Second Stage Of Fertilizer

[jasonbarron]

When do I apply it and is it helpful (I have precision farming turned on) to use manure for the second round? I heard that it was after at least one stage of growth but I tried applying more fertilizer after one growth stage with poor results.

I waited until my new field of barley was at stage 2 of growth and the field info box lower right corner said bother ph and Nitrogen were "perfect" and tried to apply a second course of fertilizer using a manure spreader and upon completion the info box read that the Nitrogen level was "bad" so that obviously wasn't the correct course of action. Assuming PF is turned on will the info box eventually let me know that the field needs more fert and what kind would be best?

[Wizard]

Personally, I use an organic fertilizer for my first stage (slurry, digestate, or manure), then liquid or solid fertilizer when I direct drill. I do that only because I have the organic fertilizer to burn.

Technically, with Precision Farming, if you use solid or liquid fertilizer, you only need one pass, as it will put down the perfect amount.

Thusly, you can just direct drill with fert, and you're all set.

[Wizard]

Also, if you're on a map that uses Ammonia, you can use that in place of solid or liquid in one pass.

[Wizard]

If you doing a crop that doesn't have a direct drill option like potatoes, I use liquid fert during the first growth stage.

Technically, you could use solid, but RL farmers are using sprayers at that stage, not solid.

[jasonbarron]

Oh, so I don't need the second pass for manure assuming I used solid fertilizer in my direct drill seeder, that's awfully good to know and saves me a pile of money and time. I'm still early in the game and haven't generated any of my own organic fert, perhaps once I've had a few harvest's under my belt I'll get into that.

Thank you for the info!

[Wizard]

Originally posted by jasonbarron:

Oh, so I don't need the second pass for manure assuming I used solid fertilizer in my direct drill seeder

Correct.

And if you were going to use manure, use it before you drill. All this will do is save some solid fert when you drill.

[jasonbarron]

Originally posted by Wizard:

Originally posted by jasonbarron:

Oh, so I don't need the second pass for manure assuming I used solid fertilizer in my direct drill seeder

Correct.

And if you were going to use manure, use it before you drill. All this will do is save some solid fert when you drill.

This information is incredibly helpful, thank you so much!

[deckerdave1973]

I use digestate after harvest. I then use a direct drill planter with anhydrous which brings the nitrogen level up to the perfect level. I roll the field and notice the nitrogen level goes down a bit. Enough that if I run a solid fertilizer spreader over, it doesn't take alot, but can take 3-4000l on some of my bigger fields.

I also notice this with grass, so I lime, roll, fertilize in that order.

[Wizard]

Originally posted by deckerdave1973:

I also notice this with grass, so I lime, roll, fertilize in that order.

From my reading, and personal experience, rolling has no benefit on grass when using Precision farming.

[deckerdave1973]

On the map I am playing on(umrv), the grass seems to get growing faster if I roll after picking up bales. One time I will try mulching, but I am old and set in my ways.

[Neil]

Originally posted by Wizard:

Originally posted by deckerdave1973:

I also notice this with grass, so I lime, roll, fertilize in that order.

From my reading, and personal experience, rolling has no benefit on grass when using Precision farming.

Yes this is true - Disturbed Simulations tested it thoroughly in a YT video and there was no benefit to rolling if you are using precision farming (PS he has tested many other aspects of the game too - give his YT channel a look).

[jasonbarron]

Originally posted by Wizard:

Originally posted by deckerdave1973:

I also notice this with grass, so I lime, roll, fertilize in that order.

From my reading, and personal experience, rolling has no benefit on grass when using Precision farming.

Setting aside grass, is rolling a task worth performing in general with PF on after seeding?

[Wizard]

Originally posted by jasonbarron:

Originally posted by Wizard:

From my reading, and personal experience, rolling has no benefit on grass when using Precision farming.

Setting aside grass, is rolling a task worth performing in general with PF on after seeding?

I believe (might be wrong), that rolling gives you an additional 2.5% on your yield. I've been playing on Elk Mountain, which has some large fields, and I don't think the bonus you receive is worth the time invested. I also don't think mulching is worth it.

Pretty much my pattern for field management is:

Organic fertilizer (only because I have animals, if I didn't I'd skip this step)
Plow if required.
Lime.
Direct Drill with fertilizer.
Herbicide via 'see n spray' at first growth stage.
Harvest.

That having been said, the time saving from not rolling or mulching is partly due to the fact I have like 10 fields. Those steps would add hours to my routine each game year.

[Wizard]

Also I should note, rolling lowers your PF eco score. As does cultivating and using a mechanical weeder. So you're left with making a choice in some regards between yield and eco bonus. I find the eco bonus to be more financially beneficial, and not rolling and using herbicide are also time savers.

[jasonbarron]

What is "see and spray?"

[Wizard]

You'll see some of your sprayers, like the John Deere one have an option "see 'n' spray". Kinda like how some tractors have the crop sensor.

Basically, it only sprays herbicide when it senses a weed, saving you a tremendous amount of herbicide. Using it also raises your PF eco score in the process.