The Complete Guide to Rice Cultivation

Key Temperature & Climate

Rice thrives in hot, humid climates with abundant water. Ideal temperatures range between 20°C and 35°C throughout the growing season.

Detailed Process:

1. Field Clearance: Clear the field of weeds, stubble, and residues from the previous crop to prevent pest carryover.
2. Bund Strengthening: Repair and strengthen bunds (field boundaries) to hold 5–10 cm of water effectively.
3. Pre-Tillage Flooding: Puddle the field by flooding 3–5 days before tillage to soften the soil surface.
4. Ploughing: Plough 2–3 times (first dry, then wet) using a tractor or bullock plough to achieve a fine tilth.
5. Puddling: Perform wet ploughing (puddling) to reduce weeds, percolation, and aid root establishment.
6. Precise Levelling: Level the field precisely for uniform water depth to avoid localized water stress and nutrient loss.
7. Organic Manuring: Incorporate organic matter (FYM/compost at 5–10 t/ha) or use green manures like sunhemp.
8. Basal Fertilization: Apply basal fertilizers based on soil tests; typically 120–150 kg N, 60 kg P2O5, and 60 kg K2O/ha in split doses.

Detailed Process:

1. Select Variety: Choose a variety suited to your region (e.g., MTU-1010 for early, MTU-7029 for late Kharif).
2. Verify Source: Purchase from reliable sources like APSSDC, ANGRAU centres, or certified private suppliers.
3. Check Quality: Ensure the seed tag indicates 80%+ germination and high physical purity.
4. Calculate Seed Rate: Prepare 20–30 kg/ha for conventional or 1–2 kg/ha for SRI methods.
5. Seed Treatment: Pre-soak and treat seeds with fungicides (e.g., Carbendazim) to prevent seed-borne diseases.

Detailed Process:

1. Nursery Preparation: Allocate 1000 m² nursery area per hectare, use FYM, and sow pre-germinated seeds in wet beds.
2. Seedling Age: Ensure seedlings are at the right age (20–25 days for conventional; 8–12 days for SRI).
3. Field Preparation: Ensure the main field is puddled and has 3–5 cm of standing water during transplanting.
4. Transplanting Depth: Plant seedlings shallow (2-3 cm) to encourage quick tillering.
5. Spacing: Use 20×15 cm for conventional or 25×25 cm for SRI; use markers for straight rows.
6. Gap Filling: Check the field within 7–10 days and fill any gaps where seedlings didn't survive.
7. Water Management: Maintain shallow water initially, increasing to 5–10 cm during the tillering-to-flowering stage.

Detailed Process:

1. Maturity Check: Harvest when 80–85% of grains are golden yellow and grain moisture is ~20–25%.
2. Cutting: Cut panicles manually with a sickle or use a combine harvester; cut close to the ground for straw utility.
3. Bundling: Bundle the harvested crop and bring it to the threshing floor immediately.
4. Threshing: Thresh manually or mechanically to separate grains from the straw.
5. Cleaning: Clean the grains of any chaff, stones, or dust using winnowing or mechanical cleaners.
6. Drying: Dry the grains on mats or yards until moisture reduces to 12–14% for safe storage.
7. Storage: Store in cool, dry structures and grade appropriately to prevent pest infestation.