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(E) · 08-27-2018, 06:22 PM

Dwarven agriculture

Heat exchanger
Central to a dwarven cities habitability is a heat exchanger. This feat of civil engineering serves to both cool the depths of the city itself and extend the growing season of the alpine farms. In essence its it's just a rather deep hole in the ground that's filled with water. Water is typically sourced from a mountain glacier and is channeled to a deep central shaft. The fresh cooler water sinks then warms as a result of contact with the comparatively hot rock of the depths. This warmer water rises to the surface and as it is displaced by the incoming water it overflows into the irrigation and warming system for the alpine crops and farms.
The waste warmth is further used to assist in the movement of air throughout the city and its associated mines. The hot air that is the byproduct of this process is used to disrupt the pockets of still air that cause frosts. This system will require a considerable amount more complexity than has been suggested here. Additionally there may be shafts and tunnels at lower levels allowing for incoming air or outgoing water. The water may have additional uses as a power source and defensive measure.

The surface microclimate generated by a dwarven city is not enough to defeat winter but it is enough to extend the growing season by several weeks, effectively lowering the altitude.

Systems

Heated terraces
Amaranth, field peas, cowpeas, beets and turnips
These have been built in a similar manner to the terraced fields seen in the high mountains of South America, Nepal or Tibet(?). The dwarves have added some refinements though. The retaining walls are obviously partially made with darker stone to absorb more heat from the sun. Less visible are the internal channels in the base of the walls that distribute the warmer water from the city.
Terrace like structures are also used for mineral extraction, salt would be purified this way if no deposits of sufficient purity exist. But any water soluble compounds could be processed this way leading to a situation where minerals might be harvested from a field.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maras,_Peru

Valley
While humans have been developing wheat that yields more grain the dwarves have been concentrating on strains of wheat that are more frost resistant and otherwise more suited to high altitude conditions. Winter wheat plantings are most likely which has two effects, a 20% increase in yield as well as increased protein in the resulting flour, meaning harder bread. Dwarven wheat may be bred to have a high protein content in general as it allows the resulting flour to be augmented with puffball based flour. How ever wheat is never going to be as altitude tolerant as pseudo cereals and is planted in the lower valleys along with other crops like barley, oats, brassica and beans.

Behind glass
It is unlikely that the dwarves would have the materials required to produce large amounts of clear glass. But if they did double glazed glass fronted structures heated with the waste air from the city would dominate. Traditional greenhouses would be unlikely due to the extremes of snowfall. The heat from the city may even be sufficient to grow high altitude tropical plants, Dwarven coffee to help recover from last night's dwarven ale?
One benefit to having even a small area under glass is that plants can be started inside while it is too cool outside stretching the available growing season.

Variations in crop types
Growing crops at extreme altitudes means farming in conditions that are too extreme for traditional cereal crops. Pseudo cereals are a likely replacement for the role filled by more usual cereals at lower altitudes. Pseudo cereals are simply put non grasses that yield an edible seed like cereals. Given the presumed age of a dwarven civilization it is likely that they have bred plants for consumption like various human cultures have done in the past. Amaranth is a group of pseudo cereals that was bred for the conditions in the Andes. While this is a new world plant variety it is a reasonable assumption that the dwarves developed a similar plant.

Animals
Sheep are a likely mainstay of Dwarven animal husbandry. Seasonally moved between low valleys/animal sheds, quality pasture, high altitude pasture and fallow or harvested fields and terraces. Providing wool, dairy and meat. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roquefort . If high altitude forests are nearby then cattle may have the advantage. Cattle are used for deliberate nutrient migration in some high altitude areas. The animals are grazed on undeveloped land and then moved so their manure fertilizes the fields. If the dwarves shed the animals for winter smaller breeds may dominate if they do not the inverse may be true.

Crop rotation
At very high altitudes conditions can be harsh enough to significantly reduce the number of pests that can damage plants. The use of livestock to migrate nutrients and the dwarves’ access to subterranean sources of plant nutrients means soil requires less “resting”. As such crop rotation is of less importance. Fields only need to spend at most 1 year in 4 fallow.

Fungi
The dwarves will have been farming fungi for quite some time and as result by human metrics they are advanced in the area. As there are nitrogen inputs from bat guano and livestock the biggest bottleneck for mycoculture will be access to a bulk growing medium for the various fungi.

