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Package of Practice for Rice

Paddy is grown under irrigated and rainfed condition in an area of 13.8 lakh hectare in North Karnataka. Its productivity is 24.2q/ha with a production of 33.30lakh tonne. Paddy is grown under channel, tank and lift irrigation over an area of 38,000ha in North-East Transition and dry zones (Region 1, Zone 1 & 2). In this region, major Rice growing talukas are Manvi, Raichur, Bidar, Bhalki, Aurad, Aland, Chincholi, Yadgiri, Sedam and Chittapur. Paddy is grown in North-East and Northern dry zones (Region 2, Zone3) as irrigated crop over an area of 61,000ha covering district such as Raichur, Bellary, Belagum and Bijapur.

During kharif season drill sown Paddy is grown under rainfed condition in the regions receiving heavy south-west monsoon in central parts of Northern Transition region 4 (Zone 8). The annual production of drill sown paddy is 2.1lakh tonne from an area of 1.3lakh ha in Shiggaon, Dharwad, Hirekerur, Belagum, Bailhongal talukas.

Paddy is grown as major crop in heavy rainfall (malnad) region (Region 5, Zone 9) over an area of 1.37lakh ha under rainfed condition during kharif season. It is also as an important food crop in coastal region (Region 6, Zone10), grown as rainfed crop in 2.1lakh ha area. Depending upon irrigation availability paddy is also grown under rabi and summer condition.

Varieties	Zone and situation	Sowing Time	Duration (days) and characteristics	Remarks
Kharif
Jaya	1,2,3,8,9 rainfed & irrigated	End of June	140-150, long and bold seed 125-130, medium and small seed	Resistant to blast disease
Rasi	1,2 & 8 rainfed & irrigated	-do-	125-130,Suitable for drill sown condition	Resistant to blast disease
Vani	1,2 & 3,irrigated	-do-	140-145, long and small seed	-
Sona	1,2 & 3, irrigated	-do-	140-145, long and small seed	-
Prakash	1,2 & 3, irrigated	-do-	145-150, long and small seed	-
IR-20	1,2 & 3, irrigated	Before 15th July	130-145, medium and small seed	Tolerant  to BLB, GLH & Tungro disease
Pushpa	1,2 & 3, irrigated	-do-	125-135, long and small seed	-
Madhu	1,2 & 3, irrigated	-do-	120-125, medium and small seed	Shattering of seeds
Mangala	1,2, 3, 8 & 9, rainfed & irrigated	Mid of August	105-130, medium and small seed	Tolerant  to blast disease
BPT-5204	1,2,3, irrigated	End of June	140-165, long and small seed	-
Telhumsa	1,2,3, irrigated	July	120-125, medium and small seed	-
Mandya Vani	1,2, 3 & 8, irrigated	Up to 15th July	130-135, long and small seed	-
Karna (KMP - 39)	1,2, 3, 8 & 9, rainfed & irrigated	Up to 15th July	130-135, long and bold seed	It is suited for Cauvery basin. Tolerant to pests
JEB - 24	1 & 2 irrigated	Mid of August	165-175, suitable for seed drill sowing	-
Avinash (Gama-318)	3 & 8, rainfed & irrigated	May-June	135-145, medium and bold seed	-
MTU-1001	8,rainfed	May-June	130-135, medium and small seed
Pragathi	1,2 & 3, irrigated	Up to July	130-135, medium and small seed	-
Mandya Vijay	8, irrigated	Up to June	140-145, medium and small seed	-
Jyoti	8, irrigated	Up to June	125-130, long and bold seed	Resistant to blast, moderately susceptible to BPH
Amrut	8,rainfed	May-June	105-110, Medium and bold seed, suitable for drill sown condition	Resistant to blast and brown leaf spot. Escapes drought.
Abhilash	8 & 9, rainfed	May-June	155-165, long and bold seed, suitable for drill sown condition	-
Intan	8 & 9, rainfed	May-June	160-170, long and small seed, suitable for drill sown condition	Susceptible to blast disease and
Hemavati	9, rainfed	May-June	160-170, medium and small seed, suitable for drill sown condition	-
KHP-2	9, rainfed	May-1st week of June	145-150, medium and small seed, suitable for drill sown condition	Tolerant to blast. Recommended for malnad region except Kodagu district.
IET-7191	9, rainfed	May-1st week of June	150-155, long and bold seed, suitable for drill sown condition	Tolerant to blast to some extent & susceptible to brown leaf spot
Mahaveer	10, rainfed	May-1st week of June	110-115, long,  small and red seed , suitable for drill sown condition	Resistant to gall midge. Red seeded.
Shakti	10, rainfed	May-1st week of June	120-125, long and bold seed, suitable for drill sown condition	Resistance to gall midge
Phalguna	10, rainfed	May-1st week of June	135-140, medium and small seed, suitable drill sown condition	Resistant to gall midge
KKP-6	10, rainfed	May-1st week of June	135-140, long and bold seed, suitable for drill sown condition	Withstand water logging for 1 week
Getu	10, rainfed	May-1st week of June	130-140, long and bold seed, suitable for drill sown condition	-
IET-7564	8, rainfed	May-June	100-105, long and small seed
IET-13549 (Scented Mugad)	8, rainfed	May-June	130-135, long and small seed and scented variety	Resistant to pest and disease. Scented rice. Gives higher yield. Suitable for drill sowing

