As one of the most popular food grains in the world, rice is consumed and grown in over 120 countries- primarily in India, China, Bangladesh, and some other countries. Having been grown for generations in both traditional and modern ways, rice has a very defined growing pattern, technique, and season. So how does rice grow? What are the conditions that favor the growth of rice, and what seasons? We take a look below.
Rice Growing Conditions
Rice is grown in hot and humid climates, with a continuous supply of water as well as sunlight. The crop is grown in two cycles- Rabi (sown in November/December) and Kharif (sown in June/July).
Rice growing Steps
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The preparation of Land
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The land is first harrowed and ploughed to dig it up and create the perfect conditions for the plantation. This makes the soil airy and accessible to moisture, which aids in the healthy growth of the plants. The land is then leveled for harmonic and equal growth and ease of harvesting later.
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Crop Sowing
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The second step is to establish or sow the crops. This is most commonly done by planting pre-germinated seeds from a designated area into the paddy fields. While this method needs more labor, it gets rid of unwanted seeds and ensures a better quality of the crop. Another method is simply sowing dry seeds into the paddy, thus reducing the workload at the risk of more weed infestation.
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Waterworks
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The next step is to manage the water and ensure a steady supply. Being very sensitive to water shortages, the farmers have to make sure that the crop is flooded with enough water at all times. In places that lack a steady supply of water, various methods such as mulching are done.
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Nutrition and Crop Health Management
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Once the processes are all into place, the farmer’s role is mostly the correct and efficient management of nutrition and keeping away pests and other harmful things from the plants. This is an extremely important time period, as otherwise, the crop may be ruined despite the best efforts of the farmer.
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Harvest
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These are the 5 basic steps of how to grow rice and are all as important as the previous one. With all these steps in synergy, the farmers grow the rice that we eat today. It is a tedious and careful process, but it certainly yields a delicious and flavorful result!
As we can see, rice is not only an amazing primary source of food (and tasty to boot!) but also extremely versatile in unexpected ways in day-to-day situations. It’s not for nothing that rice has found its way into so many nations and traditions!
