Kharif Crop-paddy ( rice)

Paddy (rice)

Paddy , also called rice paddy, small ,level, flooded field used to cultivate rice . 

Paddy field 

A Paddy field is a flooded field of arable and used for growing semi-aquatic crops, most notably rice and taro .

Season

The main rice growing season in the country is ' Kharif'. It is known as winter season as per the harvesting time. The sowing time of winter (Kharif) rice is June- july and it is harvest in November - December.

Production of rice 

Rice is grown in more than a hundred countries, with a total harvest area of approximately more than 700 million tons annually (470 million tons of milled rice). Nearly 640 million tons of rice are grown in Asia , representing 90% of global production

Cultivation of rice 

The seeds are transplanted by hand then through proper irrigation, the seeds are cultivated. Rice grows on a variety of soil like silts , loams and gravels.... In the hilly areas , slopes are cut into terraces for the cultivation of rice . Thus, the rice grown in the hilly areas is known as dry or upland rice.

Process of cultivation 

Cultivation, loosening and breaking up (tilling) of the soil. The soil around existing plants is cultivated (by hand using a hoe, or by machine using a cultivator) to destroy weeds and promote growth by increasing soil aeration and water infiltration. 

Growth of rice crop

Rice plants take around three to six months to grow from seed to mature plant, depend on the variety and environmental conditions. A 120-day variety, when planted in a tropical environment , spends about 60 days in the vegetation phase , 30 days in the reproduction phase ,and 30 days in the ripening.

Duration 

It takes rice plant four to five months to reach maturity.The rice grows rapidly, ultimately reaching a height of three feet . By September ,the grain heads are mature and ready to be harvested. On the average , each acre will yield more than 8,000 pound of rice.

Management of rice 

Weeds limit rice yield greatly in all ecosystem through competetion with rice for sunlight water and nutrients. Weed competition during early growth stages of rice reduce rice yield greatly. Weed management is more difficult in direct seeding then transplanted rice.