Rabi (Irrigated)
Phalguna	10	Up to last week of October	125-140, long and small seed	Resistant to gall midge
Jaya	10	--do--	120-145, long and bold seed	Resistant to blast disease
Jyoti	10	Up to last week of October	100-105, long and bold seed	-
Shakti	10	--do--	120-125, long and bold seed	Resistant to gall midge
Summer (Irrigated)
Rasi	8	Up to last week of January	120-125, medium and small seed
Jyoti	8	--do-	125-130, long and bold seed	-
Shakti	10	--do-	120-125, long and bold seed	Resistant to gall midge
Mukti	10	--do-	125-130, red seed	Red seeded
Jaya	1,2,3 &10	--do-	120-145,long and bold seed	-
Madhu	1,2,3,8 &9	--do-	120-125, medium and small seed	Shattering of seeds
Vani	1,2,3	--do-	140-145,long and small seed	-
Sona	1,2,3	--do-	140-145,long and small seed	Difficult for threshing
Prakasha	1,2,3	-do-	145-150, long and small seed	-
IR-20	1,2,3,9 &10	-do-	120-145, medium and small seed	Resistant to BLB, GLH & Tungro disease
Pushpa	1,2,3,9	-do-	125-135, long and small seed	-
Mangala	1,2,3,8 &9	-do-	105-130, medium and small seed	Tolerant to blast disease
Praghati	1,2,3,	--do-	130-135, medium and small seed	-
Mandyavani	1,2,3,	--do-	130-135, long and small seed	-

In zone -9farmers are cultivating variety MTU-1001. KRH-2 paddy hybrid released from Karnataka, it is not only giving higher yield but also resistant to pest and disease.

Special characteristics:

• These varieties respond well for normal to high dose of fertilizers
• Normally varieties take 7-15 days more duration during summer compared to kharif.
• In irrigated regions dwarf varieties gives higher yield without lodging under high soil fertility condition.

Hybrid Rice:

• In short duration it gives 15-20% higher yield compared to high yielding varieties
• Resistant to disease
• KRH-2, an important paddy hybrid released from Karnataka.
• Seed rate for transplanting -15kg/ha
• Spacing-20x10cm
• Transplant only one seedling/hill or 5 seedlings/sq. ft.
• During milling use special rubber shell
• Store hybrid rice for 3 to 4 months to avoid sticking and odour after cooking

 

Materials required for sowing		Per hectare
Seeds	Transplanting	62kg
	Drill sowing	80-100kg
Organic manures	Green leaf manures or	5-10t
	FYM	5-10t

 

Chemical fertilizers

Seed bed: As in seed bed preparation section.

Main field:

Nutrients
Zone	Nitrogen	Phosphorus	Potassium	Zinc	Time of application
Kharif -Transplaned paddy
1,2,8	100	50	50	20	At the time of transplanting ½ Nitrogen, full dose of phosphorous, potassium and zinc.1/4 nitrogen at 30days after transplanting and at panical initiation stage
3	150	75	75	20	--do--
9	75	75	90	20	Before transplanting ½ Nitrogen, full dose of phosphorous, potassium and zinc.1/4 nitrogen 30days after transplanting and at 55 days
10	75	75	90	20	Before transplanting 1/3 Nitrogen, full dose of phosphorous, 1/2 potassium and full dose of zinc. 30days after transplanting and at 55 days 1/3 nitrogen and at 55 days ½ potassium
8 &9 (Drill sown paddy)	100	50	50	20	At the time of sowing-full dose of Phosphorus, potassium and zinc.1/3 nitrogen-20 & 40 DAS* and at panical initiation stage

*DAS: Days after sowing

Seed bed preparation (For all zones)

Selection of good seed material:

• Salt water treatment (1:4)
• Remove immature and chaffy seeds
• Select only bold seeds and wash thoroughly with clean water and dry under shade

Note: Salt water treatment is not required for certified seeds

Dry Nursery

• Area - 750 sq meter for one hectare
• Prepare 75 beds of 7-7.5 m long, 1.2-1.5 m width and 10 cm high.
• Apply 25 kg FYM or compost along with 45g ammonium sulphate ( 90 g nitrogen), 280g super phosphate (45 g phosphorus) and 75g of muriate of potash (45 g potassium)
• Sow treated (recommended) seeds uniformly in the raised beds.
  

 

Wet Nursery

       Area required for wet nursery as same as dry nursery.

Steps involved in raising wet bed seedlings are as follows:

• The seed bed area is puddled and leveled.
• Irrigate the seed bed and drained off excess water
• For each 100 m² area of nursery bed, provide 1 kg N, 0.4 kg P₂O₅ and 0.5 kg K₂O along with 250kg FYM .The fertilizers are mixed with soil before sowing. Double the P₂O₅ application in locations where cool temperatures retard the growth of seedlings.
• Sow (broadcast) pre-germinated seeds (soak the seeds for 24 hours, incubate in warm moist conditions for 36-48 hours until germination) on a drained bed at the rate of 50 - 70 g (unsoaked weight basis) per square meter depending upon the size of the seed.
• Keep the beds moist for the first few days. Do not flood the beds.
• When the seedlings are about 2 cm high, keep the beds submerged in a shallow layer of water.
• Top dress the seed beds with 0.3 kg to 0.6 kg N per 100 square meter area 6 days before transplanting.
• Seedlings will be ready for transplanting at 20-25 DAS

Preparation of transplanting (main) field

• Three weeks before transplanting incorporate 5-7 tonne of FYM or compost or 1 tonne of poultry manure per hectare or
• Incorporate 10 tonne of green leaf manure three weeks before transplanting.
• Provide drainage channel for salt affected soil.
• After fertilization avoid moving of water from one field to another.

