Overall, under wet soil conditions, confining machinery traffic to permanent lanes allowed emissions to be reduced by half, even when soil temperatures were low. However, N2O emissions remained low and close to background levels when the water-filled pore space was low (∼11%), regardless of soil or air temperature, and soil nitrate levels.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Full text not available from this repository
Keywords:	Argiudoll, Greenhouse gas emissions, Permanent traffic lanes, Permanent crop beds, Soil compaction
Divisions:	Departments > Engineering
Depositing User:	Miss Anna Cope
Date Deposited:	02 Jun 2026 14:31
Last Modified:	02 Jun 2026 14:31
URI:	https://hau.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/18382

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