Rice Farming Best Agronomic practices

 

Introduction

Rice is the most important Food crop of about half of the

human race, in particular for the South and East Asia and now

spreading to Africa.

Nigeria is blessed with suitable ecologies for different rice

varieties which when properly harnessed can boost rice

production to meet domestic demands.

The cultivable land to rice production covers five major ecologies

via upland, lowland or shallow water swamp, irrigated rice, deep water/floating rice and mangrove.

Potential land area for rice production in the country is 4.9 million hectares but only 3 million hectares is being cultivated.

European Association of Agricultural Economics (EAAE) indicates that Nigeria is the largest rice importer in West Africa with an average yearly import of 2 million metric tons since the year 2000. Total consumption stands at 4.4 million metric tons of milled rice we produce only about 2.8 million metric tons.

With increasing urbanization and importation of Food many Nigerian’s have picked up the habit of rice consumption. Average production yields are as low as 1.7 metric tons per hectare.

Potential yield of rice range from upland and lowland varieties is between 3 to 6 tons per hectare.

Site Selection

Rice is adapted to wide range of environmental conditions from freely drained Upland ecology to Lowlands and deep flood ecologies.

Since Rice is known to be water loving, select sites with heavy soils which can hold a lot of water and avoid sandy soils which are unsuitable for growing rice since they do not retain moisture.

The upland rice is grown as rain-fed crop on naturally well drained soil without surface water accumulation.

Field Measurement

Field measurement is very important because accurate field measurement will guide the farmers to know the actual area of his farm.

The use of Geographical positioning System (GPS) has simplified the rigor of land measurement.

For area calculation, select AREA, from the main menu of GPS receiver

Enter START, then walk around the perimeter of the farmland you want to measure.

Select CALCULATE to see the area inside the path walked through. The AREA’S unit can be converted to any unit in the GPS receiver

Variety Selection

Select good quality and pure seed from reliable source such as Research Institutes, Seed Companies, accredited Agro dealers and ADPs.

Dress rice seed with appropriate seed dressing chemicals such as apron star, dress force etcMake simple seed viability test by planting 100 randomly selected seed and allow for 4 — 5 days for germination.Do not plant seed whose germination percentage is below 80%. 

Lowland  varieties

·         Lowland rice is described as either rain-fed lowland or irrigated lowland varieties

·          Here the rice is direct seeded of transplanted

·          Faro 44 (Sipi) matures between 90 to100 and yield range from 4-8 metric tons per hectare

·          Faro 52 and Faro 57 matures between 100 to120 days and yield ranges from 4-8 metric tons

Upland Varieties

·         Nerica 1, matures in 95 to 100 days and has potential yield of 4.5 metric tons per hectare

·         Nerica 2, matures in 90 to 95 days and has potential yield of 4 tons per hectare

·         Nerica 4, matures in 95 to 100 days and has potential yield of 4 tons per hectare

·         Nerica 7, matures in 95 to 100 days and has potential yield of 5 tons per hectare

·         Nerica 8, matures in 80 to 85 days and has potential yield of 5 tons per hectare

Land preparation :

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·         Land for rice cultivation should be fairly levelled to allow for water retention

            Use systemic herbicides such as Glyphosate if the height of the weeds is between 25                          to 60 cm. Note that must be used before land preparation.

·         Intensive soil tillage is very essential by repeated ploughing, harrowing and trampling to create the puddled condition which involves working up the soil to the consistency of a fine soft mud

·         However, the land preparation for lowland rice involves bunding and levelling the

            The field to impound water to permit even flooding.

·         The land preparation for upland rice is the same as for other rain-f ed cereals such as millet, maize and sorghum.

·          Prepare basins of 5m by 5m, or make boarders.

·         Avoid fields with poor drainage

·         For Upland rice, till the soil properly and pulverise to create uniformity before sowing

Nursery practices

·         For transplanting, seedlings are raised in either a dry or wet-nursery.

·         Site nursery beds near the cultivation area as the weight of the seedlings is quite cumbersome.

·         The best time for Wet Season nursery preparation is between April and May depending on the ecology.

·         The best time for Dry Season nursery preparation is January to Mid -February.

Dry Nursery |

·         Cultivated the land thoroughly and fertilized with well-rotted farmyard manure.

·         Construct beds 1-1.5 m wide and of appropriate length.

·         The beds should be slightly raised.

·         For planting one hectare of field, seedlings are raised in nurseries of about 350-500 Sq. m in area

·         Fertilize adequately before sowing.

·         Pre-soaked seeds are broadcast or drilled (10cm a patt) in the prepared nurseries at the rate of 1-2~2 kg per 20-35 sq. m.

·         The seed is covered with 2-3 cm soil.