Transplanting:

• Spacing: 20x10cm (50 hills/ sq.meter) 2-3 seedlings per hill
• Short duration variety: 15x10cm (67 hills/ sq. meter)
• In Tungabhadra command area, for transplanting of long duration varieties such as sona masuri under delayed condition (August 15-30^th) select the seedlings which are 45 days old and transplant about 3 to 4 seedlings per hill to get higher yield.

Sowing of Paddy using drum seeder

• Followed under late sown conditions especially in the month of July when rainfall is sufficient enough to make puddling.
• Use pre-germinated seeds for sowing
• Seed rate - 40 kg/ha

Nutrient Management in Paddy

Organic farming:

Use of green leaf manures

Drill sown paddy:

• Sow sunhemp green manure seeds @10kg/ha mixed with paddy seeds.
• Carry out hodta operation (Planking) in standing water after 40 DAS for in situ incorporation of sunhemp in the soil which will decompose easily and early and add to organic matter to the soil maintaining the sol fertility.

                                                   OR

• Ex situ incorporation of green leaf manuring of Eupatorium/parthenium/cassia and other weeds green material @ 5 t/ha in between the two paddy rows by carrying out hodta operation.
• Provides only 50% nutrients to maintain good yield.

Transplanted paddy:

Sow green manure seeds of Sesbania rostrata (@ 25kg/ha) along with the application of entire P₂O₅ recommended for paddy, eight weeks before transplanting of paddy, then in situ incorporate the green manure crop by carrying out hodta operation ( Planking) seven weeks after sowing. Transplant paddy seedlings after one week of incorporation along with the application of 50% recommended nitrogen for paddy.

Note: Increase the yield level by providing recommended dose of nitrogen or maintain same yield level without nitrogen application

Use of Biofertilizers

             Biofertilizers are ready to use live formulates of such beneficial microorganisms which on application to seed, root or soil mobilize the availability of nutrients by their biological activity in particular, and help to build up the micro-flora and in turn the soil health in general. Bio-fertilizers are eco friendly and are environmentally safe. They form not only part of integrated nutrients but are of low cost. The bio-fertilizers used for rice crop are Azospirillum, Phosphobacteria, Blue green algae, azolla and Mycorhiza.

Rhizobium

• These bacteria are capable of forming nodules on leguminous crop plants.
• Fixes atmospheric nitrogen by symbiotic relationship with legumes.
• Each Rhizobium species form nodules on particular group of leguminous crop plants these are called as cross inoculation group of rhizobia. Some of the cross inoculants released from University of Agricultural Sciences Dharwad are SB-120 for Soybean, GB-1 for Redgram and GR-2 for Bengalgram.

Azotobacter

• It has the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in crop plants.
• It can be used for monocots and for crops like Sorghum, Wheat, Maize, Finger millet, Cotton, Sugarcane and Vegetable crops.
• Apart from its Nitrogen fixation it produces some nutrients and growth hormones and provides to the crop plants. 
• It increases the germination per centage and also helps in plant growth and development.
• It protects crop plants from pathogens.

Azospirillum

It is also an important nitrogen fixing bacteria. It is mainly used in monocots such as Sorghum, Wheat, Maize, Cotton, Sunflower and Sugarcane. It fixes 25-30 kg nitrogen/ha and also helps in crop growth by providing plant hormones. By using azospirillum species such as ACD-15 and ACD-20 which are released from University of Agricultural Sciences Dharwad, we can reduce the quantity of nitrogen by 25 per cent.

Acetobacter diazotrophicus

It fixes atmospheric nitrogen in sugarcane crop and present in root system, leaves and stem of the sugarcane crop. These are also present in sweet sorghum and sugar beet. It fixes on average 150-160kg nitrogen in sugarcane.

Phosphate solubilisers

This type of biofertilizers solubilises phosphates in the soil and render them in available form for low land and upland rice. Bacteria like Bacillus megatherium var phosphaticum, Bacillus polymixa, Pseudomonas fluorscens, Pseudomonas striata fungi like Pencillium digitatum, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus awamori were found to have a strong phosphate dissolving ability.  It can be used for almost all crop plants. Application of phosphobacteria with rock phosphate gives same effect as that of super phosphate.

Plant growth promotion by biofertilizers

Some microorganisms such as Pseudomonas, Azospirillum and Azatobacter produces growth promoting hormones such as Indole acetic acid, gibberellins etc. which helps in plant growth and development. Thee microorganisms also provide disease resistance to the plants.

Application of Bio-fertilizers to rice

Seed treatment: 1000 g of Azospirillum culture is to be mixed with water to prepare a solution and the seeds required for one hectare are soaked in the solution over night before sowing in the nursery bed.

