Direct Seeding in Rice Cultivation
- Direct seeding in rice is widely practiced in sandy loam soils of Kanchipuram/ Thiruvallur district and is getting popularised in clay soils of Nagapattinum/ Thiruvarur district due to late receipt of water.
- Suitable and specific varieties are recommended as follows for specific month of sowing.
| Season |
Variety |
Duration (days) |
| 1st August to 30th August |
Ponmani |
160-165 |
| 1st September to 30th September |
ADT 38, ADT 39, CO 43, IR 20, White Ponni |
125-135 |
| 1st October to 10th October |
ADT 36, ADT 37 |
105-110 |
TKM 9 and IR 50 should be sown after July 15th
- On receipt of showers during the months of May-July repeated ploughing should be carried out so as to conserve the moisture, destroy the weeds and break the clods.
- Application of FYM / Compost at 5 tonnes per hectare is necessary.
- In addition 62kg of super phosphate to supply 10 kg of P2O5/ha, 17 kg of muriate of potash (MOP) to supply 10 kg of K2O and 10 kg of ferrous sulphate should be applied in the field and properly incorporated.
- Alternatively, application of 750 kg of FYM enriched with 50 kg P2O5 can be applied as basal dose in clay soils of Nagapattinum / Tiruvarur district.
- For new deltaic area of Nagapattinum/ Thiruvarur district, combined application of zinc sulphate at 25 kg/ha and ferrous sulphate at 50 kg/ha can be recommended as basal or foliar spray of 10% (10 g/lit) ferrous sulphate + 0.5% (5 g/lit) zinc sulphate on 15th, 25th and 35th day after planting.
- A seed rate of 80-100 kg/ha should be adopted.
- Seedlings throwing method of planting: The seedlings raised on the nursery area meant for the specified area is thrown into the levelled puddled field.
- A slight yield reduction is compensated by less labour cost.
- Azospirillum inoculant 10 packets (2 kg/ha) mixed with 25 kg of FYM may be broadcasted uniformly over the field before sowing.
- Seed hardening can be carried out with 1% potassium chloride solution. One kg of KCL in 100 litres of water for 100 kg of seeds will be sufficient for treatment.
- The seeds should be soaked for 10 hours and drained. The soaked seeds should be treated with 1% KCL solution for another 10 hours and dried under shade to restore the original moisture content of the seed.
- Seed treatment with Thiram at 4 g/kg of seeds can be done 24 hours prior to sowing.
- The seeds can be mixed with Azospirillum at 10 packets per hectare. A little quantity of rice gruel can be added for sticking to the seeds.
- The seeds can be sown behind the country plough or drilled with local implement called Gorru and the depth of sowing should be 3 cm and the top soil can be made compact with guntakha.
- Pre-monsoon sowing is advocated so that the germination will be uniform on receipt of rain. If the seeds are sown in moist soil, covering with soil is difficult.
- Nitrogen at 100-125 kg/ha can be applied for direct seeding as top dressing in 3-4 split doses. In direct seeded lowland rice, 125 kg of nitrogen per hectare for ADT 36 and 150 kg for IR 20 is optimum with split dose of 50% at 15 days after sowing, 25% at active tillering stage and 25% at panicle initiation stage.
- First top dressing should be applied immediately after the receipt of sufficient rain or canal water.
- Hand weeding, thinning and gap filling should be done before nitrogenous fertilizer application.
- Subsequent two or three split top dressing should be done before heading.
- Thiobencarb/Butachlor at 2.5 litres/ha as pre-emergence application one after wetting can be applied and should be followed by hand weeding on 30th day.
- Sufficient soil moisture should be available for herbicidal use.
- Proper plant protection measure should be carried out.
Harvesting
- Taking the average duration of the crop as an indication, drain the water from the field 7 to 10 days before the expected harvested date as draining hastens maturity and improves harvesting conditions.
- When 80 per cent of the panicles turn straw colour, the crop is ready for harvest. Even at this stage, the leaves of some of the varieties may remain green.
- Confirm maturity by selecting the most mature tiller and dehull a few grains. If the rice is clear and firm, it is in a hard dough stage.
- When most of the grains at the base of the panicle in the selected tiller are in a hard dough stage, the crop is ready for harvest. At this stage harvest the crop, thresh and winnow the grains.
- Dry the grains to1 2% moisture level and store.
- Maturity may be hastened by 3-4 days by spraying 20% NaCl a week before harvest to escape monsoon rains.
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Wet Seeded And Rainfed Rice
- Optimum seed rate for wet seeded rice is 80 kg/ha.
