Lucas immediately thought of this issue. If they were to open up new land next year, especially the land on the other side of the Whispering River, the soil's natural fertility in the first year would be enough for crops to grow without any problems. But what about later? There would eventually come a day when the land became barren.
It was just like the land around Sedona City—after so many years of farming, the soil had already become extremely depleted. The crops produced each year were getting worse and worse. In this era, common people had no real concept of using farmyard manure. After all, when people relieve themselves anywhere they pleased, how could they even think of using it as fertilizer?
Fertilizer? Lucas frowned in thought. He didn't have much knowledge about it, but he did know that farmyard manure contained a comprehensive range of nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, sulfur, and some trace elements.
These nutrients are mostly in organic form, meaning they are difficult for crops to absorb directly. They must undergo chemical and physical processes in the soil, along with microbial decomposition and fermentation, to gradually release their nutrients. The advantage, however, is that the fertilizer has a long-lasting and stable effect.
Lucas decided to look up some information when he got back to see how best to utilize farmyard manure. After all, this was directly related to next year's grain yield.
The manager was feeling anxious. Seeing Lucas frowning the whole time made his heart nearly leap into his throat—he was terrified of being dismissed. Although the livestock farm smelled terrible, the salary was quite generous.
"Gather all the manure into one pile. I'll send someone to collect it later." Lucas instructed casually.
"Yes, sir!" The manager responded loudly and respectfully.
"Let's go back to the city." Lucas said, turning to Mina before leading the way toward the carriage.
Mina and Dahlia exchanged a bewildered glance. What's going on? Just like that, they were leaving? And why did Lucas suddenly order the collection of manure? What was the reason behind this?
"Tap, tap, tap..."
The three of them boarded the carriage, which, under the protection of the War Wolves, headed straight for Sedona City.
Inside the carriage, Lucas closed his eyes to rest while contemplating the characteristics of farmyard manure. Only by addressing its limitations could he ensure that crops absorbed nutrients more efficiently.
The carriage remained quiet. Mina and Dahlia sat silently, gazing at Lucas. They couldn't shake the feeling that something had happened—something related to the livestock farm.
"Tap, tap, tap..."
The carriage quickly arrived back at the castle. As soon as it stopped, Lucas got off and headed straight for the study room, with Mina following behind him in light, quick steps.
Dahlia, however, didn't follow. She needed to find Catherine to discuss tomorrow's itinerary and say goodbye to Elisa—after all, she was leaving for the royal capital the next day.
"Creak!"
Lucas pushed open the study door and swept his gaze around the room, only to see Annie, Nicole, and Freya staring at him in surprise.
"Young Master, you're back." Nicole said softly as she stepped forward to help Lucas take off his coat. She then knelt slightly and patted the dirt off his knees.
"Mm," Lucas nodded, standing still. He gently patted Nicole's head and said softly, "It's fine. I'll just change later."
"Alright." Nicole replied warmly, stepping aside with a gentle smile.
Lucas's fingers lightly brushed against Nicole's cheek as he let out a soft chuckle. Then, he stepped forward and sat down in his chair. Pulling open the bottom drawer, he took out a book titled Agricultural Policies and Practices and flipped through the table of contents. It didn't take long for him to find the information he was looking for.
"Composting with soil and plant stalks… wood ash mixed with soil clumps…"
Lucas occasionally picked up a pen and jotted down notes. Combining the book's knowledge with the realities of this era, he finally devised a method to create a unique fertilizer suited for this world.
His focused expression made Annie, Nicole, and Freya a bit concerned. Their gazes turned toward Mina, who had just entered the room, silently asking for an explanation.
"..." Mina spread her hands helplessly—she had no idea what was going on either. She had been just as confused the entire way back.
"It's done," Lucas said softly. This fertilizer needed to be prepared immediately—every passing day was a wasted opportunity.
"Young Master, did something happen?" Annie asked, her eyes filled with concern.
"Nothing bad—actually, it's good news," Lucas chuckled and shook his head. "I found a way to increase grain production."
"What?!" Annie shot to her feet, eyes wide in shock.
"Young Master, are you serious?" Nicole covered her mouth, her face full of surprise.
In this era, grain yields only ever decreased, never increased. The more land was farmed, the more barren it became—so how could production possibly go up?
"Of course, it's true," Lucas affirmed with a nod. He didn't bother explaining further and instead turned to Annie. "Annie, get ready to write an official order."
