Abstract

Controlled traffic system was an effective solution to soil compaction, thus to promote sustainable development. The objective was to evaluate the effect of small and medium machinery wheel traffic on soil conservation and crop performance in annual two-crop region in North China Plain. Three treatments were included, zero tillage with Controlled Traffic (NTCN), zero tillage with random Traffic (NT) and traditional tillage treatment with random traffic (CK). Based on the two-year controlled traffic experiment in North China Plain, it was illustrated that controlled traffic system NTCN reduced soil bulk density in 0-30 cm soil layer in crop zone by applying permanent wheel track. Due to the avoiding of compaction, crop performance was enhanced. Both winter wheat and summer maize yield components value were increased in NTCN, compared with NT and CK. Even 30% of the field was occupied by the permanent traffic lanes, controlled traffic still increased total annual yield and WUE by compensating yield loss in winter wheat from the yield benefit in summer maize. It was indicated that controlled traffic system improved soil structure, promoted crop performance and induced higher annual crop yield in the annual two crops region in North China Plain. Although these results are preliminary, it was indicated that controlled traffic system was a valuable farming system in small and medium machinery condition in North China Plain.

Keywords:

Controlled traffic, crop performance, north china plain, soil compaction,

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