- In wet seeded rice, apply Thiobencarb at 1.25 kg ai/ha (2.5 lit/ha) or Pretilachlor 0.45 kg ai/ha (900 ml/lit) on 4 DAS / 6 DAS / 8 DAS followed by one hand weeding for effective control of weeds.
- In wet seeded rice, pre-emergence application of (Pretilachlor + Safener) at 0.3 kg ai/ha on 4 DAS followed by one hand weeding on 40 DAS effectively controls weeds.
RAINFED RICE
Districts
Kanchipuram, Kanyakumari, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Tiruvallur and Virudhunagar.
Season
June – July to November – December.
Field preparation
- The field has to be prepared to a very fine tilth, taking advantage of summer rains and early monsoon showers.
- Apply gypsum at one tonne/hectare basally wherever soil crusting and soil hardening problem exist.
Sowing
- Seed rate @ 75 to 100 kg per ha for any recommended variety
- Seed treatment as adopted for wet rice
- Broadcast the seeds, cover immediately by harrows or sow by local gorrus (plough) for line sowing.
After cultivation
Thinning and gap filling should be done 10-12 days after sowing, taking advantage of the immediate rain.
Manures and manuring
Apply 750 kg of FYM enriched fertilizer phosphorus basally (phosphorus at 25 kg/ha) and nitrogen at 50 kg/ha and potash at 25 kg/ha in two equal splits viz., 20-25 and 40-45 days after germination.
Weeding
- First weeding should be done between 15th and 20th day
- Second weeding may be done 45 days after first weeding
- Use thiobencarb 2.5 litres/hecatare of Pendimethalin 3 litres/ hecatre 8 days after sowing if adequate moisture is available, followed by one hand weeding on 30 to 35 days after sowing.
Intercropping
Raise one row of black gram for every four rows of rice.
Plant protection
Insecticides and fungicides may be applied need based as described for wet rice cultivation.
Harvesting
As mentioned for wet rice cultivation.
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Semi Dry Rice
Season and District
| Season |
Districts |
| July – August |
Kanyakumari, Kanchipuram/ Tiruvallur |
| August |
Nagapattinam/ Tiruvarur and Pudukkottai |
| September – October |
Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga |
Field preparation
- On receipt of showers during the months of May – July, repeated ploughings should be carried out so as to conserve the moisture, destroy the weeds and break the clods.
- Apply FYM/Compost at 12.5 tonnes/ha.
- Application of 750 kg of FYM enriched with 50 kg of P2O5/ha can be applied as basal dose in clay soil of Nagapattinam / Tiruvarur district.
- Seed treatment wit Thiram at 4 g/kg of seeds can be done 24 ours prior to sowing.
- The seeds can be mixed with Azosprillum at 10 packets per hectare. A little quantity of rice gruel can be added for sticking to the seeds.
- Drill sowing with bullock drawn seed drill with 20 cm inter row spacing.
- In the event of uncertainty on the release of water as late as 45 days, the following technologies can be adopted.
- Seed treatment and foliar application of KCL (1%) (10 g/lit) + basal application of 25% N + full dose of Phosphorus as enriched FYM and Potash.
- Pre-emergence application of Butachlor 0.3 kg/ha followed by post emergence application of 2,4-D sodium salt 1.0 kg/ha + one hand weeding on 45 days after sowing.
After cultivation
Thinning and gap filling should be done on 25-30th day after receipt of sufficient rain or impounding water in the rice field.
Manuring
- Application of 100 kg of nitrogen in three split doses, 50% as basal, 25% at tillering and 25% at panicle initiation stage.
- First top dressing should be done immediately after receipt of sufficient water.
Weeding
- Thiobencarb 3 lit or Pendimethalin 4 lit/ha on 8th day after sowing as sand mix can be applied if sufficient moisture is available.
- Hand weeding should be after 30-35th day of sowing.
Water management
Crop is irrigated on receipt of water in the canal from 30-35 days after sowing.
Plant protection
Plant protection measures are taken up on need base following the methods described earlier.
Harvesting
- Taking the average duration of the crop as an indication, drain the water from the field 7 to 10 days before the expected harvested date as draining hastens maturity and improves harvesting conditions.
- When 80 per cent of the panicles turn straw colour, the crop is ready for harvest. Even at this stage, the leaves of some of the varieties may remain green.
- Confirm maturity by selecting the most mature tiller and dehull a few grains. If the rice is clear and firm, it is in a hard dough stage.
