26. November 2024
NEXAT
6 min. reading time
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Blog post: New opportunities for agriculture – How tramlines can increase yields

NEXAT service employees are far more than just competent local contacts – they are the link between innovative technology and sustainable agriculture. The involvement of agronomists ensures in-depth expertise in soil management and crop development, giving customers a decisive knowledge advantage. At the same time, NEXAT supports the preparation of scientific theses in order to actively promote forward-looking research and technological innovations. This not only ensures success in the field, but also significantly promotes the further development of the entire industry.

Agriculture is facing major challenges: Protecting the soil, securing yields and at the same time operating sustainably. An innovative method that addresses precisely this is the so-called Wide-Span Controlled Traffic Farming
(WS-CTF). The advantages of uncompacted soil and WS-CTF have already been discussed in previous blog posts.

But how exactly do the tracks affect the plants?
Are there possibly any effects of the tracks on the adjacent plants?
To explore this, NEXAT conducted a field trial on a farm in germany as well as additional measurements in Romania and Ukraine.

The field trial: Surprising results

To test how WS-CTF affects the plants, a trial was started in corn in Saxony-Anhalt in 2024. Plants from two areas in the fields were compared with each other: plants in the centre of the beds and plants directly on the tramlines. For this purpose, the cobs of the plants were harvested at several points in the field over a length of 10 metres and weighed individually. The cob weight can also be used to draw conclusions about the yield of the grain corn.

  • Higher cob weight at the lanes: Corn plants in the rows directly adjacent to the track developed heavier cobs. On one test area, the average cob weight was 310 g along the tracks – 40 g more than in the centre of the fields.
  • Increased number of cobs:
    Plants next to the tramlines more frequently developed additional, also well-developed second cobs, which further increased the yield.

Why do tramlines benefit the plants?

Initially, it could be assumed that the compaction in the tramlines also has a negative effect on the growth of neighbouring plants via the typical pressure bulb. The analysis of the soil profile under a lane and the measurements of the storage density indicate an extension of the compaction across the width of the tramlines. However, there are several factors that could explain why the corn plants along the lanes develop better despite the pressure bulb:

Increased light incidence:
The wider spacing between the rows of plants allows more sunlight to reach the neighbouring plants and the deeper leaf layers. This increases photosynthesis performance and therefore growth. C4 plants in particular, such as corn, could benefit even more from this.

Additional water availability:
Rainwater can hardly seep into the compacted tramlines, so if the tramlines are managed correctly, they drain the water into the growth zones. Plants in these areas benefit from an improved water supply. The additional water could also flush more nutrients from the track into the growth area.

Changed microclimate:
Studies show that wider row spacing can influence the temperatures in the growth zones. Whether this has direct effect on the yield demands further research. However, this effect could provide a possible explanation for the visually healthier cobs.

International perspective: transferability of the results

Similar trials at NEXAT sites in Romania and Ukraine confirm the trend: here, too, corn cobs showed a higher weight along the tramlines. This consistency indicates that the principle works regardless of location and can be applied in different climate zones. The trials were carried out on fields with different histories, although the results were the same. Both on areas that were in the first year of conversion to WS-CTF and on long-term (2-5 years) NEXAT plots, higher yields tended to be found in the edge rows.

Full yield despite tramlines?!

The proportion of edge rows in the entire field is approx. 7.5 %. With an assumed yield increase of approx. 25%, as demonstrated in the trials, the proportion of lanes in the WS-CTF can be almost completely equalised. With a tramlines share of approx. 5%, 98% of the yield (compared to 100% planted area) can be achieved. If the yield in the total area now increases by just 2% due to the improved growing conditions, 100% yield can be achieved with simultaneous seed savings.

Conclusion: Opportunities and challenges of WS-CTF

The results show that the advantages of the WS-CTF can be utilised without having to compromise on the edges of the tramlines. The concentrated tramlines not only promote the efficiency of the machines, but also favour plant growth in the adjacent areas. The additional yields along the tramlines can partially compensate for the loss of area due to the unused ones.

However, there is still a need for further research: in particular, the long-term effects on soil structure and yields as well as the potential risks of water drainage and erosion must be investigated further. We will, of course, stay tuned.

The WS-CTF offers great potential

  • Better Load-Bearing Capacity:
    The firm tracks make it possible to keep fields accessible even during rain.
  • More Efficient Machine Operation:
    Reduced rolling resistance saves fuel.
  • Target Nutrient Utilization:
    Plants outside the tracks benefit from an undisturbed soil structure.
  • Improved Water Infiltration:
    Reduced surface runoff and erosion, along with enhanced water utilization.