With today's update, we are introducing a new soil system. Roughly summarized, fields now have different soil types that have different effects and must be worked with the appropriate machines (disc harrow, plow, subsoil loosener, power harrow, etc.) for optimal yield. This new function can also be deactivated in the options if required, and the same now applies to fertilization (NPK). To make it easier to get started, we have also created new tutorials concerning the soil.

Soil elements and soil types:
There are up to 31 different soil types, each consisting of different proportions of sand, silt and clay. For each field, you can view the current soil type, the definition of all soil types and their composition in the field menu using the soil texture triangle, which is also used in reality, below the map. By hovering over other soil types, their properties can be previewed.



Soil condition:
There are now a total of four soil attributes that affect the plant: crumbliness, crumb density, upper density and lower density. The different implements have different effects on the soil. For example, the power harrow tends to increase crumbliness, while the subsoil loosener primarily loosens the lower soil. The plow, on the other hand, mixes the upper layers and loosens them up at the same time - but also increases the subsoil density due to the plow pan. Depending on the condition of the field and the soil type, different tillage implements must now be used.



General influences on the soil:
In addition to active tillage, there are two other influencing factors. Firstly, the weather: higher temperatures, for example, cause the soil to dry out. A lot of rain, on the other hand, can make the soil silt up. These effects have a long-term impact over the season. Secondly, vehicle weight has a direct influence on density - pressure is exerted on the soil at the tires based on the wheel load, which in turn increases density.

All this leads to the fact that at the end of the season, or the beginning of the next season, tillage is elementary. The crops also have different demands on the soil depending on the BBCH stage. It can therefore make sense to adapt the tillage to the demands of the crop.

Plant growth and yield:
As part of these soil enhancements, the plant growth system has been changed. The growth period is now regulated by temperature and sun hours instead of fertilization. The plants have a minimum growth temperature of 5 °C (41 °F), anything below will result in delayed growth. The warmer it is the faster the plant grows (growing degree days).
Both the sowing date and the associated growth time, as well as soil cultivation and fertilization have a significant influence on the yield of the crops. Thus, in order to achieve the highest yield, optimal growing conditions must be created for the plant.



Calendar revised:
In order to be able to find the optimal time, the calendar has been extended by some information: the temperature and, if there is precipitation, the amount of rain are now displayed for each hour. A bug has also been fixed that caused incorrect weather conditions to be displayed. Lastly, the weather forecast has been limited to a maximum of two weeks. All days further in the future now won’t display any weather information.



Fertilization:
As mentioned previously, the area of influence of fertilization shifts from growth time to crop yield. Depending on the condition and yield expectation of the plants, the nutrient consumption of the plant may change. Under optimal conditions it will consume the same amount of fertilizer as it has used previously. Apart from this, fertilization works as before.

Revised field menu:
The field menu now allows you to view the potential yield of a field based on the current conditions, as well as a theoretical crop type (under “Fruit reference”).
The statistics break down the exact condition of the soil, the fruit and the resulting effect on the yield. This allows you to closely monitor your fields and adjust tillage or fertilization to any problems.



Tire tracks:
Different tires now also have different tracks on the field that match the profile. For modders: The tracks can be configured in WheelJoint, if the wheel generates tracks. Further exact settings information will be provided later.



PTOs:
Thanks to our hose connection system from the last update, we were able to build a mesh connection system that allows PTO connections between vehicles relatively easily. All devices that require a PTO shaft have been equipped accordingly. These, like the hoses, are automatically attached when attaching an implement. The system is built very open and can be used for various connections between mod vehicles.



Connectors Collection (Modding):
The Hose Connectors Collection (found at "Base.zip → shared\hoses\connectors\_connectors.wld") contains all possible new connectors for hydraulics, as well as two power connectors and a slurry funnel. The connectors are each an instance to which the hose path only has to be connected. "End connector" points to the instance, "End position connector" points to the instance as well, but must be called "Position".



At the same time, there is also a PTO set with the PTO system, which includes three different connection heads, four lengths and two colors. To be found under "Base.zip → shared\pto\_ptos.wld".

Detailed info on how to use both collections/systems will be provided later.

New machines, Joskin slurry tanker and slurry cultivator:
A new vehicle combination in the form of the slurry tanker Joskin Cobra 13000ES together with three slurry cultivators (Terraflex XXL 6375/17SHK/2, Terrasoc 3600/9 SH and 5200/13 SH) offers you the possibility to inject the slurry directly and is thus the complementary alternative to the previous drag hose system.





Changelog 1.3.0.6

NEW

• Soil and plant system with soil types, soil conditions, yield factors and different field cultivation
• Crop size and density depending on the condition of the plant
• Weather and field crossings effect on the soil, depending on soil type and field condition
• Individually deactivatable yield factors (fertilization, soil, growth time)
• Three new soil tutorials
• Detailed yield balance and soil texture triangle in the field menu
• Different tire tracks, varying according to tread type/tire width
• Joskin Cobra 13000ES slurry tanker
• Joskin Terrasoc 3600/9 SH
• Joskin Terrasoc 5200/13 SH
• Joskin Terraflex XXL 6375/17SHK/2
• Hose Connectors/PTO Collection
• PTO shafts in all vehicles
• New default hose keys for ropes between implement and vehicle: "ropw" and "ropc" for windows and cab (see Claas Disco and Arion 530)
• Ground command "setGround", with "setGround -p" for info
• Map display: map background graphic is displayed completely when heatmaps are enabled (gray background and fields removed)
• Hydraulic hoses added to Lemken Juwel plows
• Crop scaling adjusted based on nutrient availability and soil condition
• New genetic and soil yield potentials for all fruits and soils

BUG FIX

• Radio in vehicle and menu now always run synchronously and no longer overwrite each other
• Rendering errors on minimap fixed
• When creating store images, a world with transparent background is now loaded again
• Manual position/rotation of the steering console on tractors is now saved and loaded
• Rauch Axis is now parallel to the ground when in the raised state
• Hose direction between Stapel VT18000 and drag hose booms reversed, hoses move more naturally as a result
• Lower links no longer bounce when approaching an attachment
• Fixed wrong zoom ranges of minimap in field menu at resolutions above 1080p
• Added missing hose animation during unloading (liquid slurry, liquid fertilizer, etc.)
• Missing translation in store display of Hammer grain seed unit fixed
• Hammer CornKing fertilizes after loading a savegame with an active AI task
• Lemken Korund work coverage on field 16 fixed
• Lemken Labrador is no longer completely lowered during AI driving on the street
• Numerous spelling fixes in tutorials
• Added hose connections to the rear of the TransferKing
• Bressel und Lade W22 6m no longer tips over
• Bressel und Lade W15 is oriented correctly again when attached to the three-point
• AI drivers no longer complete their work task if they reach the field before the combine/forage harvester
• Claas Tucano 3D preview camera orientation fixed
• Hammer corn seeding unit no longer gets stuck in the gate of the machine hall
• Mowing pattern of the Claas Disco 2750 improved
• Field Guidance System now keeps vehicle in the center track more accurately
• Scenario 5: Crash during final camera flight fixed

CHANGES

• The field menu heatmaps for efficiency and fruit growth have been changed to brightness scales (dark blue = lowest value, light blue = highest value)
• Plant growth: growth times of all fruits adjusted to the year’s weather conditions
• Lemken Zirkon, Korund track loosener equipped with function
• Lemken Juwel work area increased to the inside, in order to cover the tractor’s tire track more
• Field menu: If soil attributes have no effect on the current growth stage, they are grayed out
• Some tutorials and campaigns adapted to the new ground changes