Bradbrook - 2012 - Rice Farming complete with methods to increase ric

ii. Cover the soil surface with plastic sheeting or other impermeable material.
This will help keep the germination medium moist and keep the seedlings from
developing roots into the soil underneath.
iii. Frame the edges of the nursery bed with slabs of wood or other materials that
are at least 4 cm in height. This is to prevent run-off of seeds and leaks when the
bed surface is watered.
iv. Cover the sheet with a layer of soil either from the rice field or with a specially
prepared mixture of soil, manure, and water. Four cubic meters of germination
medium for every 100 sq m of nursery area is needed.
V. Pre-germinate the seeds to be planted by immersing them in water for 24
hours.
vi. You need 12 to 25 kg of seeds (at 80% germination) for every hectare of field
to be planted if the planting rate is 1 to 2 seedlings per hill 20 cm apart. The closer
the planting space, the more seeds required.
vii. Drain the water and keep the seeds moist by wrapping them in a waterabsorbent
material such as cloth. Allow the seeds to germinate for another 24
hours.
viii. Spread the pre-germinated seeds uniformly on the nursery bed in a single
layer. Cover the seeds with a light layer of soil.
ix.
Keep the seeds moist by watering the beds twice a day.
X. Seedlings are ready for transplanting after 15 to 20 days.
xi. If planting manually, cut out manageable slabs of the seedlings and bring them
to the field to be planted.
xii. If planting using a tractor cut out larger slabs and place on the planter tray.
c. Planting the seedlings
To prepare for transplanting, the rice paddy is usually watered 24 hours prior to
planting. The paddy should be saturated but not flooded. Seedlings can be
transplanted in the rice paddy either randomly or in straight rows at depths of between
1.5 and 3.0 cm and at 3 to 6 seedlings per hill. In random planting, seedlings are
manually planted anywhere with no set distance between plants. When planting in
straight rows, lines are used as planting guides. The line can be made of metal wire,
twine or wood. It is secured at both ends of the paddy by removable pegs. Seedlings
25