EFFECT OF CONTROLLED TRAFFIC FARMING ON SOYBEAN GRAIN YIELD

ABSTRACT Soybean stands out as one of the most important crops for the Brazilian economy, and adopting techniques to increase yield has become essential. Controlled traffic farming (CTF) can help optimize soybean production and improve crop performance. This study evaluated soybean grain yield in areas with and without implementing controlled agricultural machinery traffic. The experiment was conducted at the Mato Grosso do Sul State University – Cassilândia University Unit (UEMS/UUC) in Cassilândia, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The trial was arranged in strips and split-plot with six replications. Treatments were applied in areas with and without controlled traffic, combined with different soil cover strategies: Urochloa (brachiaria), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), a cover crop mix (brachiaria + pearl millet), and spontaneous vegetation. Soybean was sown and cultivated to assess grain yield responses under the different treatments. Vegetative cover with pearl millet and the mixed cover crop led to an increase in yield. Similarly, areas with controlled traffic exhibited the highest grain yield, resulting in a yield gain of 390 kg ha-1. It is concluded that controlled agricultural machinery traffic contributes to higher soybean yields.