   OR

Prepare slurry of Azospirillum 600 g + phosphobacteria 600 g with one litre rice gruel and mixed with 25 kg of rice seeds and ensure uniform seed coating. Dry in shade and sow the seeds within an hour of treatment

Seedling treatment: Prepare slurry by mixing Azospirillum @ 1 kg in 40 liters of water and dip the root portion of rice seedlings in this bacterial suspension for 15-30 minutes and then transplant the seedlings in the field.

Soil application

• Azospirillum and phosphobacteria each at 2 kg/ha are to be mixed with 50 kg of well powdered decomposed FYM/compost.
• Apply the mixture of biofertilizers to the rice before transplanting.

Blue Green Algae (BGA).

It is another type of biofertilizer which fixes nitrogen and provides to the crop plants. It requires pH of 6.5 to 7.5 for better growth and development. Apart from its nitrogen fixation it improves physical and chemical condition soil. It excretes organic acids that render phosphorus solubilisation. It reduces 25 percent of the recommended dose of nitrogen.

Method of application in Paddy crop

• Puddle the land by repeated ploughing for 2 - 3 times.
• Prepare beds of size 10 x 10 m in a ploughed land bund on all sides and let water into the field to a height of 10 cm and maintained for 2-5 cm depth.
• Sprinkle 10 kg of dried algal inoculum for one hectare field.
• At the time of application, a thin film of water is to be maintained.

Azolla

Azolla fixes atmospheric N in symbiotic association with the blue-green alga, Anabaena azollae. Of seven species of Azolla, A. pinnata is commonly found in India. It usually floats on the surface of idle water bodies such as ponds, canals, ditches and channels. Its occurrence was observed mostly during winter to early part of summer.

Azolla can be multiplied by constructing nurseries with 10 cm deep standing water and adding superhphosphate (@ 8 kg P2O5/ha) in small plots. Inoculation with Azolla @ 8 kg/sq.m.   Azolla  to be used immediately after harvest. It can be applied as green manure prior to rice planting or can be grown as dual crop with rice. Incorporation of fresh Azolla at 5 t/ha just before planting or its inoculation at 1 t/ha at planting and its incorporation after one month gave yields identical with application of 30 kg N/ha.

It could also be used as both green manure and dual crop with rice, but dual cropping (inter-cropping) was more practicable and economical. Inoculation of fresh Azolla at 0.5-1.0 t biomass/ha before 15-20 days of planting for green manuring and after 7 days of planting for dual cropping is recommended. Dual cropping up to 3-4 weeks was beneficial for rice. Split application of superphosphate at 8-10 kg P₂O₅/ha and carbofuran at 75-90 g/ha ensured rapid fern growth. Phosphorus need of Azolla could be met from recommended dose of P for rice by applying half the dose of P during Azolla cultivation. Green manuring supplied 20-40 kg N/ha and dual cropping 20-30 kg N/ha. Using Azolla as green manuring or dual cropping was on par with application of 30 kg N/ha through chemical fertilizer and increased grain yield. Inoculum of 100-300 g/m² for Azolla multiplication and 0.5-1.0 t/ha for green manuring or dual cropping has been recommended. Higher levels of inoculum helped in rapid Azolla growth and inoculum up to 3.0 t/ha could be used without any adverse effects on rice yield, provided water level is not high enough to allow rice leaves to be covered by Azolla

 Nutrient content in azolla

Sl. No.	Plant nutrients	Quantity (%)
1.	Nitrogen	4.0-6.0
2.	Phosphorous	0.4-0.9
3.	Potash	3.0-6.7
4.	Calcium	0.4-1.0
5.	Magnesium	0.5
6.	Manganese	0.11-0.16
7.	Iron	0.06-0.16
8.	Mineral ash	9.0-10.0
9.		5.0-6.0
10.	Fat	5.0
11.	Crude nitrogen	24.0-26.0
12.	Crude fibre	9.0

Uses:

• Azolla excretes organic nitrogen in water during its growth and also immediately upon trampling. Fern fronds are soft and rapidly decomposed.
• It absorbs traces of potassium from irrigation water.
• Azolla provides nitrogen, potassium and organic carbon etc.
• It prevents weed growth in rice field water.

Mycorrhiza:

• It occurs naturally in low land and upland rice. It mobilizes the phosphorus required by rice.
• It also provides nutrients such as iron,  zinc, copper, manganese etc.
• It can be used for almost all crops especially horticultural crops, chilli, tomato etc.
• Endomycorrhiza are obligate symbionts and have not isolated in pure culture and can be maintained only on live plants inoculated with spores of a species and collecting the pieces of roots with soil. The root biomass heavily infected by a specific mycorrhizal fungus serves as the inoculum for subsequent plots.
• It is used in chilli, tomato seed beds @ 2kg /sq.meter.

