RICE CULTIVATION IN DETAIL
Rice farming is the largest single use of land for food. Rice production totaled 600 million
tonnes. 90% rice is produced in Asia alone. Only 6-7% of production is exported from area of
production. Rice field covers 11% of arable land. It is the most important economic activity of
earth. Rice eaters and growers form the bulk of the worlds’ poor. Single most important activity of
rural people in the world. Rice is grown in 250 million Asian farms. Rice farming is 10,000 years
old. Once basis of social order and occupied major place in religions and customs. Rice is used pay
debts, wages, and rent. Staple food for largest number of humanity in the world. It is single largest
source of energy for poor. Rice is synonym with food throughout Asia.
Field Crop (Kharif)
CLIMATIC REQUIREMENTS
In India, rice is grown under widely varying conditions of altitude and climate. Rice
cultivation in India extends from 8 to 350
N latitude and from sea level to as high as 3000 metres.
Rice crop needs a hot and humid climate. It is best suited to regions which have high humidity,
prolonged sunshine and an assured supply of water. The average temperature required throughout
the life period of the crop ranges from 21 to 370
C. At the time of tillering the crop requires a higher
temperature than for growth. Temperature requirement for blooming is in the range of 26.5 to
29.50
C. At the time of ripening, the temperature should be between 20-250
C. Photo-periodically,
rice is a short-day plant. However, there are varieties which are non-sensitive to photoperiodic
conditions.
SOIL REQUIREMENT
In India, rice is grown under so diverse soil conditions that it can be said that there is hardly
any type of soil in which it cannot be grown, including alkaline and acidic soils. Soils having good
water retention capacity with good amount of clay and organic matter are ideal for rice cultivation.
Clay or clay loams are most suited for rice cultivation, such soils are capable of holding water for
long and sustain crop. Rice being a semi-aquatic crop grows best under submerged conditions. A
major part of rice crop in India is grown under ‘lowland’ conditions. Rice plant is able to tolerate a
wide range of soil reaction, but, it does have a preference for acidic soils. It grows well in soils
having a pH range between 5.5 and 6.5. It can be grown on alkali soils also, after treating them with
gypsum or pyrite.
TRANSPLANTED PUDDLED LOWLAND RICE
A. NURSERY MANAGEMENT
i. WET NURSERY
Nursery area: Select 20 cents (800 m2
) of land area near to water source for raising seedlings for
one hectare.
Seed rate: 30 kg for long duration; 40 kg for medium duration; 60 kg for short duration varieties
and 20 kg for hybrids.
Seed treatment
• Treat the seeds with Carbendazim or Pyroquilon or Tricyclozole solution @ 2 g/l of water
for 1 kg of seeds.
• This wet seed treatment gives protection to the seedlings up to 40 days from disease such as
blast and this method is better than dry seed treatment.
• If the seeds are required for sowing immediately, keep the soaked seed in gunny in dark and
cover with extra gunnies and leave for 24hrs for sprouting.
• Seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescens: Treat the seeds with talc based
formulation of Pseudomonas fluorescens 10g/kg of seed and soak in 1.0 lit of water
overnight. Decant the excess water and allow the seeds to sprout for 24hrs and then sow.
• Seed treatment with Azospirillum: Treat with three packets (600 g/ha) of Azospirillum and
3 packets (600g/ha) of Phosphobacteria or 6 packets (1200g/ha) of Azophos. In bio-
inoculants mixed with sufficient water wherein the seeds are soaked overnight before
sowing in the nursery bed (The bacterial suspension after decanting may be poured over the
nursery area itself).
• Bio-control agents are compatible with bio-fertilizers
• Bio-fertilizers and bio-control agents can be mixed together for seed soaking
• Fungicides and bio-control agents are incompatible.
Forming seedbeds
• Mark plots of 1.5 to 2.0m breadth with channels of 30cm wide all around the seedbeds.
• Length of the seed bed may vary from 8 to 10m according to soil and slope of the land.
• Collect the puddled soil from the channel and spread on the seedbeds or drag a heavy stone
along the channel to lower it, so that the seed bed is at a higher level. Level the surface of
the seedbed, so that the water drains into the channel.
Sowing
Sow the sprouted seeds uniformly on the seedbed, having sufficient water in the nursery.
Water management
• Drain the water 18 to 24hrs after sowing.
• Care must be taken to avoid stagnation of water in any part of the seedbed.
Allow enough water to saturate the soil from 3rd to 5th day. From 5th day onwards, increase
the water level from 1.5cm depending on the height of the seedlings.
#agriculure #viralvideo #video #viralvideos #videoviral #trending #trend #trendingvideo #