plowing/Cultivating when it rains and fuel consumption

[Jeza]

So I've read that plowing a field under the rain is possible but consumes more fuel and that makes perfect sense.

But I never tested it myself, so I wonder if it's true and also if it is, what about cultivating, same or not ?

Thanks for maybe helping a poor farmer save some money :p

[Sillysally]

dont know will test it in next couple of days and perhaps others will also.

[Sillysally]

Ok Im only one person but here are my figures:

Purchased field # 34 (size .96 )around the corner from the farm.
It was sewn with grass, Dry day fuel consumed to plow then return home was 8%
Cultivate same land then home &% fuel used

Two days later rain: Replow same field wet Wheels slipped a bit used 7% fuel.
Cultivated following and in same day rain 6% used

Same route to and from farm both times.


If this holds for all fields no, unless it was because it was my first time around the field I used more ???? Who knows..

Hope this helps.

[Merck]

I have worked many fields when it rains (just never harvest in the rain). I haven't really noticed any difference in fuel usage, but personally haven't specifically recorded fuel usage either. So if true?? Doesn't appear to be much difference.

But as Sillysally states above, it would be another good thing to test for.

[Jeza]

Thank you all for your input, I'll give it a try too , I wonder if the hfact you used less fuel under the rain isn't because the field was already plowed so it was easier than with packed soil even if it was raining ?

So as soon as I can I'll try using a test save, save before plowing and cultivating, write results, reload before plowing, sleep until rain then plow under the rain and compare.

[Tryst49]

Technically, it should be easier to plough and cultivate in the rain since the earth would be softer. Hard, dry earth would cause far more drag and make the tractor engine work a lot harder to break it up.

Try digging the ground with a fork in both wet and very dry conditions and see how much more efffort you have to use to stick the fork into the ground when it's dry. If it's very dry, I'd guess jumping on it with both feet and your full weight would be necessary, when the ground is wet, one foot and a little over half your body weight is usually all you need.

[Jeza]

sure wet soil is easier to "break" if you will but on the other hand the tractor would sink into the wet soil and have a harder time dragging it's weight and the plough's through the field.
Walking through mud is way harder than on hard soil.
Maybe it balances out and raining or sunny the fuel consumption is the same ?

[Merck]

Yes agree, wet conditions - more tractor slippage/wasted energy. But also, ground softer & easier to dig. So maybe does 'balance' out. But also would not be suprised if such 'mechanics' were not even programed into the game.

This is where the advantage of multiple saves helps in such testing, since can use the exact same field (& conditions) to test out various items.

[kathleen]

When it rains, I never work on the fields but than I mow my grass which otherwise I have no time for. This way I avoid losing precious time and still do something usefull