Wood based
A byproduct of the cities consumption of wood is sawdust and wood chip. There are numerous varieties of wood mushrooms that can grow rapidly in a such a medium.
Plant based
The amaranth is presumably not a modern semi-dwarf variety, as such it will produce a lot of waste matter that can be used for mushroom production while it composts.
Other - insect
There are several edible and medicinal fungi species that grow on other mediums. These are harder to source than wood or basic plant matter so they would be used for high value products such as medicines and delicacies. One of these is the Caterpillar fungus
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophiocordyceps_sinensis

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophi...ceps_robertsii

These or similar fungi may also be propagated for use as biological pesticides in crops.
Two main fungal based systems would probably develop, a house garden equivalent where food is grown fresh by each family and a more labour efficient system where many different varieties are produced by professionals.
Varieties
Bioluminescent, these may be propagated in situ.
Edible, varieties to be consumed fresh would be more common in the household gardens while species that are later processed or are difficult to cultivate would be more common in the professional gardens. This may include puffballs for flour additives, various preserved varieties and other species with more industrial applications.

Orchards
Likely species Cherries, Pears, Plums, Apples, Black Walnuts, Butternuts, Pine Nuts.

Potatoes
If the dwarves have access to potatoes it would provide huge benefits as they do well at altitude.

Seed drill
Dwarves that have a mechanical inclination may have developed the seed drill earlier than humans did in history. If so increase yields of grain crops by 10-15%

Dwarven vs Human agriculture
Water
Slight improvement in irrigation ability and irrigation infrastructure is more widely developed. Drainage generally excellent.
Food/nutrients
Poor base levels in mountain soils but improved soil composition through management and resources such as composted mushroom growing medium.
Health
High altitude and knowledge of fungi have a good effect, reduced somewhat by the more intense rotation used.
Management
Well developed infrastructure balanced against difficult terrain. Faster rotation increased total yields.
Climate
Very hard climate offset partially by infrastructure and breeding.
Genetics
Typical to the TL in most areas, improved availability of high altitude crops, mycoculture well developed.

Knurlkyth
This is an older and larger dwarven city located higher in the mountains than humans care to live. The bulk of the city is in a column shaped area that extends down from one of the high valleys in the mountain range. This area is cooled by six dwarf made shafts that are continually filled with glacial meltwater. On the surface the upper gates to the city are surrounded by many acres of terraced fields made from dark coloured stone, an unseasonal mist hangs in the air.

This one got away from me a bit, crunch will follow.