"Yes!" Annie responded promptly, sitting down and pulling out pen and paper, ready to take notes.
"Starting today, we will establish the 'Agricultural Fertilizer Plant.' The location will be near the livestock farm—have someone pick a site. Construction of wooden sheds should begin immediately. They must have good ventilation..."
Lucas continued detailing the building requirements for the fertilizer plant. The most critical aspects were proper airflow and an open-air drying area.
Annie leaned over the table, studying the rough layout of sheds and drying areas. "And the buildings?" She asked.
"Wooden sheds, built for ventilation," Lucas explained. "We'll raise them on stone foundations to prevent flooding. The walls will be slatted, allowing the wind to pass through, and the roof will be thatched to keep rain off while preventing heat from trapping inside."
Annie nodded, tracing a finger over the open-air section marked on the plan. "This—this is for drying the manure?"
"Exactly," Lucas confirmed. "We need a space where it can be spread out and aged properly before use. If it's stored too wet, it will rot and lose its nutrients. Too dry, and it won't break down efficiently in the soil. The airflow here is crucial."
Annie asked. "How soon will it be ready?"
Lucas exhaled, rolling up the parchment. "Construction begins immediately. Within a week, the framework should be in place."
"Also, have people collect all the waste—urine and feces—from the entire city and transport it to the fertilizer plant. Send the livestock farm's manure there as well." Lucas continued.
"Huh?" Annie froze, staring at Lucas in a daze. Why were they collecting waste now? This request was… strange.
"Young Master, is this waste really related to increasing grain production?" Nicole immediately made the connection.
"Yes," Lucas nodded. "Wheat needs nutrients too. The soil's nutrients have already been drained over time, so now we're going to replenish them."
Nicole and Annie understood the term nutrients—Lucas had explained it to them before when discussing food and health. But now that nutrients were being associated with urine and feces, they found it a bit… difficult to process. They suddenly didn't want to think too hard about it.
"This is the method for making fertilizer. Have people start working on it immediately—we'll need it urgently next year." Lucas said, handing the paper with the farmyard fertilizer production process to Annie.
"Understood." Annie responded quickly, taking the document and sealing it along with the written orders.
She planned to hand it over to Ben later. He was much more experienced in these matters—after all, he was in charge of the livestock farm, greenhouse vegetables, and other agricultural projects. Annie herself wasn't too familiar with farming and livestock management.
"Phew…" Lucas let out a breath of relief. He had nearly overlooked this critical issue. With fertilizer, grain production could increase several times over compared to farming without it.
His fertilizer formula was actually a simple and traditional method. The manure would be mixed with an equal amount of soil and left to decompose. The fermentation process, combined with physical and chemical reactions, would enrich the soil. Adding plant materials like straw and wood ash, followed by drying the mixture, would result in a soil-based fertilizer.
This type of soil fertilizer was more effective because it contained natural soil components, making it easier for plants to absorb nutrients. This was his version of fertilizer in this other world.
Of course, making this kind of fertilizer was quite labor-intensive and required a lot of manpower, but the results would be well worth the effort.
With proper fertilization, crop yields would increase significantly, ensuring a stable food supply for Sedona City. In the long run, this would improve people's lives, reduce food shortages, and even provide economic benefits if surplus grain could be traded.
Although the process was troublesome, Lucas knew that investing effort now meant a better future for everyone.
*
The morning sun climbed slowly over the farmstead, its golden light spilling over the fields. The air carried the mingling scents of damp earth, fresh hay, and livestock.
Ben stood at the edge of the cleared land, a rough parchment unrolled in his hands. Beside him, Jack studied the sketched layout, tracing the lines with his fingertips.
"The fertilizer plant will go here, just beyond the stables," Ben explained, gesturing toward the open patch of land. "Close enough for easy transport but far enough to keep the smell from the city. First, we lay the foundation."
A team of workers, carrying wooden stakes and hemp rope, paced the ground, marking the perimeter of the structure. An older man, experienced in building, measured each side carefully, ensuring the space was square.
With a nod from Ben, the laborers took up their spades and began to dig. The ground was firm but the snow from snowfall on it, making it easier to carve out the shallow foundation trench. Shovelfuls of dark earth were tossed aside, the workers moving in rhythm, their breathing steady as they carved the outline of the building into the land.
"Dig a little deeper along this edge," Ben directed, pointing toward the lower part of the site. "We'll need a drainage trench here to keep the rain from pooling around the manure."
