AGRI-CROPS PRODUVTION

2. PREPARETHE LAND
FOR PLANTING RICE
(IRRIGATED/RAINFED)

4. Thorough land
preparation is necessary
either for rainfed or
irrigated rice production
method in order to have
bountiful harvest.

5. Prepare the Land for Planting
High yield in rice production could be traced
back to land preparation. Many problems in
cultural management practices could be
prevented with well-puddled and well-leveled
rice paddies.Aside from making the soil soft for
easy transplanting, a well leveled soil prevents
the emergence of early weeds. It also facilitates
mixing of organic matter such as rice straw,
weeds and stubbles with the soil which
promotes decomposition.

6. Proper soil preparation serves to level
the field for uniform distribution of
irrigation water, fertilizers and
pesticides. It also aids in the efficient
control of some pests like the golden
snail. During dry season planting, it
also prevents or minimizes water
seepage from the field thereby
resulting to efficient water
management.

7. If land preparation is not uniform,
growth of plant is uneven causing
variations of plant development
and stage maturity resulting in
possible decrease in harvest. Land
preparation should be started at
least four weeks before
transplanting

10. PLOWING is the process of
breaking up the soil usually 15
cm. deep to incorporate and
cover inorganic matter. It can
be accomplished with a
power tiller or moldboard
plow hitched to a carabao

11. .To prepare the field for plowing
follow these steps: 1. remove from
the field anything that may cause
injury to the plowmen and farm
animals or damage to the
implements. 2. Cut tall grasses and
remove stubbles that may interfere
with plowing.

12. 3. In irrigated fields, flood the field 2 – 7
days before plowing to soften the soil.
Keep the surface of the soil covered with
water to prevent the soil from sticking to
the plow. Keep the soil flooded with
about one cm depth of water for one
week to soften the clods and allow
weeds and stubbles to decompose
before harrowing is done. In rainfed
areas, the field is better plowed while it
is dry.

13. ` Plow under the weeds and stubbles 10 to
15 cm deep, three to four weeks before
transplanting or direct seeding to allow
decomposition and to recycle plant
nutrients. If organic materials are not fully
decomposed, soil tends to become acidic
and some nutrients become less available.
Draining removes toxic substances,
allowing organic matter to decompose and
help the plant produce deeper and stronger
roots. Decomposition is faster in moist soil.

15. Harrowing .
Leveling can best be accomplished by
leaving just enough water in the field,
about 2-5 cm to expose the high and low
areas. Harrowing is done 2-3 times
depending on the soil condition.
Leveling the field can be done by scraping
the mud from high spots moving it to the
low areas. A bamboo pole maybe attached
to the base of the harrow teeth to help in
leveling.

16. To prevent the field from drying
and hardening, use enough water.
If possible, wait for 7 to 10 days
between two successive harrowing
to allow more weed seeds to
germinate before these are turned
under the soil giving more time for
plowed fresh organic matter to
decompose.

17. Harrow the field at least twice with one week
interval for irrigated field and at least one day
for rainfed field due to limited supply of water.
The first harrowing is done a week after
plowing to break the soil clods and to
incorporate the stubbles.This will allow
dropped rice seeds during the previous
cropping and weed seeds to germinate.The
second harrowing which is also the first
levelling should be done across the direction of
the first harrowing.

18. This further incorporates the
volunteer plants and allowing the
remaining dropped seeds and
weed seeds to germinate.These
practices help reduce the initial
pest host population and maintain
the hardpan which minimizes
water seepage.

20. Rotavating -This method of land preparation is
employed with the use of a rotary tiller or rotavator
drawn by a tractor. A rotary tiller may take the place of
a plow and harrow because it changes the soil into fine
tilth having sufficient depth. One or two rounds of
rotavation followed by one harrowing is enough to
have a preferably level field. Prepared land can be
planted after 2- 3 days. Chopped rice straw and weeds
may be fully decomposed but are already in the
process of decomposition. Decomposition produces
too much heat and carbon dioxide (CO2) which may
cause the newly transplanted seedlings to exhibit slow
growth.

23. LET US REMEMBER
After the last leveling
there should be no
higher or lower levels of
the rice paddies.

24. Cleaning and
Repairing
Levees of Rice
Paddies

25. Just after plowing, the levees must be
repaired to prevent seepage from the
paddy. Look for rat holes, cracks or breaks,
and plaster with mud. Levees that are
properly repaired and plastered with mud
are unfavorable to rat infestation, growth
of weeds and host plants or insects. During
dry season rice production, a canal at the
middle of the paddies should be
constructed to facilitate irrigation.

27. The best time to fix the levee is after the
first plowing because the upturned soil
near the levees can be used for
plastering in the work.The following are
the steps in repairing levees.
1. Clean the levees.Trim the thick
portions of both sides of the levees
using a bolo. Patch all rat holes,
breaks, and soft spots.

28. 2. Repair the levees by using soil
which has been broken up during the
first plowing for patching soft spots
and cracks. Break up and rebuild the
portion of the levees containing rat
holes.
3. Patch-up/cover/fill the levee with
mud making sure that all cracks are
sealed properly.

29. 4. Dikes must be cleaned to
remove pest, compact to
prevent seepage, and maintain
at 15 cm high x 20 cm wide to
prevent rat burrowing. Ditches
will ensure even water
distribution and drainage.

30. Fields used solely for year-
round rice production must be
allowed to rest or fallow for at
least 30 days or more before
plowing for the next cropping
season.This will break the life
cycle of majority of the insects.

31. Rainfed rice fields are often prepared
during April and May. Plow field after
the first rain then harrow. Leave it for 7
or more days to allow weed seeds to
germinate, afterwhich the field will be
plowed and harrowed again to kill the
emerging weeds. Plowing and
harrowing may be done 2-3 times until
the field is ready for transplanting.

32. IMPORTANT
THINGSTO
REMEMBER

33. Lowland rice requires well puddled and well
prepared soil.This ensures a soil surface that is
weed-free, soft and leveled to make
transplanting of seedlings/planting of seeds
easier. It also facilitates mixing of organic
matter such as rice straw, weeds, and stubbles
with the soil to hasten decomposition. Proper
land preparation is undertaken to level the
field, for uniform distribution of irrigation
water, fertilizer, and pesticides. It also
prevents or minimizes water seepage from the
field.

34.  In upland rice culture,
plowing should be done
across the slope.
 Observe safety measures
in using tools and
equipment.

35. Answer briefly.
1. Describe the steps in
preparing the land for irrigated
and rainfed rice planting.