Order of field preparation?

[=M$= Oroberus]

I just don'T get it, with all those new statuses a field can have, especially as some culstivators, despite the same description as others, cause a different ground texture (some with and some without also causing a different field status on the map), same foes for mulchers. Some mulchers turn it into stubble turf, some just remove any status.

Anybody has an actual clue about this? Which equipment is actually needed for (easy example as I'm farming it right now) canola?

1. Harvest
2. Mulching for 5% bonus (but which mulcher? The last 3 show the same description but cause different field statusses)
3. Cultivating (but which cultivator? Several cultivators causing several different statusses, despite the same description)
4. Seeding
5. Fertilizing

(Let's say the field does not need to be plowed or limed)

[Defektiv]

Really depends on what you have enabled or not. Plow > Destone gives you a cultivated seed bed to plant on if you have plowing and stones enabled. Then you plant, and should fertilize with solid fertilizer when you plant or shortly after. Cultivation happens right before or during planting. When the plants grow their first cycle, you fertilize again with liquid fertilizer. Then you wait until harvest. If weeds are enabled you may have to de-weed at some point after growth starts. If Lime is enabled you will need to apply Lime to the field at some point between plowing and planting every few plant/harvest cycles.

I believe other methods of plowing are just other methods of plowing or have specific application to a special harvest type. Some machines will do two jobs and can save you some time during a cycle.

[Stenleh44]

Does the type of fertilizer matter…solid or liquid??? I never heard that before

[KaarelK]

Doesnt matter, you just need different equipment

[Defektiv]

I just find its just easier to do solid with seeds as it comes on most seeders that way. And then spraying is the easiest option for second pass fertilizer both in terms of crop destruction and being able to use the same vehicle for herbicide if you have weeds enabled. You can double up with solids if you apply it right.

[Techtrip]

I used one of the bigger cultivators (they are listed as shallow cultivators) and it turns the field into stubble tillage. When you plant on this with your seeder it will give the field 50% fertilizer, which I thought was great, but once you advance time by 1 day (month in game) it causes the weed growth to go to 75%, which I could not get below 50% with my weeder. Not sure if there is a process I missed, but I went back to the small cultivators (the cultivators that are not listed as shallow cultivators). They work fine, and the weeds are only at 50% after the first day.

[=M$= Oroberus]

Techtrip původně napsal:

I used one of the bigger cultivators (they are listed as shallow cultivators) and it turns the field into stubble tillage. When you plant on this with your seeder it will give the field 50% fertilizer, which I thought was great, but once you advance time by 1 day (month in game) it causes the weed growth to go to 75%, which I could not get below 50% with my weeder. Not sure if there is a process I missed, but I went back to the small cultivators (the cultivators that are not listed as shallow cultivators). They work fine, and the weeds are only at 50% after the first day.

Funny thing is, even some of the actual cultivators will turn your field into stubble and that's one of my main issues, you can't really rely on the description of the equipment, as it's often times not accurate, so you might end up paying 200k and still not get your desired outcome, really annoys me -.-

[=M$= Oroberus]

So I spent a bit more time (started yesterday) to go over this with a bit of a scientific take (approximate science, not exact science :P)

Field 38 - Haut Beyleron
Canola
Field is not in need of lime
Field is not in need of plowing

Take 1:
- harvested
- plowed with Kverneland PW100-12
- went over it with the Pöttinger Terrasem C6F Direct Seeder (seeding + 1. fertilizing)
- went over it with the Hardi Mega (2. fertilizing)
Outcome:
~13m³ canola (can't remember exactly, didn't write it down, as I wasn't thinking that I'll do some actually science on it)


Take 2:
- harvested
- went over it with the Pöttinger Terrasem C6F Direct Seeder (seeding + 1. fertilizing)
- went over it with the Hardi Mega (2. fertilizing)
- went over it with the Hardi Mega (herbizide as weed was up to 100%, due to direct seeding and no cultivating or plowing)
Outcome:
~12.923m³ canola (equals 69% fill of a rudolph trailer, so that's a nice meme-bonus, I guess))


Take 3:
- harvested
- went over it with the TMC Cancela TJP 610 (mulching)
- went over it with the Köckerling Vector 800 (cultivating)
- went over it with the Dalbo Powerroll 1230 HD (seedbed)
- went over it with the Pöttinger Terrasem C6F Direct Seeder (seeding + 1. fertilizing)*
- went over it with the Hardi Mega (2. fertilizing)
- went over it with the Hardi Mega (herbizide as weed was up to 50%, even though I used a non shallow cultivator, maybe due to using a direct seeder? Nope, wrong guess, see below)
*I know, no direct seeder needed there BUT I wanted to make several tests at once ;) )
Outcome:
~13.114m³ canola (equals 70% fill of a rudolph trailer, no meme-bonus there)


Take 4:
- harvested
- went over it with the TMC Cancela TJP 610 (mulching)
- went over it with the Köckerling Vector 800 (cultivating)
- went over it with the Dalbo Powerroll 1230 HD (seedbed)
- went over it with the Amazone Citan 15001-C (seeding + 1. fertilizing)
- went over it with the Hardi Mega (2. fertilizing)
- went over it with the Hardi Mega (herbizide as weed was up to 50%, even though I used a non shallow cultivator, even with a field having the seedbed status)

