How to Plant Rice in Water

Rice is a staple food for many countries and planting rice in water is one of the most popular methods of cultivating rice. This process is known as ‘paddy rice cultivation’ and requires a paddy field with sufficient water supply. In this article, we will discuss the steps involved in planting rice in water.

Step 1: Preparing the Soil

The first step in planting rice is to prepare the soil. The field needs to be levelled and ploughed thoroughly. The soil needs to be flooded with water and allowed to sit for a few days. This helps in softening the soil and making it easier to plant the rice saplings.

Step 2: Choosing the Right Rice Seeds

Before planting the rice, it is important to select the right type of rice seeds. The seeds should be of good quality, disease-free and should have a high yield potential. The selected seeds should then be treated with fungicides and insecticides to prevent any diseases or pests from attacking them.

Step 3: Cultivating the Rice Saplings

Rice is usually cultivated in a nursery before it is transplanted into the paddy field. To cultivate the saplings, the selected seeds must be sown in seedbeds that are filled with a mixture of soil and organic manure. The seedbeds need to be flooded with water and maintained at a temperature of 25-28 degrees Celsius. After around 21 days, the saplings will be ready for transplantation.

Step 4: Transplanting the Rice Saplings

The next step is to transplant the rice saplings into the paddy field. The saplings are usually transplanted when they are around 20-30 days old. The field needs to be drained of all water before the saplings can be planted. The saplings are then planted in rows with a distance of around 20-25cm between them.

Step 5: Taking Care of the Rice Plants

After the rice saplings have been transplanted, it is important to take proper care of the plants. The field should remain flooded with 2-10cm of water throughout the growing season to provide sufficient moisture for the plants. Fertilizers should be applied at regular intervals to provide the plants with the required nutrients. Weeds should also be removed periodically to prevent them from competing with the rice plants for nutrients.

Step 6: Harvesting the Rice

The final step is to harvest the rice. The rice plants are usually ready for harvest after around 120-150 days from the date of transplantation. The rice plants are cut at the base using sickles or machines and then threshed to separate the grains from the straw. The grains are then sorted and graded based on their quality.

Planting rice in water requires a lot of hard work and patience. But with the right techniques and care, farmers can produce a good yield of high-quality rice that can feed millions of people around the world.