08-27-2018, 06:22 PM	#205
(E) Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: New Zealand.	Re: [ATE] Farming example Dwarven agriculture Heat exchanger Central to a dwarven cities habitability is a heat exchanger. This feat of civil engineering serves to both cool the depths of the city itself and extend the growing season of the alpine farms. In essence its it's just a rather deep hole in the ground that's filled with water. Water is typically sourced from a mountain glacier and is channeled to a deep central shaft. The fresh cooler water sinks then warms as a result of contact with the comparatively hot rock of the depths. This warmer water rises to the surface and as it is displaced by the incoming water it overflows into the irrigation and warming system for the alpine crops and farms. The waste warmth is further used to assist in the movement of air throughout the city and its associated mines. The hot air that is the byproduct of this process is used to disrupt the pockets of still air that cause frosts. This system will require a considerable amount more complexity than has been suggested here. Additionally there may be shafts and tunnels at lower levels allowing for incoming air or outgoing water. The water may have additional uses as a power source and defensive measure. The surface microclimate generated by a dwarven city is not enough to defeat winter but it is enough to extend the growing season by several weeks, effectively lowering the altitude. Systems Heated terraces Amaranth, field peas, cowpeas, beets and turnips These have been built in a similar manner to the terraced fields seen in the high mountains of South America, Nepal or Tibet(?). The dwarves have added some refinements though. The retaining walls are obviously partially made with darker stone to absorb more heat from the sun. Less visible are the internal channels in the base of the walls that distribute the warmer water from the city. Terrace like structures are also used for mineral extraction, salt would be purified this way if no deposits of sufficient purity exist. But any water soluble compounds could be processed this way leading to a situation where minerals might be harvested from a field. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maras,_Peru Valley While humans have been developing wheat that yields more grain the dwarves have been concentrating on strains of wheat that are more frost resistant and otherwise more suited to high altitude conditions. Winter wheat plantings are most likely which has two effects, a 20% increase in yield as well as increased protein in the resulting flour, meaning harder bread. Dwarven wheat may be bred to have a high protein content in general as it allows the resulting flour to be augmented with puffball based flour. How ever wheat is never going to be as altitude tolerant as pseudo cereals and is planted in the lower valleys along with other crops like barley, oats, brassica and beans. Behind glass It is unlikely that the dwarves would have the materials required to produce large amounts of clear glass. But if they did double glazed glass fronted structures heated with the waste air from the city would dominate. Traditional greenhouses would be unlikely due to the extremes of snowfall. The heat from the city may even be sufficient to grow high altitude tropical plants, Dwarven coffee to help recover from last night's dwarven ale? One benefit to having even a small area under glass is that plants can be started inside while it is too cool outside stretching the available growing season. Variations in crop types Growing crops at extreme altitudes means farming in conditions that are too extreme for traditional cereal crops. Pseudo cereals are a likely replacement for the role filled by more usual cereals at lower altitudes. Pseudo cereals are simply put non grasses that yield an edible seed like cereals. Given the presumed age of a dwarven civilization it is likely that they have bred plants for consumption like various human cultures have done in the past. Amaranth is a group of pseudo cereals that was bred for the conditions in the Andes. While this is a new world plant variety it is a reasonable assumption that the dwarves developed a similar plant. Animals Sheep are a likely mainstay of Dwarven animal husbandry. Seasonally moved between low valleys/animal sheds, quality pasture, high altitude pasture and fallow or harvested fields and terraces. Providing wool, dairy and meat. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roquefort . If high altitude forests are nearby then cattle may have the advantage. Cattle are used for deliberate nutrient migration in some high altitude areas. The animals are grazed on undeveloped land and then moved so their manure fertilizes the fields. If the dwarves shed the animals for winter smaller breeds may dominate if they do not the inverse may be true. Crop rotation At very high altitudes conditions can be harsh enough to significantly reduce the number of pests that can damage plants. The use of livestock to migrate nutrients and the dwarves’ access to subterranean sources of plant nutrients means soil requires less “resting”. As such crop rotation is of less importance. Fields only need to spend at most 1 year in 4 fallow. Fungi The dwarves will have been farming fungi for quite some time and as result by human metrics they are advanced in the area. As there are nitrogen inputs from bat guano and livestock the biggest bottleneck for mycoculture will be access to a bulk growing medium for the various fungi. Wood based A byproduct of the cities consumption of wood is sawdust and wood chip. There are numerous varieties of wood mushrooms that can grow rapidly in a such a medium. Plant based The amaranth is presumably not a modern semi-dwarf variety, as such it will produce a lot of waste matter that can be used for mushroom production while it composts. Other - insect There are several edible and medicinal fungi species that grow on other mediums. These are harder to source than wood or basic plant matter so they would be used for high value products such as medicines and delicacies. One of these is the Caterpillar fungus https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophiocordyceps_sinensis https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophi...ceps_robertsii These or similar fungi may also be propagated for use as biological pesticides in crops. Two main fungal based systems would probably develop, a house garden equivalent where food is grown fresh by each family and a more labour efficient system where many different varieties are produced by professionals. Varieties Bioluminescent, these may be propagated in situ. Edible, varieties to be consumed fresh would be more common in the household gardens while species that are later processed or are difficult to cultivate would be more common in the professional gardens. This may include puffballs for flour additives, various preserved varieties and other species with more industrial applications. Orchards Likely species Cherries, Pears, Plums, Apples, Black Walnuts, Butternuts, Pine Nuts. Potatoes If the dwarves have access to potatoes it would provide huge benefits as they do well at altitude. Seed drill Dwarves that have a mechanical inclination may have developed the seed drill earlier than humans did in history. If so increase yields of grain crops by 10-15% Dwarven vs Human agriculture Water Slight improvement in irrigation ability and irrigation infrastructure is more widely developed. Drainage generally excellent. Food/nutrients Poor base levels in mountain soils but improved soil composition through management and resources such as composted mushroom growing medium. Health High altitude and knowledge of fungi have a good effect, reduced somewhat by the more intense rotation used. Management Well developed infrastructure balanced against difficult terrain. Faster rotation increased total yields. Climate Very hard climate offset partially by infrastructure and breeding. Genetics Typical to the TL in most areas, improved availability of high altitude crops, mycoculture well developed. Knurlkyth This is an older and larger dwarven city located higher in the mountains than humans care to live. The bulk of the city is in a column shaped area that extends down from one of the high valleys in the mountain range. This area is cooled by six dwarf made shafts that are continually filled with glacial meltwater. On the surface the upper gates to the city are surrounded by many acres of terraced fields made from dark coloured stone, an unseasonal mist hangs in the air. This one got away from me a bit, crunch will follow. __________________ Waiting for inspiration to strike...... And spending too much time thinking about farming for RPGs Contributor to Citadel at Nordvörn Last edited by (E); 09-15-2018 at 06:52 PM.