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Agriculture Guide: Farming Trees, Biochambers & Nutrients

Trees are the sole cropable organism on Nauvis; agriculture in Factorio centers on producing and managing trees for renewable wood, seeds, and pollution barriers.

Basics of tree farming

  • Trees are grown by planting tree seeds either manually by the player or automatically using the Agricultural tower.
  • A planted tree requires 10 minutes of in-game time to reach full maturity.
  • A mature tree yields 4 wood when harvested.
  • Tree seeds are burnable and count as a fuel item.

Producing and managing seeds

  • Tree seeds are produced by processing wood: 2 wood → 1 tree seed.
  • Because each mature tree yields 4 wood, processing all harvested wood will produce more seeds than were consumed to plant the tree, enabling a self-sustaining and expanding seed supply.
  • The Agricultural tower automatically replants harvested trees only if it has seeds available in its inventory.

Agricultural tower behavior and placement

  • The Agricultural tower will automatically harvest mature trees within its coverage area and will replant them when seeds are available.
  • The tower does not plant as densely as a player: it always leaves two tiles of empty space between planted trees (i.e., it spaces them out more widely).
  • Use manual planting if you require denser tree coverage (for faster wood production or tighter pollution barriers).

Uses of tree farms

  • Renewable wood source: tree farms provide continuous wood with minimal player intervention once set up and supplied with seeds.
  • Pollution barriers: planted trees block and slow the spread of pollution. Because trees regrow, they can serve as long-term, renewable barriers around bases or along borders.
  • Fuel: seeds can be used as burnable fuel in boilers, furnaces, or generators when needed.

Practical tips

  • To bootstrap a tree farm, harvest natural trees for initial wood, convert some wood to seeds (2 wood → 1 seed), then plant seeds manually or place an Agricultural tower and supply it with seeds.
  • If you want maximum planting density (for maximum wood per area or the most effective pollution barrier), plant seeds manually rather than relying solely on an Agricultural tower.
  • Chain a wood-to-seed processing setup near your farm so harvested wood is automatically converted back into seeds, ensuring the tower or manual replants remain sustainable.