I've been wondering about this for a while now. When I set up a farm, I like to be as efficient as possible. trying to fit as much stuff into 1 space as possible. For those who don't know, sugarcane MUST be directly next to a water source (not diagonal) to grow.
all of this is assuming a 6x6 grid. the numbers are arbitrary, but I didn't want to go to the extreme.
The absolute most efficient pattern for sugarcane is as follows: ( =sugarcane spot, =water, [] =anything)
[] []
[]
[] []
if you're confused at what you're seeing, this pattern is made by interlocking this pattern:
[] []
[] []
The bottom left 2 spaces could be a soil + a water if you wanted to use it, but for the purpose of this argument, I'll leave it blank because it doesn't fit the pattern we're forming.
The above pattern has a 66.67% efficiency (24 patches over 36 tiles). assuming you had a larger area, this efficiency will grow because there will be less empty spaces and more dirt per water. as the limit of the size of the grid approaches infinity, the efficiency will reach 80% (every 1 in 5 tiles must be water).
Assuming a normal approach to farming, a lot of people's sugarcane farms will look like this:
Very simple and easier to set up. this provides a 66.67% efficiency as well..... oh wait... that's what the more complicated pattern up there has for efficiency in a 6x6 grid.
So let's extend this a bit. the 2nd pattern must always have a single row of soil on both sides, and all the rest of the soil is a double layer with a row of water on both sides. so long as the grid is a multiple of 3, this pattern will always have a 66.67% efficiency.
So at what point should you use the first pattern over the 2nd? well, that's a matter of opinion.
Anything above a 6x6 grid will give the first pattern a better efficiency. however, the pattern can be annoying when it comes to the actual chopping down and collection of the sugarcane. If you're not careful you could fall into one of the holes of water, and if the sugarcane falls into one you'll have to retieve it. If you cover up the water, you have to hop around everywhere to farm and collect the sugarcane.
Using the 2nd pattern, while it might be less efficient, allows you to flow the water down and collect any sugarcane during farming that may fall into the water. the actual farming process is also faster, requiring you to only go in a straight line while chopping them down.
So, it's your choice to either go for efficiency or simplicity.
You also need to look at how much sugar cane you actually need. My sugar cane and wheat farms both follow this pattern:
a 9x9 space with alternating rows of dirt blocks and water. I have collected so much from these two farms I don't really need to conserve or expand. If Notch ever makes a Minecraft 2 I would like him to add more to the farming parts of the game. A 3D Rune Factory like experience but open sandbox style.
I suppose for the first pattern you could cover the water holes with halfblocks. No more jumping around that way, and the extra efficiency (in larger systems) might be worth the odd pattern considering you don't need to replant anything.
I suppose for the first pattern you could cover the water holes with halfblocks. No more jumping around that way, and the extra efficiency (in larger systems) might be worth the odd pattern considering you don't need to replant anything.
Because a lilly pad turns water into a solid block (collision box wise) so both you and items sit on it instead of falling thru, and it still counts as water for the canes.
Nice work OP. Although I would never make a farm like that, to ugly. But that's how I farm, I prefer aesthetics over functionality in most cases (unless I'm working in limited space).
Cucumber
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"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
Old topic, but still relevant, so hopefully I won't get mod stomped for necroing.
The first pattern in the OP is likely the theoretical max efficiency, but it's worth noting that that would be for manual harvesting only. I mod, and I like building automated collection with pistons; not only because building machines in general is the main reason why I play this game, but also in order to avoid opportunity cost. (As in, you've got a three high reed just sitting there, and you haven't broken the second and third block in the same amount of time as they could have grown back)
What I've got at the moment, is a three block row of reeds, with pistons behind the second (empty) block in height, and three blocks of glowstone above those. The pistons are hooked up to a timer set to 320 seconds, which from what I read is the average time that it takes for them to grow. I would be using a bud switch, but I haven't got my slime farm running in the current map yet, and I need stickies for those.
Of course, collection is still manual as well. I've got to figure out how I could maybe do pipe/tube collection yet.
On my server, we all compete to make the most efficient area possible (this has led to wars to slow other people's progress. or factory farms all over the place with mobs glitching to look like they can walk through walls). Definitely going to set up a reed farm like this, then try to find a way to make it more automated (pistons possibly?).
You also need to look at how much sugar cane you actually need. My sugar cane and wheat farms both follow this pattern:
a 9x9 space with alternating rows of dirt blocks and water. I have collected so much from these two farms I don't really need to conserve or expand. If Notch ever makes a Minecraft 2 I would like him to add more to the farming parts of the game. A 3D Rune Factory like experience but open sandbox style.