 

Fertilizer management:

Reasons for loss of nitrogen:

1. Leaching
2. Deep percolation
3. volatilization ammonia
4. Denitrification losses

 Time of application of nitrogen:

• Go for spilt application of nitrogen to increase its availability at different crop growth stages, to get uniform growth and to avoid nitrogen losses.
• Paddy requires nitrogen at two different growth stages viz., vegetative stage and before panicle initiation stage
• Quantity and time of application depends on soil fertility status and varietal requirement.
• Provide enough nitrogen at the time tillering

Points to be consider for quantity and time of application of nitrogen

• Apply during initial stage of crop growth to get more tillers
• Application of nitrogen after tillering leads to good seed setting in the emerging panicle.
• Application of nitrogen at later stages and before panicle initiation stage increases the nitrogen content in seeds but not the yield level. Hence late application of nitrogen is not recommended

Quantity of nitrogen:

Kharif crop - 100kg N/ha

 

Nitrogen management:

Quantity and time of nitrogen application depends on soil characteristics, irrigation management, climate, and method and time application. Points to be considered for nitrogen management are:

• Nitrogen should be available to the crop at almost all growth stages.
• Getting more yield from the available nitrogen

 

Quantity and method of nitrogen application depends on the following points

1.	At the time of transplanting	During last ploughing incorporate nitrogen need to be given at the time of transplanting
2.	Method of top dressing	24hours before topdressing drain out the field.24 hours after topdressing irrigate the field.
3.	Number of top dress	3 and 6 weeks after transplanting and 1 week before panicle initiation.
4.	Quantity of nitrogen at each topdressing	25kg/ha
5.	Low nitrogen status in the soil	Provide more nitrogen at the time of  transplanting
6.	High nitrogen status in the soil	Provide less nitrogen at the time of  transplanting and go for top dressing with remaining nitrogen
7.	Sand mixed soil	Don't apply excess nitrogen at any stage
8.	Low tillering varieties	Apply less nitrogen at initial crop growth stage.
9.	Short duration varieties	Apply more nitrogen at initial crop growth stage
10.	Long duration varieties	Top dress more nitrogen
11.	Cool climate at initial crop growth	-----do----
12.	Symptom of occurrence of bacterial leaf blight	Frequent top dressing
13.	Transplanting of aged seedling	Transplant at closer spacing and provide more nitrogen at the time of transplanting
14.	Form of application of nitrogen	Ammonium sulphate or urea form

Nitrogen management in paddy with leaf colour chart (LCC)

Yellowing of leaves in paddy indicates the deficiency of nitrogen, but it is difficult to decide the quantity of nitrogen to be applied based on the extent of yellowing. Leaf colour chart developed by International Rice Research Institute can be utilized for efficient nitrogen management in paddy. The actual requirement of nitrogen by the crop can be correctly assessed by leaf colour chart, as the native soil supply of N, supply through organics, irrigation water, soil organisms and N losses through leaching, evaporation, weeds etc. will be considered in N- management through leaf colour chart.

The leaf colour chart consists of 6 -7 green strips, 1^st strip with light green colour and the last strip (6^th or 7^th ) with dark green colour, and in between strips (2^nd to 5^th ) are with varying intensity of green colour. Time of nitrogen application is decided by LCC score.

Use of leaf colour chart

1. Select fully opened disease free new leaf i.e. third leaf from the top as index leaf in paddy plant for assessing the leaf colour and ten leaves to be selected from ten plants in the filed.
2. Match the colour of the selected leaves by keeping the middle of the leaves on the colour strips of leaf colour chart and assess the colour intensity ( LCC value) during morning hours (8-10 am).
3. Assess the intensity of leaf colour each time at a particular time by a particular individual.
4. Take average of two if the leaf colour matches between two colour strips of the chart.
5. Commence the assessment of  the leaf colour with LCC at 14 DAT in transplanted rice or 21 DAS in direct seeded rice and continue up to flower initiation/heading at an interval of 7-10 days
6. Critical LCC value varies with the type of paddy genotypes. LCC critical value is 3.0 in low N response cultures. In Karnataka for drill sown paddy (Intan variety) the critical LCC value is 3 and for Abhilash variety the LCC value is 4.
7. Assess the average LCC values of 10 leaf samples. When the average LCC value of ten leaves or when the LCC values of five or more leaves found below the critical LCC limit fixed for that genotype, then top dress nitrogen depending on the crop growth and stage as indicated in the following table

 

Quantity of nitrogen to be top dressed to paddy crop when assessed average LCC value is below the critical LCC value (Karnataka)

Crop stage		Duration(days after planting/sowing)				Quantity of nitrogen (kg/ha)
		Short duration (100-115days)	Medium duration (125-135days)	Long duration (145-165days)		Summer	Kharif
Transplanted paddy
Initial growth period		14-28	14-42	14-63		30	20
Grand growth period		29-48	43-70	64-85		45	30
Lag growth period		49-flowering stage	71-flowering stage	86-flowering stage		30	20
Drill sown paddy
Initial growth period	21-34		21-56		21-70	30	20
Grand growth period	35-55		57-84		71-90	45	30
Lag growth period	57-flowering stage		85-flowering stage		91-flowering stage	30	30

 

 Foliar nutrition in Rice
In recent years soluble fertilizers otherwise known as foliar fertilizers like Polyfeed and Multi 'K' were introduced in rice growing states.

• Polyfeed contains 19: 19: 19 NPK with 6 micro-nutrients like iron, manganese, boron, zinc, copper and molybdenum, while multi K contains 13: 0: 46 NPK.
• These fertilizers provide nutrients to the plant by foliar application as these fertilizers are completely soluble in water.
• These fertilizers have no other impurities like sodium and chloride and they are 100 % nutrients and these nutrients are easily absorbed through the leaves.
• In certain occasions like prolonged drought, there is no scope to apply fertilizers to the soil for want of moisture. Like wise in flooded conditions due to continuous rains fertilizers could not be applied to the soil.
• In such special circumstances these soluble fertilizers are must to protect the crop against hunger and this forms a compulsory act of crisis management.
• And the foliar application of Speciality fertilizers plays an important role in supplying the nutrients at critical stages of flowering and grain formation.

