Technologies

Controlled traffic farming [Hungary]

Művelőnyomos növénytermesztés

technologies_6202 - Hungary

Completeness: 96%

1. General information

1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Key resource person(s)

land user:

Berend Ferenc

Berend Kft

Hungary

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1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

2. Description of the SLM Technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

All machinery traffic uses the same lane network within the field to reduce the total compacted area, to improve connections, and to optimise overlapping of following runs resulting in more efficient use of labour and inputs. Risks from environmental pollution are also reduced.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Under controlled traffic farming, all field machinery uses the same lane network within the field. This is to reduce the total compacted area, to improve connections, and to optimise overlapping of return runs, resulting in more efficient use of labour and inputs. Risks from environmental pollution are also reduced. The technology is applied to arable fields.
The main principle is to confine all machinery-earth contact to the least possible area by using permanent traffic lanes. The aim is to minimise the area compacted area while improving connections and optimising the cover of operations (so that, for example, spraying doesn’t double the dose on a portion of the crop). For application of the technology, working widths of machines have to be synchronised to use the same (or multiple) working widths. For keeping directions and parallel traffic precisely Real Time Correction GPS need to be used.
The key benefit of the technology is that the compacted area can be reduced to 15-20% of the field and this is always in the same place. Due to the precision of next/ return runs of machinery, this means more efficient use of time and 15-20% less input materials used. Risk of environment pollution is correspondingly smaller. Under this system, conventional tillage (e.g. mouldboard ploughing) is not possible, only reduced, non-inversion tillage (“no-till”) can be employed. Correspondingly, mechanical weed control may be less effective under this system.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos of the Technology

Comments, short description:

video is not available

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

Hungary

Region/ State/ Province:

Somogy County

Further specification of location:

Vityapuszta

Specify the spread of the Technology:
  • applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area
Is/are the technology site(s) located in a permanently protected area?

No

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2012

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:
  • through land users' innovation

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

  • reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
  • create beneficial economic impact

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Cropland

Cropland

  • Annual cropping
Annual cropping - Specify crops:
  • cereals - barley
  • cereals - maize
  • cereals - wheat (winter)
  • oilseed crops - sunflower, rapeseed, other
Number of growing seasons per year:
  • 1
Is intercropping practiced?

Yes

If yes, specify which crops are intercropped:

cover crops

Is crop rotation practiced?

Yes

If yes, specify:

winter wheat - maize - spring barley, oilseed rape

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?
  • No (Continue with question 3.4)
Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:
  • rainfed
Comments:

distribution of raifall is uneven

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

  • minimal soil disturbance
  • energy efficiency technologies
  • soil conservation

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

agronomic measures

  • A3: Soil surface treatment
  • A7: Others
A3: Differentiate tillage systems:

A 3.1: No tillage

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

soil erosion by water

  • Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
other

other

Specify:

soil compaction

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:
  • prevent land degradation
  • restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

4. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

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Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

To adapt technology a real-time kinematic positioning (RTK) system has to be embedded into the machinery (both tractor and machine) providing accurate (accuracy: 1-2 cm) navigation within the field.

Author:

Piroska Kassai

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:
  • per Technology area
Indicate size and area unit:

ha

Specify currency used for cost calculations:
  • USD
Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

50

4.3 Establishment activities

Activity Timing (season)
1. Implementing RTK Navigation System into machinery
Comments:

RTK navigation equipment, connectors (buses), subscription for signal

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Specify input Unit Quantity Costs per Unit Total costs per input % of costs borne by land users
Equipment RTK navigation equipment pcs 1.0 9500.0 9500.0 100.0
Equipment connectors (buses) pcs 1.0 1200.0 1200.0 100.0
Other subscription for RTK signal year 1.0 1200.0 1200.0 100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology 11900.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD 11900.0
Comments:

In the calculated cost the market prices of the equipments were taken into account not the hiring costs.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Comments:

no maintanance is needed

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

Comments:

no maintenance is needed

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Reduce compaction on the field, reducing overlapping during application of field work results in saving expenses (by ca. 10-20 %)

5. Natural and human environment

5.1 Climate

Annual rainfall
  • < 250 mm
  • 251-500 mm
  • 501-750 mm
  • 751-1,000 mm
  • 1,001-1,500 mm
  • 1,501-2,000 mm
  • 2,001-3,000 mm
  • 3,001-4,000 mm
  • > 4,000 mm
Specify average annual rainfall (if known), in mm:

653.00

Specifications/ comments on rainfall:

distribution of rainfall is uneven

Indicate the name of the reference meteorological station considered:

Keszthely meteorological station

Agro-climatic zone
  • sub-humid

Heathwaves often occur during summertime

5.2 Topography

Slopes on average:
  • flat (0-2%)
  • gentle (3-5%)
  • moderate (6-10%)
  • rolling (11-15%)
  • hilly (16-30%)
  • steep (31-60%)
  • very steep (>60%)
Landforms:
  • plateau/plains
  • ridges
  • mountain slopes
  • hill slopes
  • footslopes
  • valley floors
Altitudinal zone:
  • 0-100 m a.s.l.
  • 101-500 m a.s.l.
  • 501-1,000 m a.s.l.
  • 1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
  • 1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
  • 2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
  • 2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
  • 3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
  • > 4,000 m a.s.l.
Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:
  • convex situations
Comments and further specifications on topography:

both convex and concave situations within field

5.3 Soils

Soil depth on average:
  • very shallow (0-20 cm)
  • shallow (21-50 cm)
  • moderately deep (51-80 cm)
  • deep (81-120 cm)
  • very deep (> 120 cm)
Soil texture (topsoil):
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Soil texture (> 20 cm below surface):
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Topsoil organic matter:
  • medium (1-3%)
If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Brown Earth (Luvisol), eroded, pH 6,4, no salinity

5.4 Water availability and quality

Ground water table:

< 5 m

Availability of surface water:

medium

Water quality (untreated):

poor drinking water (treatment required)

Water quality refers to:

surface water

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

Species diversity:
  • medium
Habitat diversity:
  • high
Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

arable, grass and forest are mixed in the landscape

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Sedentary or nomadic:
  • Sedentary
Market orientation of production system:
  • commercial/ market
Off-farm income:
  • less than 10% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
  • average
Individuals or groups:
  • individual/ household
Level of mechanization:
  • mechanized/ motorized
Gender:
  • men
Age of land users:
  • middle-aged
Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

wife also works for farm business management

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

  • < 0.5 ha
  • 0.5-1 ha
  • 1-2 ha
  • 2-5 ha
  • 5-15 ha
  • 15-50 ha
  • 50-100 ha
  • 100-500 ha
  • 500-1,000 ha
  • 1,000-10,000 ha
  • > 10,000 ha
Is this considered small-, medium- or large-scale (referring to local context)?
  • medium-scale
  • large-scale

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:
  • individual, not titled
  • individual, titled
Land use rights:
  • leased
  • individual
Water use rights:
  • communal (organized)
Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

health:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
education:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
technical assistance:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
employment (e.g. off-farm):
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
markets:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
energy:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
roads and transport:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
drinking water and sanitation:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
financial services:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Income and costs

expenses on agricultural inputs

increased
decreased
Quantity before SLM:

100%

Quantity after SLM:

80%

Comments/ specify:

less fertilizer, pesticide, labour and fuel

workload

increased
decreased

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

excess water drainage

reduced
improved
Quantity before SLM:

100%

Quantity after SLM:

120%

Comments/ specify:

This technology increases the infiltration of water into the soil.

Soil

soil moisture

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Soil moisture increases due to the better infiltration.

soil loss

increased
decreased

soil compaction

increased
reduced
Comments/ specify:

One of the main benefit of this technology is that soil compaction significantly reduces.

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

beneficial species

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

soil biota increased

Other ecological impacts

less pesticides and fertilizers are used due to the precise connections of treatment strips

increased pollution
reduced pollution
Quantity before SLM:

100%

Quantity after SLM:

80%

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

damage on neighbours' fields

increased
reduced

less pesticides

increased
reduced

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change
Season increase or decrease How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature increase
annual rainfall decrease

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
drought moderately

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?
Short-term returns:

neutral/ balanced

Long-term returns:

positive

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?
Short-term returns:

neutral/ balanced

Long-term returns:

positive

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

  • 1-10%
Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?
  • 51-90%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
less input material is used
less compaction
better water infiltration
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
less environmental pollution

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view How can they be overcome?
implementation of technology needs investment economical turnover is rapid

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

  • interviews with land users

5

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

13/10/2022

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

CONTROLLED TRAFFIC FARMING TECHNICAL MANUAL, Isbister, B. et al., 2013, Department of Agriculture and food, Western Australia, ISBN: 978-0-9923323-03

Available from where? Costs?

available online free of charge: https://www.nacc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/NACC_Controlled_Traffic_Farming_Technical_Manual.pdf

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Developing a controlled traffic (tramline) farming system

URL:

https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/soil-compaction/developing-controlled-traffic-tramline-farming-system

7.4 General comments

overarching, detailed

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