Two younger workers took up their hoes and began shaping the trench, ensuring it sloped away from the drying area. Once completed, gravel would be spread inside to aid water flow.
A wooden cart, pulled by a pair of sturdy oxen, creaked to a stop beside the site. The driver jumped down, wiping his hands on his tunic before helping to unload the rough-hewn limestone blocks. The mason, a burly man with weathered hands and a keen eye, examined each stone, discarding any with cracks before giving a grunt of approval.
One by one, the stones were placed in the trench, fitted tightly together with a thick mortar made from lime and clay. The mason used a wooden trowel to spread the mixture evenly, ensuring each stone was secure.
"This foundation will keep the manure contained and prevent runoff from seeping into the soil," Ben explained to Jack as they watched. "If we used just packed earth, the rains would wash everything away."
The workers continued stacking the stones, layer upon layer, until the low retaining walls stood about four feet high—sturdy enough to hold the manure yet accessible for workers to shovel it into carts when needed.
While the masons worked, the carpenters prepared the wooden framework for the main shed. A stack of freshly cut oak beams lay nearby, their surfaces rough from the axe. The head carpenter, a wiry man with a neat beard, inspected each piece before directing his apprentices to shape them.
Using broad chisels and wooden mallets, the workers carefully notched the ends of the beams, ensuring they would fit together securely. Soon, the first support posts were raised, standing six feet high at the front of the shed and sloping slightly downward toward the back.
Workers climbed onto ladders made from lashed-together branches, securing the cross beams in place with wooden pegs hammered in with small mallets. The rhythmic thunk-thunk of hammering filled the air as the skeletal frame of the structure took shape.
Once the frame was sturdy, slatted wooden planks were nailed horizontally between the posts. Each gap was deliberate—narrow enough to keep the structure strong but wide enough to allow air to flow freely, ensuring that the stored manure would dry properly.
"These gaps will prevent too much moisture buildup," Ben told Jack. "Manure that stays too wet will rot before it's ready for the fields."
Jack nodded thoughtfully, watching as one of the carpenters stepped back, wiping sweat from his brow with a sleeve.
"This will hold well through any storm," The carpenter said proudly. "Oak's strong—it won't warp or crack easily."
By mid-afternoon, bundles of dried reeds arrived in another cart, stacked high and bound with rope. Thatched roof was being made, and the workers moved with practiced efficiency as they climbed the wooden beams, securing the first layers in place.
They worked in pairs—one worker passing up a bundle while the other pressed it down, tying it securely with twisted hemp rope. The reeds overlapped like fish scales, ensuring rain would slide off rather than soak through.
A young apprentice, no more than fourteen, tied off a bundle too loosely. The master thatcher caught it immediately.
"Tighter, boy," He grumbled. "If the wind catches loose thatch, it'll tear the whole roof apart in a storm."
The apprentice nodded quickly, retying the bundle with greater care.
Below, Jack watched with admiration. "It's like weaving a giant basket over our heads." She observed.
Ben chuckled. "In a way, yes. And just like a basket, if you weave it wrong, everything falls apart."
Beyond the main storage shed, an open-air drying area was being prepared. The ground was carefully leveled, then packed down with heavy wooden mallets. Workers spread a thin layer of straw and clay, ensuring the manure wouldn't mix directly with the dirt.
A group of men, armed with rakes, began spreading an initial test layer of manure, ensuring it was even and well-exposed to the breeze. Wooden fencing was constructed around this area, keeping animals from wandering too close.
Nearby, another storage area was enclosed, reserved for aged manure—the rich, dark fertilizer that had broken down properly over time. This section was divided into compartments, ensuring that older material could be used first while fresh manure continued to dry.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the last pieces of the structure were completed. The thatchers climbed down from their scaffolding, wiping dust from their hands. The carpenters packed up their tools, stepping back to admire the completed shed. The masons checked the stone walls, ensuring they were firm and properly mortared.
Ben stepped forward, running a hand along one of the wooden support beams. He nodded in satisfaction. "Sturdy. This will last for years."
Jack, standing beside him, took in the scene—the strong wooden structure, the drying manure already curing in the open air, the workers gathering their tools with tired but satisfied expressions.
"It's more than just storage," He murmured. "It's the foundation for better harvests."
Ben glanced at him, then back at the structure. He smiled slightly. "Yes. And it's just the beginning."
As the workers finished for the day, the first cartload of manure arrived, steaming slightly in the cool evening air. The Agricultural Fertilizer Plant was officially in operation.
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