Minecraft 2? That's about the stupidest thing I've ever heard.
sorry for reviving an (almost) one month old post but why stick to one dimension?
here's what i had built at one point (recently lost the world so it's built in creative.). http://imgur.com/a/Ga7n8
what do you think?
sorry for reviving an (almost) one month old post but why stick to one dimension?
here's what i had built at one point (recently lost the world so it's built in creative.). http://imgur.com/a/Ga7n8
what do you think?
Love the design. Ease of harvest really isn't there as you have to jump up on the blocks (minuscule but could become a pain). Still prefer flat land with the water covered with lily pads myself, As it is the easiest to harvest. Great design though.
Thanks guys. My house is built in into a mountain, with an indoor sugarcane farm in the center, using sand and a skylight to grow. I really need to add lilypads.
I've been using the standard alternating rows of soil and water (9x9) and instead of filling the water troughs with source water blocks i've been placing one source block at the 5th block so that if i don't collect any of the cane as it pops they will filter to the ends of the farm.
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Mojointhewild - Because a mine is a terrible thing to waste
all of this is assuming a 6x6 grid. the numbers are arbitrary, but I didn't want to go to the extreme.
The absolute most efficient pattern for sugarcane is as follows: ( =sugarcane spot, =water, [] =anything)
[] []
[]
[] []
if you're confused at what you're seeing, this pattern is made by interlocking this pattern:
[] []
[] []
The bottom left 2 spaces could be a soil + a water if you wanted to use it, but for the purpose of this argument, I'll leave it blank because it doesn't fit the pattern we're forming.
The above pattern has a 66.67% efficiency (24 patches over 36 tiles). assuming you had a larger area, this efficiency will grow because there will be less empty spaces and more dirt per water. as the limit of the size of the grid approaches infinity, the efficiency will reach 80% (every 1 in 5 tiles must be water).
Assuming a normal approach to farming, a lot of people's sugarcane farms will look like this:
Very simple and easier to set up. this provides a 66.67% efficiency as well..... oh wait... that's what the more complicated pattern up there has for efficiency in a 6x6 grid.
So let's extend this a bit. the 2nd pattern must always have a single row of soil on both sides, and all the rest of the soil is a double layer with a row of water on both sides. so long as the grid is a multiple of 3, this pattern will always have a 66.67% efficiency.
So at what point should you use the first pattern over the 2nd? well, that's a matter of opinion.
Anything above a 6x6 grid will give the first pattern a better efficiency. however, the pattern can be annoying when it comes to the actual chopping down and collection of the sugarcane. If you're not careful you could fall into one of the holes of water, and if the sugarcane falls into one you'll have to retieve it. If you cover up the water, you have to hop around everywhere to farm and collect the sugarcane.
Using the 2nd pattern, while it might be less efficient, allows you to flow the water down and collect any sugarcane during farming that may fall into the water. the actual farming process is also faster, requiring you to only go in a straight line while chopping them down.
So, it's your choice to either go for efficiency or simplicity.
a 9x9 space with alternating rows of dirt blocks and water. I have collected so much from these two farms I don't really need to conserve or expand. If Notch ever makes a Minecraft 2 I would like him to add more to the farming parts of the game. A 3D Rune Factory like experience but open sandbox style.
I've been using the first pattern for a long time. I have to say, the reeds get very, very dense like that. It's quite easy to get lost in.
The New Boat Elevator
Simple Drowning Trap
Complex Drowning Trap
Note Blocks - The Blue Danube
Minecart Rider Detection System
Or lily pads!
...
Why?
generation. Social experiment.
Because a lilly pad turns water into a solid block (collision box wise) so both you and items sit on it instead of falling thru, and it still counts as water for the canes.
Cucumber
Never thought of doing that one, actually o:
The first pattern in the OP is likely the theoretical max efficiency, but it's worth noting that that would be for manual harvesting only. I mod, and I like building automated collection with pistons; not only because building machines in general is the main reason why I play this game, but also in order to avoid opportunity cost. (As in, you've got a three high reed just sitting there, and you haven't broken the second and third block in the same amount of time as they could have grown back)
What I've got at the moment, is a three block row of reeds, with pistons behind the second (empty) block in height, and three blocks of glowstone above those. The pistons are hooked up to a timer set to 320 seconds, which from what I read is the average time that it takes for them to grow. I would be using a bud switch, but I haven't got my slime farm running in the current map yet, and I need stickies for those.
Of course, collection is still manual as well. I've got to figure out how I could maybe do pipe/tube collection yet.
It HAS to be near water and whether it grows on sand, grass, or dirt doesn't make a difference in speed.
Dig them holes.
here's what i had built at one point (recently lost the world so it's built in creative.).
http://imgur.com/a/Ga7n8
what do you think?
Love the design. Ease of harvest really isn't there as you have to jump up on the blocks (minuscule but could become a pain). Still prefer flat land with the water covered with lily pads myself, As it is the easiest to harvest. Great design though.