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Conservation practice standards are reviewed periodically and updated if 

needed. To obtain the current version of this standard, contact your 

Natural Resources Conservation Service State office or visit the 

Field Office Technical Guide.

Natural Resources Conservation Service

CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARD 

CONTROLLED TRAFFIC FARMING

Code 334

(Ac.)

DEFINITION

Controlled traffic farming (CTF) is confining all high load wheel/track traffic from farm equipment to 

specific lanes or tramlines (traffic pattern) in crop fields year after year.

PURPOSE

Improve soil health by limiting wheel traffic compaction to limited traffic lanes.

CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES

This practice applies to cropland where wheel traffic can be limited to specific traffic lanes.

CRITERIA

Ensure that controlled traffic lanes are designed and used in a manner that avoids concentrated flow that 

may result in gully erosion. 

Limit wheel/track traffic to no more than 30 percent of the soil surface. The same tracks must be used for 

all high load traffic continually. High wheel load traffic is defined here as any tire or track that bears a 

load higher than 6,000 pounds at 30 psi or 6 tons per axle.

If wide flotation tires are used they must be big enough that the inflation pressure will be below 18 psi to 

minimize compaction on trafficked rows.

Use a Geographic Positioning System (GPS) to guide field operations and wheeled/track traffic when the 

designated traffic lanes are obscured. 

Once the tram lines or traffic pattern is established, do not till deeper than 4 inches.

CONSIDERATIONS

For narrow width or drilled crops, use a skip row system (where the wheel tracks are not planted) or use 

GPS guidance.

Recognize tire or rubber tracks should be less than 26 inches wide or less than the row crop spacing. 

Wide flotation tires do not work well in a CTF system. Split duals are a better alternative if single tires are 

inadequate.

Once tramlines are well established, operations which previously required the use of duals or extra-wide 

tires may no longer need them. Removing duals will significantly reduce the amount of trafficked area.
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Extend the front axles of tractors to match the rear tires to reduce traffic lanes.

All traffic (high and low load) that crosses the field should utilize the designated traffic pattern. This 

includes custom applicators, pickup trucks, etc.

Consider no-till or direct-seed planting systems to further reduce compaction. 

Utilize cover crops known to help reduce compaction, such as cereal rye, oil seed radish, or annual 

ryegrass. 

Consolidated tramlines have lower rolling resistance and wheel slip than cultivated soil.

The compacted traffic lanes/tramlines are able to support higher axle loads, so tramlines also allow 

machinery access in higher soil moisture conditions.

Consolidated wheel tracks increase traction and reduce cultivation draft in the uncompact soil. 

Consider subsoiling prior to establishing the controlled traffic lanes. 

Repair all ruts prior to establishing the system.

All equipment should cover the same working width or multiples of that width. Adjust the traffic pattern of 

each piece of equipment to minimize the number of lanes or tramlines across the field.

As older equipment is replaced, consider the working width of the equipment and how it fits into the 

controlled traffic farming system. The goal of controlled traffic farming is to limit the wheel/track traffic to 

as low a percent of the field as possible. This can be improved by having all equipment with the same 

working width or multiples of that width.

Utilize hitch offsets in no-till systems to avoid salt buildup and/or pH imbalances where fertilizer is banded 

in the same zone year after year. Hitch offsets can also help with positioning row placement in relation to 

previous crop rows and residues without altering wheel track lanes.

Extend tractor tires or tracks to the width of the combine and grain cart to reduce traffic lanes. Be sure to 

check equipment warranty when extending axle widths.

PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS

Plans and specifications shall be prepared for each field site where the Controlled Traffic Farming system 

will be installed. Record practice specifications on the Controlled Traffic Farming Implementation 

Requirement document. Plans and specifications will include:

• Crops to be grown

• Row widths of all crops

• Width and spacing of tires/tracks of all equipment

• Percent of the field that receives controlled traffic

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

As older equipment is replaced, purchase equipment that will enhance the CTF system, reducing the 

number of tramlines in the system.

If ruts develop, use tillage or other specialized equipment to remove ruts and reestablish controlled traffic 

lanes.
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REFERENCES:

Reeder, Randall, and John M. Smith. 2000. Controlled Traffic. In: Conservation Tillage Systems and 

Management, MWPS-45. Midwest Plan Service, Ames, IA. (Pages 77-82).

Reeder, Randall C. 2002. Controlled traffic. Encyclopedia of Soil Science. Marcell Dekker, Inc. pp.233-

236.

M.A. Hamza, W.K. Anderson 2005 Soil compaction in cropping systems - A review of the nature, causes 

and possible solutions. Soil & Tillage Research 82 (2005) 121–145.