The One-Straw Revolution - Multiworld India

Growing Rice in a Dry FieldBy the beginning of August, the rice plants in the neighbors' fieldsare already waist high, while the plants in my fields are only about halfthat size. People who visit here toward the end of July are alwaysskeptical, and ask, "Fukuoka-san, is this rice going to turn out all right?""Sure," I answer. "No need to worry."I do not try to raise tall fast-growing plants with big leaves. Instead, Ikeep the plants as compact as possible. Keep the head small, do notovernourish the plants, and let them grow true to the natural form of therice plant.Usually rice plants three or four feet tall produce luxuriant leaves andgive the impression that the plant is going to produce a lot of grain, but itis only the leafy stalks that are growing strongly. Starch production isgreat but efficiency is low, and so much energy is expended in vegetativegrowth that not much is left to be stored in the grains. For example, iftall; oversized plants yield 2,000 pounds of straw the yield of rice will beabout 1,000-1,200 pounds. For small rice plants, such as those grown inmy fields, 2,000 pounds of straw yields 2,000 pounds of rice. In a goodharvest the yield of rice from my plants will reach about 2,400 pounds;that is, it will be 20 percent heavier than the straw.53