Farming: Difference between revisions

Crop rotation is the practice of growing a series of different types of crops in the same area over time and has been used since ancient times to maximize crop production. Nitrogen (N), phosphate (P) and potassium (K) dependent crops can be rotated on the same growing area. For example, after harvesting a nitrogen dependent crop such as turnips, the soil will have a lower level of nitrogen but high levels of the two other nutrients. Therefore a phosphate or potassium dependent crop can be planted on the same soil.  

A common crop rotation strategy is to divide the fertile area into four sections, one each for N, P or K dependent crops and one left fallow (without any crops growing). After the first crops are harvested, the new crops are rotated to the next area e.g N dependent crops to the area where P dependent crops were harvested. Because nutrients replenish best in fallow soil, one area is kept unplanted during each rotation. This is particularly useful if the player does not have access to fertilizer yet.