How to Transplant Rice
When rice seeds are first planted, they are placed in a moist or dry field location called the nursery field. Once the seeds sprout and are large enough to handle, growers transplant each plant its permanent location, which is submerged in a thin layer of water. The resulting crop yield is higher because weeds cannot grow in the watery location. Smaller farmers and individual growers can do the transplanting by hand. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Wait until 15 to 40 days after planting the rice seeds and examine the plants to see if they have three to four leaves each.
-
2
Water the nursery bed well with at least 2 to 3 inches of water to allow the roots to come out of the soil more easily. If the seed bed is already wet, you can skip this step.
-
-
3
Reach down near the roots of the rice plants and gather together a clump that is approximately 1/2- to 1-inch in diameter when your fist is closed.
-
4
Pull the clump upward with your hand in a firm but gentle motion to remove the rice roots from the soil. Rice plants have very shallow and weak root system, so they will come free with no damage.
-
5
Wrap a rubber band, a piece of twine or gardening tape around the clump loosely to hold it together. This makes moving the rice plants to the new planting site much easier.
-
6
Move the rice seedlings to the new planting site immediately. The site should have standing water on it and be as level as possible.
-
7
Remove three to four rice seedlings from one of the clumps and dig a hole in the soil under the water that is no more than 1-inch deep. Insert the roots into the hole with one hand while you press the soil up around the base of the rice seedlings to hold them in place.
-
8
Plant additional rice seedlings in the same manner, spacing them at 7-foot intervals. If you plant multiple rows, leave 7 feet between the rows as well.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images