Phosphorus management in paddy

The texture of the soil is important while considering phosphorus application. Recovery of phosphorus from added fertilizer is much less in heavy soils than in light soils. For example: in black clay soils the recovery is 20 to 40% compared 60 to 80% recovery in red sandy soils.  It is now known that the phosphorus status of soil should be built up to a particular level to achieve higher yields. At least 35 kg P₂O₅ per ha should be available in soil to get profitable returns to fertilizer application in rice. If soil analyses shows below this level, the phosphorus fertilizer requirement is calculated as given below:

Potassium management in paddy

Identify the need to apply potassium to a field from the soil test results.
If there is a need, then potassic fertilizer is to be applied as basal application. The split application of potassium is recommended when

• The soils are very low in potassium
• If the soil is too light to hold the potassium against leaching
• If the potassium fixation power of the soil is very high as indicated in the soil test report
• Top dressing of potassium if needed is applied at the panicle initiation stage
• Foliar spray of 1% urea + 2% DAP + 1% KCl at PI and 10 days later for all varieties

 Micronutrient management in paddy

• Apply Zinc sulphate @ 20kg/ha before planting or drill sowing along with FYM or any organics once in three crop seasons.
• Dip roots of the seedlings in 1% Zinc sulphate solution for one minute before transplanting.

Water management

• Maintain water to an extent of 2.5cm height in the field during first 10 days of transplanting and afterwards increase the height up to 5cm through out the crop growth. Drain out the impounded water from the fields 10 days earlier to harvesting.
• Maintain the water level to an extent of 5cm during panicle initiation to panicle emergence stage.
• For drill sown rice care should be taken to drain out excess rain water during first 10-15 DAS and the water level in the field should not be more than 2.5cm height during tillering stage.
• In drill sown rice carry out hodta operation (Planking) in standing water at 40 DAS, and impound sufficient rain water through the crop growth period. This prevents growth of weeds thus reduces its competition with crop.
  

Seed treatment:

Soak the seed materials in 1g HgCl₂.H₂O or 0.1 g Streptocycline and 0.1 g Copper sulphate or 0.3 g Agrimycin 100 and 0.12 g Copper oxy chloride in 1 litre of water for 20 minutes.

 

