Erase wheel tracks
1. Presentation
Characterization of the technique
Description of the technique:
| Patrice Cotinet | CA 56 | patrice.cotinet(at)morbihan.chambagri.fr | Bignan (56) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rémy Ballot | INRA | remy.ballot(at)grignon.inra.fr | Grignon (78) |
During sowing, erase the wheel tracks left by the tractor and the seeder using a track erasing device adapted to the seeder. Tractor tracks can be erased by tines mounted at the front of the seeder frame and aligned with the wheels, or by a soil working tool (harrow rotary, alternative, vibroculteur...) placed between the tractor and the seeder in the case of combined sowing. Seeder tracks can be erased by a harrow comb adapted to the rear of the seeder.
Implementation period On established crop
Spatial scale of implementation Plot
Application of the technique to...
All crops: Easily generalizable
Erasing wheel tracks is particularly justified in the case of crops sown with wide spacing, where wheel tracks impact a significant part of the surface (corn, beetroot…).
All soil types: Easily generalizable
Erasing wheel tracks is especially justified in the case of erosion-prone soils (loamy…).
All climatic contexts: Easily generalizable
Regulation
2. Services provided by the technique
3. Effects on the sustainability of the cropping system
"Environmental" criteria
Effect on water quality: Increasing
N.P.: DECREASE
pesticides: DECREASE
turbidity: DECREASE
Other: No effect (neutral)
"Agronomic" criteria
Productivity: No effect (neutral)
Soil fertility: No effect (neutral)
Water stress: Variable
In the case of crops where wheel tracks impact a significant part of the surface, erasing these tracks can improve water availability by promoting infiltration.
Functional Biodiversity: No effect (neutral)
"Economic" criteria
Operational costs: No effect (neutral)
Mechanization costs: No effect (neutral)
The cost of the track erasing device (offered as an option by many seeder manufacturers) is modest compared to the cost of the seeder.
Margin: No effect (neutral)
Other economic criteria: Variable
Relations with neighbors: variable
The implementation of anti-erosion techniques can limit the amount of soil leaving the plot. Less risk of soil accumulation at the bottom of the plot.
"Social" criteria
Working time: No effect (neutral)
Peak period: No effect (neutral)
Observation time: No effect (neutral)
4. Organisms favored or disadvantaged
Favored Pests
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Type | Details |
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Disadvantaged pests
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Type | Details |
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Favored Auxiliaries
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Type | Details |
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Disadvantaged auxiliaries
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Type | Details |
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Favored climatic and physiological accidents
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Details |
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Disadvantaged climatic and physiological accidents
| Organism | Impact of the technique | Details |
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5. For more information
- Wheel track erasers
- -Cotinet P., Heddadj D. (CA 56)
Technical brochure, 2009
6. Keywords
Bioaggressor control method:
Mode of action:
Type of strategy regarding pesticide use: Efficiency
