A synthesis of fourteen years of controlled traffic farming systems research in Slovakia
Galambošová, J., Macák, M., Antille, D.L., Rataj, V. and Barát, M. (2026) A synthesis of fourteen years of controlled traffic farming systems research in Slovakia. Soil and Tillage Research, 264. ISSN 01671987
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Abstract
This work synthesizes datasets derived from a long-term field-scale experiment established in 2009 to investigate the feasibility of implementing controlled traffic farming (CTF) in Slovakia. The experimental site comprises of 16 ha and sits on Haplic Luvisol and Eutric Reductigleyic Gleysol soils with 1°–12° slopes. The CTF system has a 6-m base module and uses unmodified, commercially available machinery. Crop rotation included spring and winter cereals, oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) and field peas (Pisum sativum L.). Key indicators of soil quality, and the agronomic and economic performance of the system, relative to a conventional mechanisation system (non-CTF), were evaluated over 14 years (13 crop seasons). Results for CTF showed significant improvements in all soil properties tested (p < 0.01) compared with non-CTF. Lower soil bulk density (0.05 – 0.40 m) and penetration resistance (0 – 0.80 m) where traffic was avoided explained significantly higher crop yields in non-trafficked compared with trafficked soils. These differences were between 12% and 20% depending on the topographical position and the seasonal effects of weather. No traffic in permanent crop beds reduced the spatial yield variability across the field that was evident before the CTF system was established (as compaction-induced soil variability was eliminated), together with improved inter-annual yield stability, suggesting increased reliability of cropping under CTF. Such yield improvements were more evident for spring sown crops and in drier than average rainfall seasons. Improved agronomic performance of crops grown under CTF translated into increased rainfall- and fertiliser nitrogen use efficiency compared with non-CTF. The findings from this study showed that adoption of CTF can lead to improved farming system resilience in the context of climate change, and that it is a technically viable and cost-effective mechanisation alternative for Central European conditions. This was confirmed by the system-level analyses, which showed that, following conversion to CTF, the payback period for a 1000-ha arable farm would be 2 years. Future research should focus on integrating both biophysical and economic modelling, coupled with climate scenario analysis, to aid optimisation of CTF designs and crop selection for Central European farming systems.
| Item Type: | Article |
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| Keywords: | Climate change, Farming system resilience, Field variability, Inter-seasonal yield stability, Nitrogen use efficiency, Rainfall use efficiency, Soil compaction, Soil structure |
| Divisions: | Departments > Engineering |
| Depositing User: | Mrs Rachael Giles |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Jul 2026 10:02 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Jul 2026 10:02 |
| URI: | https://hau.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/18405 |
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