Rice is a very ancient and most widespread crop on the planet. Asia is considered the birthplace of rice. However, today it is grown in almost all countries of the world. This is not surprising, since this cereal contains many amino acids, has a great taste and is easily digestible. At the same time, not every person knows how rice grows, where exactly it is grown in the world on plantations and what is the technology for cultivating the crop.
Description of rice
Rice is an annual crop that belongs to hydrophytes. Its cultivation requires flooded soil and plenty of rainfall. The plant needs a lot of sun. In cloudy weather, the crop develops worse.
The optimal temperature for rice development is +25-28 degrees. When parameters decrease to +15 degrees, its growth slows down. If the temperature is +12 degrees, this leads to the appearance of empty grains.
In order for a cereal to develop normally, it requires a sufficient amount of nutrients. A lack of nitrogen causes a slowdown in crop development and a decrease in yield parameters. With its excess, the vegetative mass increases and the weight of the grains decreases. In addition, they are affected by fungi.
Peculiarities
Rice is distinguished by a fibrous root system that penetrates 20-30 centimeters deep. Its structure includes the main and adventitious roots. A characteristic feature of the rice root system is the presence of tissue with cavities that conduct air. Due to this, the roots are well saturated with oxygen, which comes from the foliage and stems.
The rice stalk is a straw up to 1.5-2 meters in size. The plant has long narrow leaves, which are distinguished by a pronounced vein. They reach 50 centimeters in length and 1 in width. The inflorescence is a panicle that reaches 30 centimeters in length. During the ripening period, fruits appear in the form of grains, which are located in the flower scales.
Several fields are used to grow the crop. Grains need to be planted intermittently. After harvesting, the fields need to be drained and sown with sweet clover, clover and alfalfa.Thanks to this, it is possible to improve the soil characteristics and saturate the soil with useful substances. You can also plant vetch, peas, buckwheat and rapeseed after rice.
Distribution area
Rice is widespread in South America, Indonesia, China, India, and Vietnam. This cereal grows best in tropical climates, but it can also be found in the subtropics. In Russia, the crop is cultivated in the Primorsky and Krasnodar regions. It is also found in Kalmykia, Rostov and Astrakhan regions.
Rice in different countries
Despite the fact that the birthplace of the culture is Asia, it grows in various countries of the world:
- China - here rice is grown in fields flooded with water. First, the seeds are planted in a special greenhouse. Moreover, the soil in it is a mixture of water and dirt. In such conditions, the most resilient crops survive. After the seedlings reach 10 centimeters, the sprouts are thrown into water. When their size reaches 50 centimeters, flowering will begin. During this period, grains are formed. After harvesting, the grains are laid out on the road and dried, and then taken to a warehouse.
- Russia – in this country the crop begins to be grown in May. First, the soil needs to be watered thoroughly. After the sprouts reach a height of 15-20 centimeters, the fields are filled with water. In this case, the upper parts of the sprouts should be above the water. The fields need to be drained 15-20 days before harvesting.
- India - here rice is first germinated for 1-2 months. After which the grains are placed in soil with water. Before harvesting or weeding, the water must be drained. Harvesting is necessary after the leaves turn yellow. Rice can be harvested from 1 field 2-4 times during the year.
- Thailand - in this case, the grains are thrown into prepared soil and wait for sprouts to appear.Then they need to be collected and planted evenly. It takes 30 days to grow cereal. During harvesting, rice is cut and beaten into a separate container. After which it needs to be cleaned of debris, sanded or steamed.
- Italy - in this country the soil is first prepared by filling it with water. After which planting work is carried out. After a week, the fields are drained to allow the grains to take root. Then the soil is again filled with 10 centimeters of water and they try to maintain this regime. The harvest begins when the stems reach 1.5 meters. After which the grains need to be dried and packaged.
Growing technique
There are several ways to grow this cereal crop:
- Sukhodolny - used in regions with rare precipitation, low-lying marshy areas and warm summers.
- Irrigation is considered the most popular. In this case, the fields are specially flooded. To do this, the dug ditches are filled with water. 2 weeks before harvesting, it is lowered to allow the soil to dry out slightly.
- Estuary - considered an ineffective option. It is used only in some southern and eastern regions of Asia. In this case, the crop is grown in river bays and in areas with floods.
Why is water important to him?
Rice develops normally in normal soil, but growing it in water helps to increase its yield. This is because weeds cannot grow in such conditions. Thanks to this, it is possible to save more space for healthy grains. In addition, the crop receives many nutrients from water.
Productivity
On average, 1 hectare of plantings can produce 60 quintals of rice. The maximum yield of this crop reaches 150 centners.Specific parameters depend on what plants were grown on the site before.
Features of collection from rice fields
Before harvesting, the fields need to be drained enough so that equipment can move across them without getting stuck in the mud. Rice must be harvested in stages because the grains ripen unevenly. Immediately after harvesting, the seeds need to be dried and cleaned.
How to grow rice yourself
It is quite possible to grow rice yourself. However, for this it is important to choose the right variety and adhere to agricultural technology recommendations.
Variety selection
In Russia, rice began to be cultivated in the thirties of the last century. Initially, varieties such as Start and Spalchik were used. Their yield was 7 tons per hectare. Then they began to plant varieties such as Zhemchuzhina and Solnechny. Kulon, Slavyanets, and Revel are also actively cultivated.
The Liman variety is considered resistant to lodging. The growing season is 100 days, and the yield parameters reach 5 tons per hectare. Rapan is considered another mid-season variety. Its maturation occurs in 120 days. Red, Regulus, and Yantar grow well in poor soil.
Preparing the site
Under natural conditions, the cereal grows in swampy areas. Therefore, when choosing a location, it is important to provide the crop with the required level of humidity. For personal consumption, cereals can be grown in boxes. Given the long growing season, the crop should be planted through seedlings.
Landing
To grow crops from seeds, you need to prepare wide containers. It is better to take seeds of one variety. They need to be filled with water and left overnight. Thanks to this, it is possible to reduce the content of substances that interfere with germination.
To make it easier to care for rice, it is recommended to make rows and beds.The soil must be cleared of weeds and watered abundantly. Then the seeds need to be buried in the soil and moistened. The interval between seeds should be 10 centimeters, and between beds - 30.
Care
The difficulty of care lies in the fact that the soil needs to be constantly moistened. It is important to avoid drying it out. Mulch or compost will help simplify the task. In a week you should expect the first shoots to appear. During the entire ripening period, seedlings must be kept in water.
Harvesting ripened rice
Ripening of rice takes 3-4 months. Before harvesting, you need to let the water dry. After a couple of weeks, the cereal can be harvested. In this case, the grains should dry out and turn yellow. The stems must be cut directly below the spikelets and stored in a dry and well-ventilated area. After 2-4 weeks, the rice should be dried in the oven and peeled.
Growing rice is a rather interesting process. It is important to take into account that this is a very moisture-loving crop, which requires strict adherence to the rules of agricultural technology.
