2. each zone is managed independently and preciselyJack McHugh Contributions from Dr Jack Desbiolles (Ashworth et al., 2010) and Baker et al., (2007), Don Yule & Jeff Tullberg

3. What is a sustainable farming system? Optimum resource management Maximum productivity Positive economics Minimum environmental impact Positive social impacts Zero-Till conservation cropping systems CTF – synergising technology Captures gains from CA elements CTF facilitates Zero till

4. How does CTF facilitate Zero till? Wheel traffic zones Drain and dispose of excess water Maximum traction and trafficability Crop zones Optimise production Reduces energy use Reduce soil variability and limitations Resolves the conflict between plants and machinery Plants grow better in non compacted soil and wheels operate more effectively on firm soil Synergistic with disc seeders Penetration and draft

5. It is important to view CTF not only as an input technology but also as a system component to be optimised in a farming system Common track width & minimum tyre widths Modular working widths Guidance layout Ground area trafficked Traditional tillage – 100% Reduced tillage – 55-60% Zero tillage – 30% CTF ZT – 12%

6. CTF system benefits Improved timeliness (chemicals when wet) Improved spray window (night applications) Reduced chemical costs - accuracy, losses, variability, crop damage Improved efficiencies from reduced overlap and corners Increased WUE – increased infiltration – increased yields (dry years) Improved sowing quality (placement, depth, emergence, uniformity Reduced draft Reduced rolling resistance – efficient use of smaller tractors Reduced cost of fuels and other inputs Driver fatigue

7. CTF agronomic benefits Wheel slip – shear – adding to compaction from mass of machines Rearranging soil particles – broadly effecting of soil physical process, variability and constraints The productivity of non wheeled soils increases as natural amelioration extends through the soil profile over time

8. % of rainfall infiltrated Rain Low Infiltration and high amounts of runoff ( lost moisture) Wheel tracks in CTF aiding the safe disposal of runoff & maximising infiltration Controlled Traffic Farming Traditional Farming Wheeled, Tilled Wheeled, Zero-Till Rainfall and Runoff (mm) Non-Wheeled, Tilled Non-Wheeled, Zero Till Run off (mm) Compacted Area of Trial Site. Controlled Traffic Area Rainfall Time (h)

9. Wheeling Effect on Plant Available Water McHugh (Total inTop 300mm) Plant Available Water (mm) Increased Crop Performance when Water-Limited

10. Wheeling and Tillage Effects on Soil Health (Pangadorm) Earthworms in top 15cm/m2 Tillage and Wheeling Both Damage Earthworms !

11. Conservation cropping approach Field soil conditions are a direct reflection of farming system philosophy & Effect opener operation & performance enhance soil quality = Yield and profitably & Sustainability and climate change adaptability Disc seeding systems – integral and fundamental for CA (residue, wue, disturbance)…………but tines are ok until soil improves. Active management of compaction (CTF) for superior disc performance, soil structure, OM and improved rotations. Transition process from CT – CA an evolving chain of steps Residue retention, reduced tillage & herbicides – an integrated cropping system approach - agronomy, management, technology & performance assessment Disc seeding & CTF are fine tuning =high quality CA & all benefits realised

12. Introduce herbicides to replace tillage

13. This is what happens if we don’t change agricultural practices – Liangzhou County near Wuwei City, Gansu PRC. It could happen here!!!!