·         Seedlings from a dry nursery are hardier than those from a wet nursery

 

Wet Nursery

·         A wet nursery is the most common method.

·         Flood the land, puddle and fertilize (farmyard manure).

·         Nursery beds are made as for dry nursery.

·         They are also slightly raised.

·         Pre-soaked, sometimes pre-germinated seeds ate broadcast on mud at the rate of 25 ke per 350-500 sq. of water and allowed to stand continuously on the beds after the seedlings are about 15 cm high

·         Seedlings grow quickly and are ready for transplanting within 25 to 30days when they ate 15-30 cm tall and have developed 5-7 leaves (depending on the variety)

Sometimes the seeds are germinated on strips of plythene or other materials (impermeable layer such as banana leaves, plastic sheet) which keep the root system on the surface

·         such seedlings are easier to raise and are ready for transplanting in 10 -14 days.

This system is referred to as the Dapog method.

·         For either of the systems it is important to sow thinly as this will e

encourage sturdy and healthy growth of the seedlings and savings in seeds.

·         The sown seeds are to be covered with grass mulch and removed on the 7 day after the seedlings must have

Nursery site of rice ready for transplanting

Transplanting for Rainfed and Irrigated Rice

* Seedlings should be ready for transplanting 3 — 4 weeks after planting or at 4-5 leaf stage

* Seedlings should be pulled out carefully, the root washed, tied into bundles before transplanting to the field.

* About 3 days before transplanting a rotavator is used to break the soil into very fine particles.

* The soil should be drained to improve aeration.

* Plant 2-3 seedlings at each position at spacing of 20cm by 20cm between rows and between plants.

* Older seedlings grow more slowly than younger ones and they may result in prolonged maturity, reduced tillering capacity with consequent reduction in yield.

* Flood the field with water after transplanting.

Planting of Upland Rice

Upland rice does not require a nursery. Plant when the rains are established

Planting methods are broadcasting, dibbling and drilling at recommended spacing,

Upland Rice can be planted on flat land or basins.

Integrated Soil Fertility Management

·         The new high-yielding cultivars are very responsive to Nitrogen-fertilizer.

·         At high Nitrogen- levels, the modern cultivars tiller heavily, produce more grains per unit area of land and remain standing until harvest.

·         Because of denitrification losses, Nitrogen should not be added in the nitrate form as a basal dressing. It may be used for supplemental dressings after the root systems are well developed and the Nitrogen can be immediately absorbed.

·         Recommended fertilizer rates are: 70-120 kg N, 30-40 kg P20s and 30-40 kg K20 per hectare depending on the fertility status of the soil and the ecology.

·         Apply 4 bags of NPK 20:10:10 or NPK 15:15:15 per hectare during planting or transplanting and 2 bags urea at 4 weeks after planting or transplanting.

Soil management

·         Rice thrives well under good soil condition.

·         Rice requires Clay, clay/loam and or loamy soils

·         It is also important to grow sorghum in rotation with legume crops to provide natural soil enrichment.

·         It is recommended to apply 5 — 10 tons of Farm Yard Manure in order improve soil nutrients, texture and structure.

Water Management

·         Water is the most important factor in rice production.

·         It affects the physical characteristics of the rice plant nutrient status Of the soil , the nature and extend of weed growth and various cultural practices.

·         Rice plant height is directly related to the depth of water. If the water is too deep at transplanting, the seedlings will be tall and weak at the same time the fewer tillers develop. Thus the crop becomes more susceptible to lodging

Weed Management

·         Yields of rice are seriously reduced by competition from weeds during the early growth stages.

·         Two hoe or hand weeding at 2-3 weeks and 5-6 WAS or WAT will be adequate. ;

·         Some common Herbicides include:Butachlor, Propanil, Ronstar 25 EC, Bas agramPL2, Orizoplus, 2,4 D etc.

·         Consult Extension Agents nearest to you for further advice on the use of herbicides.

·          

Safety use and handling of pesticides

·         Precaution must be followed to ensure safe use of pesticides

·         Even after use, the empty container must be dispose very well by burying them

·         Instructions as stated on the label of the pesticides must be followed while only trained personnel should apply herbicides

·         The personnel should also wear protective clothing during application of pesticide

Pests and Diseases

·         The most common diseases of rice plant on farmers’ fields are rice blast.

·         Control method include

·         In the case of blast the manipulation of cultural practices e.g. time of planting, spacing and depth of transplanting will reduce incidence. Use resistant varieties, destroy infected plants.

·         Use recommended fungicides.

·         For the bacterial blight avoid flooding on deep water in nursery and spray with appropriate chemicals in both nursery and field

Harvesting of Rice

·         Rice is harvested when the panicles have turned yellow, that is, before full ripening, so that the losses of grain in harvesting, and breakage of dry grains during threshing are minimized

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