Plant protection measures in paddy

Pest	Damaging symptoms	Management
Rice mealy bug	The nymph and adult pinkish in colour and covered with mealy matter on the body. Mealy bugs suck the sap by remaining concealed within leaf sheath.	Seed beds (300sq.meter area) apply Phorate 10% @75g or Carbofuron 3% @1.25kg insecticides before sowing, mixed with soil and go for irrigation. Allow thin film of standing water in the field at 12-15 DAS. Apply granular form of carbofuron 3% @10kg/ha or Phorate 10% @12.5kg/ha or Quinolphos 4% @30kg/ha mixed with soil. For other regions at 10-12 days after sowing and 20-25 days after transplanting apply 1.3ml Monocrotophos 36SL or 2.5ml Chloropyriphos 20EC or 2ml Phasalone 35EC or 2g Carboril 50% WSP or 0.2g Thiomethyoxon 25WG or 0.3ml Imidachloprid 17.8SL.Any one of the above insecticide is  mixed in 1 liter of water and spray at basal portion of the plant. 1000-1125liters of spraying chemical is required per hectare. Plant protection measure is essential at the time of flowering. After harvesting go for dusting of Chloropyriphos on bunds.
Brown plant hopper (BPH)	Wedge shaped, brown coloured. Nymphs and adults congregate at the base of the plant and suck the plant sap from stem and leaf sheath. Leaves turn yellow initially and later brownish due to drying up of the plants. Under severe cases field gives a burnt appearance in concentric circles, known as "Hopper burn". This pest more severe in Tungabhadra command area	Observe for the presence of pest at basal portion of the plant at least once in a week 30days after transplanting. Alternate wetting and drying the field during peak infestation. Draining out the standing water from the field 2-3 times. Apply recommended dose of nitrogen based on soil fertility. At flowering stage plant protection is necessary. After application of granular insecticides in presence of thin film of water in the field avoid moving of water from field to field for 36-48hours after application
Gall midge	The pest is more severe in seed bed and 30-40 days after transplanting in coastal and western ghat region. The maggot feed on the apical point of the central shoot. The infested central shoot is converted to long tubular structure known as galls or silver shoots. It resembles as an onion leaf glistens in the field	Same management practice as in BPH and Rice mealy bug
Yellow stem borer	Caterpillars bore into the central shoot of seedlings and tillers leading to death of central shoot. At reproductive stage, panicle turn whitish, erect with chaffy spikelets and can be easily pulled out, is known as "white ears"	Apply 25kg/ha of Fipronil 0.3 G granules before sowing and mix with soil then go for irrigation.
Rice Leaf  Folder	The larva forms a protective feeding chamber by folding a leaf blade together and glues it with silk strands and feed on leaf tissues/chlorophyll. Longitudinal white and transparent streaks on leaf blades are created which later giving scorched appearance.	10-12 DAS  1ml of methyl parathion 50EC or 0.5ml Fenitrothion 100EC or 0.9ml Diazinon 60EC or 1.3ml monocrotophos 36SL or 2ml chloropyriphos 20 EC or 1.5ml Fenthoate 50EC or 2ml Phasalone 35EC or 2ml Endosalfon 35EC or 2ml Quinolphos 25EC.Any one of the above mentioned insecticide is mixed with 1 liter of water and take up spraying for seed bed. 18litere of spray chemical is required and for transplanted field 500-625 liter/ha spraying chemical or carbofuron 3% @19kg/ha granules can be used.
Rice hispa	The adult is blue-black and very shiny. Grubs make tunneling through leaf tissue causing irregular translucent white patches that -are parallel to the leaf veins. Damaged areas have white streaks that are parallel to the midrib
Rice Caseworm	The larva feeds on the foliage by scrapping chlorophyll leaving horizontal rows of green material. The leaf tips are sharply cut off and the cut portions are turned into cylindrical tubes, is either attached to the plant or seen floating on the water surface
Armyworm	Early stage larvae skeletonise the leaves and later stages become gregarious and voracious eating the whole leaves at night. During day time it will hide at  base of the plant	Application of any one  insecticides as mentioned above during evening hours
Rice Gundhi Bug	The adult is slender and greenish brown bug. The nymphs and adult suck the milk from the developing grains and stem in the early stage of grain formation. Discolouration of panicles as well as the presence of some empty or ill filled grains in the panicles. Infested paddy straw contains foul smell.	Malathion dust 5% @ 20kg/ha or 2ml Malathion 50EC in 1lit and take up spraying on panicle. 675 liter of spraying chemical is required per hectare.
Rice grass hopper	Adults are green in colour. Both nymph and adult feed on leaves. At the shoot blade stage of the crop they nibble at the florets into base of inflorescence stalks causing formation of white ears.	Cleaning of bunds. Deep ploughing is recommended in winter season to expose the egg mass. Dusting of 50% malathion or 1.5% quinolphos or 1% endosalfon on bunds.
Diseases
Blast	Rice blast affects the leaves, on which it causes diamond / spindle shaped white to gray lesion with dark green to brown borders surrounded by a yellowish halo, the lesion may enlarge coalesce and kill entire leaves. Blast also affects leaf collar, stem nodes and internodes.	Seed dress with either Tricyclazole 75 WP or Carbendazim 50 WP @ 2g/kg of seed. In field if symptom appears spray 1g of Carbendazim or 1 ml Edifenphos or Tricyclazole  in 1 liter of water, mix and apply.
Brown leaf spot	The symptoms of the disease appear on the coleoptile, the leaves, leaf sheath and also the glumes. On the leaves the spots vary in size (1cm) and shape from minute dots to circular, eye shaped or oval spots is seen in the central portion. The seeds are some times shriveled and discolored.	Use disease free seeds for sowing. If disease occurs spray 1g of ediphenphos or 2g mancozeb or 2.25g Zineb mixed with 1liter of water.
Bacterial leaf blight	5-10mm long green-yellow spot at tip of leaves. These spots enlarge and turn to yellow. It begins as water soaked stripes on the leaf blade. The stripes increases in length and breadth become yellow and then white and may coalase to cover the entire blade. Drop of bacterial exudates may be observed on young lesions.	Before sowing soak the seeds in 0.1g streptocyclin and 0.1 g copper sulphate or 0.3g agrimycin -100 and   Copper Oxy Chloride 0.1g in 1 liter of water for 20 minutes and then go for sowing. If disease occurs at main field spray 0.05g streptocyclin and 0.05g in one lit of water
Udbatta disease	Stunted growth of affected seedlings. The panicle emerges from the leaf sheath, as a straight, dirty coloured, hard, cylindrical spike, considerably reduced in size, much resembling an agarbatti or udbatta. No grains are formed on the affected ear, instead white mycelium and conidia form narrow stripes on the flag leaf along the veins before the panicle emerge	Use disease free seeds for sowing. Hot water treatment of seeds at 52°C for 10 min. Removal and destruction of diseased panicles in field.
False Smut	In one panicle, only few seeds showing the disease symptoms. Individual grains of the panicle are transformed into yellow or greenish velvety spore balls. These spore balls contain white mycelium and conidia.	------do-------
Sheath blight	Appearance of one or more relatively large, oblong or irregularly elongated lesions on the leaf sheath; in advanced stages center of the lesion becomes bleached with an irregular purple brown border. Initially these lesions are white in colour later it turns to dark brown. At severe condition drying of leaves.	1g Carbendazim 50 WP or 2g Mancozeb 75 WP in 1 liter of water.
Rice tungro	Severe stunting and reduction in the number of tillers. Affected leaves are often light yellow to orange yellow. Delayed flowering and panicle initiation is often incomplete. Infected panicles are small and sterile or only partially filled with discoloured grains.	Removal of infected plants at early crop growth stages. This disease transmitted by green leaf hopper. To prevent this, spray 1.3ml monocrotophos in 1liter of water.
White tip nematode	White tip or whip like malformation of the top one-third of the leaf blade later white tip turns to brown colour. In flowering tillers, chaffiness and abnormal elongation of glumes in some spikelets.	Soak the seeds in water for 24 hours, later hot water treatment at 52°C for 10 min

 

Table: Weed management in Paddy

Take up hand weeding at 20 and 40 days after transplanting and at 20 and 40 days after sowing in transplanted and drill sown Paddy respectively.

