a question about direct seeders

[numbat]

Hi All,

do direct seeders actually cultivate?

Here's what I'm thinking. At the moment I have planted oilseed radish as a cover crop, which will be cultivated for the fertilizer effect. If I have a direct seeder, can I just plant directly into the radish crop? Or will I have to do a cultivator pass then seed ?

Cheers,
Chris.

[CaveDweller]

I'd imagine you'd have to cultivate first

[illgib]

You can just seed, that's why direct seed exists.

[CaveDweller]

Originally posted by illgib:

You can just seed, that's why direct seed exists.

even with a crop already established? In RL, sure, though I didn't know the game would recognise that or even allow that.

[Wizard]

Originally posted by CaveDweller:

Originally posted by illgib:

You can just seed, that's why direct seed exists.

even with a crop already established? In RL, sure, though I didn't know the game would recognise that or even allow that.

Oil Seed Radish is a cover crop. You don't harvest it, it's only to provide a fertilizer level. I haven't personally used it since December, and if I'm remembering correctly, it didn't quite work right back them.

Back then, you had to cultivate over it for it to provide the fert level. Direct drilling over it didn't. So, in a way, both CaveDweller and Illgib are both correct. This might have been changed since I used it, so I would test it in game, regardless.

I've since moved to using grass as my cover crop, since it's far superior. It still gives the fert level for the next seeding, takes only a month longer to grow then the radishes, and you can cut it for silage. All said, having no dedicated grass fields, I'm pulling in 3 million liters of grass/hay a year just using it as a cover crop.

[numbat]

Thanks all for the responses.

Originally posted by Wizard:

I've since moved to using grass as my cover crop, since it's far superior. It still gives the fert level for the next seeding, takes only a month longer to grow then the radishes, and you can cut it for silage.

So to be clear, you cut the grass then remove it, then cultivate the field and still get the fert bonus?

Cheers,
Chris.

[Wizard]

Originally posted by numbat:

Thanks all for the responses.

Originally posted by Wizard:

I've since moved to using grass as my cover crop, since it's far superior. It still gives the fert level for the next seeding, takes only a month longer to grow then the radishes, and you can cut it for silage.

So to be clear, you cut the grass then remove it, then cultivate the field and still get the fert bonus?

Cheers,
Chris.

After I cut the grass, the field is at 50% fert. Then you can just direct drill over it. If your drill fertilizes too, you'll be at 100%.

[illgib]

Tecnically you can use anything as a cover crop for a fert stage once it's at any grow stage, the game it's not that deep in regards.

[numbat]

Originally posted by Wizard:

After I cut the grass, the field is at 50% fert. Then you can just direct drill over it. If your drill fertilizes too, you'll be at 100%.

Ah, got it now. Thanks.

Cheers,
Chris.