Yes, you can grow crops in the desert biome in Minecraft. While deserts are typically dry, farming is possible as long as you provide the necessary conditions.
However, according to a concept discussed in development or community discussions, a biome's "Fertility" could impact how efficiently crops grow. Under this potential system:
Farmland would have a new statistic, "Fertility". For example, in an Extreme Hills biome, the planted crops there would grow at 100% efficiency (or just normal growing speed). If you grew crops in the desert it would only be at 80% the efficiency. If you grew crops in the savanna it'd be 90%.
This means that while farming is possible in a desert, the crops might grow at a slower rate compared to other biomes, specifically at 80% of the speed seen in optimal conditions like an Extreme Hills biome.
Requirements for Growing Crops in the Desert
To successfully grow crops in a desert, you need to meet the standard farming requirements found in any biome:
- Tilled Farmland: You must use a hoe on a dirt or grass block to turn it into farmland.
- Hydrated Farmland: Farmland must be hydrated by being within 4 blocks horizontally (or 1 block down) of a water source block. Hydrated farmland is darker and prevents crops from popping out. In a desert, this requires placing water source blocks yourself.
- Light: Crops need adequate light level to grow. This can be natural light from the sun or moon (unless blocked) or artificial light sources like torches or glowstone.
- Seeds/Crops: You need the actual item to plant (wheat seeds, potato, carrot, beetroot seeds, pumpkin seeds, melon seeds).
Biome Fertility Concept
As referenced, a "Fertility" statistic could introduce biome-specific modifiers to crop growth speed. This proposed system suggests:
| Biome | Fertility Efficiency | Growth Speed Compared to Optimal |
|---|---|---|
| Extreme Hills | 100% | Normal |
| Savanna | 90% | Slightly slower |
| Desert | 80% | Slower |
Under this concept, growing crops in a desert would still yield produce, but the time it takes for them to mature would be approximately 20% longer than in a biome with 100% fertility.
Practical Tips for Desert Farming
Setting up a farm in the desert involves overcoming the lack of natural water sources. Here are some tips:
- Create Water Sources: Dig holes and place water source blocks to create hydrated farmland. An efficient layout often involves a water block surrounded by 8 farmland blocks.
- Protect from Sand: Consider building walls or roofs to prevent falling sand from covering your crops.
- Lighting: Ensure sufficient light, especially if farming underground or at night.
- Mob Proofing: Light up the area to prevent hostile mobs from spawning and potentially trampling your crops.
In summary, while deserts present environmental challenges that require manual intervention for water and light, growing crops is entirely feasible. If a biome fertility mechanic were implemented, desert farms would function but with a potential penalty to growth speed, specifically 80% efficiency as described in the reference.
