Mitigating Soil Compaction in Sugarcane Production: A Systems Approach Integrating Controlled Traffic Farming and Strip Soil Tillage

Soil compaction from repeated mechanized traffic in sugarcane cultivation reduces porosity, root growth, water infiltration and nutrient availability. Pre-consolidation stresses (σP) in sugarcane soils (70–210 kPa) are frequently exceeded by machine loads up to 595 kPa, producing bulk density (ρb) above 1.65 Mg m−3 and soil resistance to penetration (SR) beyond 2.0 MPa within the upper 0.40 m; approximately 80% of root biomass concentrates in this zone. Conventional whole-area subsoiling is energy-intensive, destabilizes soil structure and accelerates re-compaction, limiting long-term efficacy. This review proposes integrating strip soil tillage (SST) with controlled traffic farming (CTF) via a multifunctional implement that performs selective subsoiling, in-row chemical correction and targeted input application. The system is designed to mobilize 53% of the area, preserve inter-row structure, reduce fuel consumption by 43.5%, decrease CO2 emissions by 163–315.4 kg ha−1 and lower operational costs by 53.5% relative to conventional approaches. The implement features adjustable-depth subsoiler shanks with dedicated input dispensers, rotary hoes for organic amendment incorporation and GNSS-guided autopilot for precise in-row operations. Expected outcomes include improved soil physical quality, enhanced root development beyond 1.30 m, increased input-use efficiency and sustainable productivity gains under CTF–SST management. This review is innovative in explicitly proposing and detailing the integration of CTF with SST through a multifunctional implement. This approach advances current knowledge by overcoming the main limitations of conventional soil tillage systems, such as accelerated recompaction, high energy consumption, and inefficient input use, while promoting measurable improvements in soil physical quality, operational efficiency, and sustainable productivity. A literature review search up to 31 May 2025 supported the integration of SST and CTF as a viable strategy for sustainable soil management in sugarcane production.