~13.117m³ canola (equals 70% fill of a rudolph trailer, no meme-bonus there)


Short: Don't even bother (if you'Re looking for the best approach economically).
- Mulching is not worth it, even with the biggest fields, you'll barely notice the 5% and it'll take decades to make back your investment
- Cultivating is not worth it, if you're not plowing EVERY time (as only a freshly plowed field will net you 0% weed and the amount of money and time with a Hardi to get rid of 50% and 100% is the same)
- Preparing a seedbed does exactly 0 if using a direct seeder

Most of the new field statusses either have 0 impact on your yield, or will have such a low impact, compared to the additionally spent money and time, that you'll end up on a net loss, making use of them.

Hence why nothing of those statusses are comprehensively explained ingame by Giants, they're just not implemented what so ever (outside of a seedbed being needed for non direct seed seeders)

Addendum: Lowering the yield bonus of fertilizer to 15% and therefore either raising the yield bonus for mulching or giving a bonus on seedbed-seeding, or putting an actual malus on direct seeding (50% weed or 100% doesn't make any change what so ever) is the only way to at least make those new statusses some what worth the time.

In terms of time and money, the best approach, right now, would be:
- Don't mulch
- Plow (every time)
- Don't cultivate (use a direct seeder for seeding + 1. fert)
- Use a Hardi MEga for 2. fert

This will net you the biggest yield in direct comparison with time and money you spent on the field and the equipment.

[Anwaan]

When you say "plow every time" do you mean an actual plow, or will harrows or combi-plows accomplish the same result?

[Danii]

My current setup for the standard grain types: (hope those are the correct words. nonnative speaker here ;)

- harvest
- disc
- seed oilradish (counts as 1 fertilizer)
- wait till time of seeding comes
- disc
- roller
- seeding (with fertilizer)
- wait for first growth
- weeder

I don't know if it's the best yield to cost effective, but it gives 2x fertilizer and 0% weed.

Edit: You could skip the first disc if you have a direct seeder for the oilradish.
Edit 2: Plow once when you start a game then never again for most fruittypes. Only a few need actual plowing after harvest.

[Enorats]

=M$= Oroberus původně napsal:

/snip

What about stones though? Doesn't the plowing process dig up stones that need to be picked up or rolled under? It's interesting that plow / direct seed + fert / fert seems to be the way to go, but I'd think you'd have to hit it with the roller as well to avoid stone damage.

[Maximum Poi]

A lot of it really depends on how you're playing / what options you have turned on. Are you playing realistically or more casually?

For example some of the cultivators affect weed growth or stones so if you have those off then it doesn't matter.

Lime also adds +1 to fertilization and AFAIK that maxes out at +2. So Lime then spraying fertilizer and you'll be at 100%.

[Danii]

Lime does not add +1 fertilization... at least in my game. oO

It is needed every three harvest on top of 2x fertilization.

[FarmerPalmer]

These video's mite help,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYWmnW80mEg&list=PLYWjATvxZ40RbZgDTB2DfGdojYR8g_7O7&index=48
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LyRx0Wupug&list=PLYWjATvxZ40RbZgDTB2DfGdojYR8g_7O7&index=49

[=M$= Oroberus]

Danii původně napsal:

My current setup for the standard grain types: (hope those are the correct words. nonnative speaker here ;)

- harvest
- disc
- seed oilradish (counts as 1 fertilizer)
- wait till time of seeding comes
- disc
- roller
- seeding (with fertilizer)
- wait for first growth
- weeder

I don't know if it's the best yield to cost effective, but it gives 2x fertilizer and 0% weed.

Edit: You could skip the first disc if you have a direct seeder for the oilradish.
Edit 2: Plow once when you start a game then never again for most fruittypes. Only a few need actual plowing after harvest.

Ooof dude ... that effort is nearly fully lost Oo

disc <- not needed, no advantage (see below why)
oilradishj <- not needed, no advantage (see below why)
disc <- not needed, no advantage (see below why)
roller <- not needed, no advantage (see below why)
weeter <- not needed, no advantage (see below why)

As Giants didn't give a ♥♥♥♥ but let a drugged monkey program their ♥♥♥♥, you'll get 95% of possible yield if you:
- harvest
- direct seed (includes 1 fertilizer level)
- on the same day as seeding, spray herbicide (this will lead to 0% weed)
- on the same day as seeding, spray 2. fertilizer

That's everything you have to do, as this ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ of a code dump is broken beyond recognition

Harrowing, disc harrowing, rolling, mulching (read addendum) are of no use what so ever right now

Addendum: The 5% gain through mulching is actually less raised yield, then your tractor and your mulcher will cost in repairs, not even calculating fuel ;)

EDIT: If you Plow before you seed (yes, plow + direct seed afterwards works xD) also leads to 0% weed, without spraying or weeding

[Legion]

I really hope they add more details so that various implements actually have a use. I'd really like to see something like Cattle and Crops with the various soil and need to use different types of equipment to get the results you want.