Controlled traffic farming

Controlled traffic farming (CTF) is an agricultural system which confines all machinery loads to the least possible area of permanent traffic lanes. Current farming systems allow machines  to randomly traverses the field, compacting around 75% of the area within one season and at least the whole area by the second season. Soils don’t recover quickly, taking as much as a few years. A proper CTF system on the other hand can reduce tracking to just 15% and this is always in the same place. This system generally does not require extensive tillage, as the soil is not disturbed as much, making it an effective technique for soil conservation. The permanent traffic lanes are  typically aligned parallel to each other, and this is the most efficient way of achieving CTF, but the definition does not preclude tracking at an angle. The permanent traffic lanes may be cropped or non-cropped depending on a wide range of variables and local constraints.

CTF has been shown to reduce water runoff, soil erosion, and improve overall land productivity, especially in areas with steep terrain.