- When most of the grains at the base of the panicle in the selected tiller are in a hard dough stage, the crop is ready for harvest. At this stage harvest the crop, thresh and winnow the grains.
- Dry the grains to1 2% moisture level and store.
- Maturity may be hastened by 3-4 days by spraying 20% NaCl a week before harvest to escape monsoon rains.
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Yield Maximisation Packages for Rice
Thamirabarani Tract
Kar season:
Adopt plant population of 80 hills/M2 (15 cm x 8 cm) with NPK at 125:50:50 kg/ha along with other recommended practices. Apply ‘N’ in five equal splits and ‘K’ in two (basal and panicle initiation) equal splits.
Coimbatore Tract
Kar/Kuruvai
Apply and incorporate 12.5 t/ha of green manure with NPK at 150:50:50 kg/ha. Apply N and K in three splits at 50% basal, 25% at tillering, 25% at panicle initiation stage. Adopt plant population of 80 hills/M2 (12.5 cm x 10 cm) with other recommended practices.
Kharif (Technology) package:
Irrigate rice to 5 cm depth once in 4 days. Cultivate ADT 38 instead of IR 20 rice. Apply Zinc sulphate 25 kg/ha and Azospirillum AZ 204 M. Apply Butachlor at 1.25 Kg ai/ha as pre emergence application + one hand weeding.
Cauvery Delta Zone
Kuruvai:
- Adopt plant population of 80 hills/M2 (12.5 x 10 cm) with NPK at 150:50:50 kg/ha with other recommended practices. Apply N in four equal splits at basal, tillering, panicle initiation and heading stage and ‘K’ in two equal splits at basal and panicle initiation.
- Apply 50 kg/ha of Ferrous sulphate in Kuruvai and Thaladi.
- Application of balanced fertilizer for getting higher net income through fertilizer recommendation obtained through STCR fertilizer prescription equation for targetted yield test verified indicated its validity.
- Application of P as DAP or Super phosphate or rock phosphate along with phosphobacterium saves the P fertilizer to the tune of 25%.
- Foliar spraying of 2% DAP at panicle initiation and boot leaf stage mitigates yellowing syndrome.
Growth regulators for getting Better yield
- Foliar Spray of Brasinosteriods 0.3ppm at PI and flowering increases the grain yield.
- For increasing the rooting under broadcast method of planting, soaking roots in 25 ppm IBA gives best results.
- Induction of better rooting for early establishment in rice, root dipping for 16 hours in thiamin solution.
Harvesting
- Taking the average duration of the crop as an indication, drain the water from the field 7 to 10 days before the expected harvested date as draining hastens maturity and improves harvesting conditions.
- When 80 per cent of the panicles turn straw colour, the crop is ready for harvest. Even at this stage, the leaves of some of the varieties may remain green.
- Confirm maturity by selecting the most mature tiller and dehull a few grains. If the rice is clear and firm, it is in a hard dough stage.
- When most of the grains at the base of the panicle in the selected tiller are in a hard dough stage, the crop is ready for harvest. At this stage harvest the crop, thresh and winnow the grains.
- Dry the grains to1 2% moisture level and store.
- Maturity may be hastened by 3-4 days by spraying 20% NaCl a week before harvest to escape monsoon rains.
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Technologies to be Adopted for Cultivation of Rice in Salt Affected Soils
In addition to the normal package of practices, the following technologies are recommended:
- Seedlings have to be kept for one more week in the nursery than normal
- The dosage of Nitrogen has to be increased by 25%
- Forty kg of Zinc sulphate has to be applied per ha before planting.
- Four seedlings have to be planted per hill.
Technologies for Ramanathapuram district
- Varieties PMK 2 and ASD 17 are more suitable
- Best time of sowing is between September 15 to October 1st
- Apply 75% phosphorus as enriched FYM + Phosphobacteria to seed and soil.
Harvesting
- Taking the average duration of the crop as an indication, drain the water from the field 7 to 10 days before the expected harvested date as draining hastens maturity and improves harvesting conditions.
- When 80 per cent of the panicles turn straw colour, the crop is ready for harvest. Even at this stage, the leaves of some of the varieties may remain green.
- Confirm maturity by selecting the most mature tiller and dehull a few grains. If the rice is clear and firm, it is in a hard dough stage.
- When most of the grains at the base of the panicle in the selected tiller are in a hard dough stage, the crop is ready for harvest. At this stage harvest the crop, thresh and winnow the grains.
- Dry the grains to1 2% moisture level and store.
- Maturity may be hastened by 3-4 days by spraying 20% NaCl a week before harvest to escape monsoon rains.
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