Caring for the Land
Soil is the basis for growth.
Soil is the most important basis for production in the agricultural sector - healthy and fertile soil is the basis of a good harvest and yield increases necessary for the growing world population have to be produced using the existing land resources. The greatest challenge in this respect is that of reconciling efficiency and sustainability.
Reducing soil compaction
Farms are increasing in size and the time windows for cultivation and harvesting are becoming ever shorter. At the same time, machines are getting bigger, more powerful and heavier, resulting in increased soil compaction.
Soil compaction caused by tractors or harvesting machines reduces the pore spaces in the soil causing oxygen deficiency and the risk of waterlogging as well as reducing soil microorganism activity. These effects are manifested in subsequent crops in the form of delayed development, lower yield and inferior root growth. While the harm done in just one harvest can last for years actions can be taken to both restore the soil profile and reducing soil compaction.
While conventional tillage has advantages, it does create a plough pan of compacted soil and in dry climates like Australia, the more tillage that is required cause more moisture loss, which is a precious resource in large parts of the country. Ploughing also reduces earthworm populations, can cause waterlogging if there is substantial rainfall after sowing, and give rise to the risk of erosion in certain circumstances.
Plough-less tillage aims to reduce tillage and its side effects, by adopting a policy of ‘minimum tillage’ and by varying between shallow and deep reduced tillage systems the farmer can offset the effects of any one system. The tillage system and thus, equipment, is dependent on many factors such as straw layer, soil density, moisture levels, crops grown, the propensity for spraying and crop rotation, but generally reduced till age works best in dry conditions and we offer a range of equipment to enable a ‘min-till’ philosophy.
Learn MoreA direct seed drill places the seed directly in the residues of the previous crop with minimal soil disruption - only 5-20% of the soil surface is cultivated. Direct drilling saves germination moisture by leaving the soil undisturbed and allowing harvest residues to remain on the surface as good protection against evaporation.
Leaving the majority of the soil surface undisturbed under a straw cover provides good protection against water and wind erosion, and adopting a Controlled Traffic system means that wheel tracks and compaction damage can be controlled and is thus becoming increasingly common in direct drilling systems.
CLAAS TERRA TRAC Technology aims to reduce the impact of heavy machinery on soils by spreading the weight of the machine over a wider footprint, while retaining machine performance, thereby preserving and protecting the most precious resource of all farmers.
TERRA TRAC achieves this through:
- A large contact area combined with a compliant transport width
- Avoidance of soil compaction and preservation of the soil structure
- Less drive resistance, less slippage, lower fuel consumption and greater stability on slopes through optimised traction
- Higher seasonal performance through longer working times, even under difficult conditions
- Shallower ruts which can be eliminated easily during subsequent tillage
- Comfortable workplace in the field and on the road, even at speeds as high as 40 km/h thanks to fully suspended crawler track units
While conventional tillage has advantages, it does create a plough pan of compacted soil and in dry climates like Australia, the more tillage that is required cause more moisture loss, which is a precious resource in large parts of the country. Ploughing also reduces earthworm populations, can cause waterlogging if there is substantial rainfall after sowing, and give rise to the risk of erosion in certain circumstances.
Plough-less tillage aims to reduce tillage and its side effects, by adopting a policy of ‘minimum tillage’ and by varying between shallow and deep reduced tillage systems the farmer can offset the effects of any one system. The tillage system and thus, equipment, is dependent on many factors such as straw layer, soil density, moisture levels, crops grown, the propensity for spraying and crop rotation, but generally reduced till age works best in dry conditions and we offer a range of equipment to enable a ‘min-till’ philosophy.
Learn MoreA direct seed drill places the seed directly in the residues of the previous crop with minimal soil disruption - only 5-20% of the soil surface is cultivated. Direct drilling saves germination moisture by leaving the soil undisturbed and allowing harvest residues to remain on the surface as good protection against evaporation.
Leaving the majority of the soil surface undisturbed under a straw cover provides good protection against water and wind erosion, and adopting a Controlled Traffic system means that wheel tracks and compaction damage can be controlled and is thus becoming increasingly common in direct drilling systems.
CLAAS TERRA TRAC Technology aims to reduce the impact of heavy machinery on soils by spreading the weight of the machine over a wider footprint, while retaining machine performance, thereby preserving and protecting the most precious resource of all farmers.
TERRA TRAC achieves this through:
- A large contact area combined with a compliant transport width
- Avoidance of soil compaction and preservation of the soil structure
- Less drive resistance, less slippage, lower fuel consumption and greater stability on slopes through optimised traction
- Higher seasonal performance through longer working times, even under difficult conditions
- Shallower ruts which can be eliminated easily during subsequent tillage
- Comfortable workplace in the field and on the road, even at speeds as high as 40 km/h thanks to fully suspended crawler track units
Caring for the Land
Healthy and fertile soil is the basis of a good harvest and yield increases necessary for the growing world population have to be produced using the existing land resources.
Industry bodies
