Rice is one of the most difficult crops to grow. Starting a rice farm is something most farmers have thought about. However, this endeavour is much more complex than it sounds.
There are numerous factors to be considered; soil type, seed quality, irrigation, and knowing when to plant and harvest are the most basic pieces of information you need. Rice crops require an immense amount of water; the crop needs to be submerged underwater for long periods of time. If you’re set on starting a rice farm, here are some of the top tips to follow, so you can encounter minimal problems, and increase yields and profits.
Choose The Right Location
The selection of location for starting a rice farm is extremely important. Choosing the right location can make all the difference in terms of profits and yields. Rice plants are pretty versatile, hence they can be grown on a variety of soil types. Even soil types having low permeability and whose pH varies from 5.0 to 9.5 can be used to grow rice. However, sunlight is also an important aspect. Rice crops demand a lot of sunlight, so the selected land needs to be open and have full access to the sun.
Preparing the Soil
Even though rice farming is possible in a wide range of soil types, you still have to prepare it for perfectly growing the crop. The soil needs to be in its best physical and chemical condition for the perfect growth of rice. Physical processes which prepare the soil are plowing and harrowing. These are essentially methods of tilling and digging up. Such processes also perform another function: the mixing of the soil. Some of the best soil types for growing rice are as below.
- Sandy loam
- Loamy sand
- Silty Loam
- Clay loam
- Silty to clayey loam
Irrigation System
Because rice crops need an immense amount of water, ensure that your irrigation system is up to par, and keep checking to see if the whole field is flooded and that the plants are submerged in water. This is going to have a positive impact on your rice yield rate, leading to an increase in profits as well. Make sure your crop is getting the water it needs.
Seeding and Harvesting
You must have a grip on how and when to harvest the right crop. Proper seeding techniques are also necessary to research and learn. You will need to learn how to determine if the crop is ready or not. When it’s ready, there are rice grains at the top of the stalk. Ensure you have complete knowledge about the cultivation of rice.
Rice farming may seem easy to the inexperienced, but it is actually quite complex. Various factors are to be taken into consideration; whether it’s the selection of the land or the preparation of your soil, it all affects your crop’s yield and profits. Following these tips will help you get started on slowly but surely developing and growing your dream rice farm.
