The document discusses site selection and soil preparation for rice production. It emphasizes the importance of soil analysis to determine soil pH, nutrients, and fertilizer needs. Ideal soil properties for rice include high clay content, good drainage, and a pH of 6.2-7.0. Climate factors like rainfall, sunlight, temperature and wind are also important considerations for site selection. Proper land preparation before planting includes plowing, harrowing, leveling and repairing levees to promote seed germination and plant growth.

1. SITE SELECTION AND SOIL ANALYSIS
• The following are the different factors to be considered in selecting a
good site for rice production, as stated in the Competency-Based Learning
Module (CBLM) for Rice Production:
• 1. Soil. A rice field should possess the following attributes:
a. high clay content
b. a 2:1 ratio of top clay mineral montmorillionite
c. medium amount of organic matter
d. good drainage
e. top soil 18 – 20 cm deep
f. soil pH range of 6.2 -7.0

2. SITE SELECTION AND SOIL ANALYSIS
2. Climate. Climate change is one of the factors posing
challenge to rice production nowadays. These factors
include rainfall, sunlight, wind velocity, and temperature.
a. Rainfall. In rainfed areas, the start of the rainy season
determines the planting time. This is because the
source of water supply for non-irrigated rice field comes
directly from rainfall. On the other hand too much
rainfall causes floods that submerged the plants. Water
directly affects the photosynthetic activity of the rice
plant.

3. SITE SELECTION AND SOIL ANALYSIS
b. Sunlight. It is the foremost source of energy of all
plant life. When water supply is not limited, sunshine is
the most important climatic factor that influences rice
yield.
Therefore, site should be free of any barrier to sunlight
c. Temperature. It is a limiting factor in rice production.
However, in the Philippines, temperature is almost
constant, hence, it is not a critical problem.

4. SITE SELECTION AND SOIL ANALYSIS
d. Wind velocity. Gentle wind is beneficial to rice
plant because new air blown around the plant
causes replenishment of carbon dioxide. Strong wind
such as heavy wind during typhoon may cause
lodging and shattering of rice grain, reduction of
photosynthetic activities and may enhance growth
of bacterial leaf diseases.

5. SITE SELECTION AND SOIL ANALYSIS
3. Location. Farm location greatly affects the profitability of
rice production. The following are some factors to consider:
a. the farm should be near the road to facilitate ease of
transport.
b. there should be available laborers in the different stages of
rice production.
c. good irrigation and drainage.
d. proximity to drying pavement and other post-harvest
facilities.

6. Soil Sampling and Soil Analysis
•The success of rice production starts with
knowing the kind of soil where you are going to
plant. The rice plant is nutrient sensitive; its
ability to produce good harvest depends on the
nutrients present in the soil. Soil sampling and
analysis are important to determine the pH level
and the nutrients present in the soil. The result
of the soil analysis will be the basis of fertilizer
application.

7. Procedures to Follow in Soil Sampling
1. Make a sketch of the area showing
sampling areas (SA).Divide the farm
into sampling areas. Each SA should be
more or less uniform in cropping
history, past lime and fertilizer
treatments, slope, degree of erosion
and soil texture and color.

8. Procedures to Follow in Soil Sampling
2. In each SA dig from 5 -10 pits and
collect samples corresponding to the
size of the sampling area. Spot sample
is taken in the following manner:
clear the soil surface area
using a shovel or spade dig a pit to a
depth of 20-30 centimeters

9. Procedures to Follow in Soil Sampling
from one vertical side of the pit take a
slice of soil 2-3 cm thick with a single
downward thrust of the spade. Using a
knife or trowel trim the slice of soil on
both sides to a bar of 3-4 cm width.
place the thin bar of soil in a pail or any
suitable clean container.

10. Procedures to Follow in Soil Sampling
if the subsoil sample is needed,
take a bar of soil from the
succeeding 20 to 30 cm soil
depth. The subsoil and surface soil
should be placed in separate
containers.

11. Take composite soil samples. After
collecting the samples from the
different sampling areas, they will
be pulverized and mixed
thoroughly in the container. Place
the composite soil sample of about
½ kilogram, in a clean plastic bag.

12. After which, it is now ready for chemical
analysis, using a simple Soil Testing Kit (STK)
for qualitative analysis of soil pH, nitrogen,
phosphorous and potassium or by running a
complete chemical analysis in a soil
laboratory. Results of both test will serve as
the basis for the farmers in making
recommendation on the amount of fertilizer
materials to be applied to satisfy the nutrient
requirement of the crop.

13. •Soil - is a loose and friable material of the
earth surface where plants grow and
develop.
•Climate - is the weather condition of a
locality,
•Temperature - is the degree of hotness and
coldness of the environment.
•pH - is a value used to express the relative
acidity or alkalinity of the soil.

14. PREPARE THE LAND FOR PLANTING RICE
(IRRIGATED/RAINFED)
1. Prepare the Land for Planting
- well leveled soil prevents the emergence of early
weeds.
- facilitates mixing of organic matter such as rice straw,
weeds and stubbles with the soil which promotes
decomposition.
- It also aids in the efficient control of some pests like
the golden snail.

15. a. 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. 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.

16. 2. Cut tall grasses and remove stubbles that
may interfere with plowing.
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.

17. •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.

18. •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.

20. •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.

22. 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.

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

24. 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.

25. The second harrowing which is also the
first levelling should be done across the
direction of the first harrowing. 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.

26. •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.

28. 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.

29. Cleaning and Repairing Levees of Rice
Paddies
•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.

30. Cleaning and Repairing Levees of Rice
Paddies
Levees that are properly
repaired and plastered with
mud are unfavorable to rat
infestation, growth of weeds
and host plants or insects.

31. Cleaning and Repairing Levees of Rice
Paddies
During dry season rice
production, a canal at the
middle of the paddies should
be constructed to facilitate
irrigation.

32. Cleaning and Repairing Levees of Rice
Paddies
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.

33. 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.
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.