Sl. No. Herbicide Quantity (ha) Time of application Remarks Transplanted Paddy - 1. 2, 4- D Sodium salt 80 % 2.5 kg 3 - 4 weeks after transplanting We can control dicotyledonous weeds and annual grasses. Care should be taken to avoid herbicidal drift to nearby grapes field, cotton, Pulses, Potato and crops belonging to cucurbitaceous family. 2. Propanil 35 EC 7.5 lit weeds are at 1 or 2 leaf stage We can control both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weeds.Do not mix any chemical with these herbicides 3. Butachlor 5 % G 30 kg Broadcast the granules at 5 - 7 days after transplanting - 4. 2,4 - D ethyl ester 5 % G 15 kg Spray 5 - 7 days after transplanting - 5. Anilogard 1.5 lit --do-- - 6. Thiobencarb (Benthiocarb) 50 EC 4.0 lit Within 5 days after transplanting - 7. Pendimethalin 30 EC 3.3 lit Within 3 - 5 days after transplanting - 8. Oxidiazon 25 EC 1.0 lit Within 3 - 5 days after transplanting - Drill sown Paddy 1. Propanil 35 EC 7.5 lit Spray on weeds at 4 weeks after sowing We can control both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weeds. Do not mix any chemical with these herbicides 2. Butachlor 50 EC 3.0 lit Within 5 days after sowing - 3. Pendimethalin 30 EC 3.3 lit Within 5 days after sowing Controls weeds belongs to Graminae family

Note:

• Follow plant protection measures only when pest or disease incidence is noticed. Be aware of the places where pest or disease incidence is common.
• While handling pesticides hand should be dry without any wounds.
• The recommended dose of chemicals is suited only for large sized spraying equipments.
• While using granular form of pesticides care should be taken for standing of thin film of water in the field atleast for 36 - 48 hours.

Harvesting:

• At the time of harvesting the upper portion (90%) of the spikelets should be straw coloured. But 3-4 grains in the lower portion of the panicle are still greenish.
• Take up threshing operation when the moisture content in the grain is 15 percent.
• Do not dry the grains at each time more than 4 - 6 hours otherwise grains will shrivel and break.

 

Some suggestions:

• Do not use the seeds for sowing from the crop which was affected by blast disease.
• Burn all the residues of paddy crop which was affected by blast disease. This prevents the spread of disease to the subsequent crop.

Yield levels

Zone 1 and 2

Sl. No.	Variety	Grain Yield (q/ha)	Straw yield (q/ha)
1.	Jaya	75 - 85	110 - 130
2.	Telahamsa	50 - 65	60 - 80
3.	Sona, vani, Prakash, IR - 20	63 - 70	80- 90
4.	Madhu, Pushpa, Mngala, Mandyavani, Pragathi	50 - 63	60 - 80
5.	Sonamasuri	75- 80	110- 120
6.	JEB - 24	50 - 60	60 - 75
7.	Drill sown paddy varieties (rainfed condition)	25 - 30	45 - 55

Zone - 3

We can expect on an average 50-55 q of grains and 60-80 q of straw yield from different varieties.

Explanation	Grain yield (q/ha)	Straw yield (q/ha)
Zone - 8
1. Short duration varieties	60-70	75-90
2. Medium duration varieties	75-85	115-130
Drill sowing
a.	20-30	30-45
b.	30-40	55-70
c.	40-50	80-100
Zone - 9
Kharif
1. low land	50-55	100-110
2.	40-55	60-85
3. delayed monsoon	40-45	60-70
4. Mountain region - drill sowing	30-35	40-45
Summer	35-40
Zone - 10
Kharif
1.	30-37	40-45
2.	50-62	75-95
3.	45-55	70-85
Rabi
1.	45-55	55-70
2.	37-50	45-65
Summer
1.	50-62	65-80
2.	50-62	65-80

Low cost Paddy cultivation practices:

• Transplant the varieties such as Jaya, Vani, Sona and Prakash before 20 ^th of July.
• Transplant IR - 20 before 5 ^th of August
• Varieties such as Madhu, Pragati and Pushpa should be transplanted after 20 ^th of August.
• Mangala can be transplanted upto September 7.
• Summer Paddy should be transplanted before the end of February.
• Avoid transplanting of more than 25 days old seedlings
• Avoid transplanting at the depth more than 5 cm deep
• Incorporate FYM and compost 3 weeks before transplanting
• For late duration varieties maintain 50 hills per sq. m and for short duration varieties it is 67 hills per sq. m

Intercropping in Paddy:

Note:

Ratooning in Malnad region

• Inton and I.E.T - 7191 varieties are suitable for rationing
• Go for rationing only good main crop was harvested
• Harvest the crop 8-10 cm above ground level and after harvesting leave the land 8-10 days for drying
• Take up planking (hodta ) 15 days after irrigation
• At this stage topdress 50 kg Nitrogen through any source
• Take up plant protection measures similar to that of main crop
• Ratoon crop will be ready for harvest at 135 days. We can obtain 25 q tield per hectare