Paddy Farming in India: A Detailed Guide

Paddy farming is an integral part of India’s agricultural sector, providing a staple food source for millions of people. Understanding the nuances of paddy farming, including the best practices for cultivation, can significantly enhance crop yield and quality. This comprehensive guide covers all aspects of paddy farming, from the biological details to the specifics of cultivation practices, aiming to support both novice and experienced farmers.

Paddy Crop at a Glance

Biological Name

The botanical name of paddy is Oryza sativa. This species is a member of the Poaceae family, commonly known as the grass family.

Cropping Season

Paddy, or rice, is typically grown during the Kharif season, which starts with the onset of the monsoon in June and extends to October. In some regions, Rabi and Zaid seasons also support rice cultivation in India.

Crop Type

Rice is a semi-aquatic annual grass that can also behave as a perennial plant in some conditions. It is primarily grown as a cereal grain.

Production and Consumption

India is the second-largest producer of rice in the world. Major producing states include West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu. Rice is a staple diet for a significant portion of the Indian population and is also a key export commodity.

Export

India exports rice to countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The export quality is maintained through stringent grading and packing standards.

Types of Paddy in India

India boasts a diverse range of paddy varieties, each suited to different climatic conditions and culinary uses.

Popular Varieties

• Basmati Rice: Known for its aroma and long grains, primarily grown in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
• Non-Basmati Rice: Includes varieties like Sona Masuri, Ponni, and IR64, widely cultivated across India.
• Hybrid Varieties: Developed for higher yield and disease resistance, such as DRRH-3 and PHB-71.

60 Days Paddy Variety

Short-duration varieties like Sahbhagi Dhan and Pratiksha are cultivated in areas with less water availability and shorter growing seasons.

Major Paddy Producing States in India

The top paddy-producing states include:

• West Bengal: Leading producer with extensive cultivation areas.
• Uttar Pradesh: Known for both Basmati and non-Basmati varieties.
• Andhra Pradesh: Significant contributor with diverse rice varieties.
• Punjab: Major producer of Basmati rice.
• Tamil Nadu: Prominent for high-yielding varieties.

Required Climatic Conditions

Paddy thrives in warm and humid climates with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 37°C. It requires a substantial amount of water, ideally through consistent rainfall or irrigation. The monsoon season in India provides the necessary water for paddy cultivation.

Soil Requirement

Paddy is adaptable to a variety of soils, but it performs best in alluvial soil rich in organic matter. The ideal pH range is 5.5 to 7.0. Waterlogged conditions favor the growth of rice, making clayey loam soils suitable.

Land Preparation

Effective land preparation is critical for successful paddy farming. The process involves:

1. Ploughing: Deep ploughing to a depth of 15-20 cm to improve soil structure.
2. Puddling: Creating a soft, muddy field to reduce water percolation.
3. Leveling: Ensuring a leveled field to facilitate uniform water distribution.

During summer, plough the soil to conserve water for initial land preparation. Flood the field 1-2 days before ploughing to allow water to soak in and maintain a 2.5 cm water depth during puddling. Incorporate 2 tons of farmyard manure with 2 liters of composting bacteria into the soil at the time of puddling.

Sowing

Seed Rate

The recommended seed rate varies with the method of sowing:

• Direct Seeding: 40-50 kg per hectare.
• Transplanting: 20-25 kg per hectare after raising nursery beds.

Variety

Selecting the right variety is crucial, considering factors such as local climatic conditions, water availability, and market demand. Popular varieties include:

• Nath Gorakhnath 509,
• Kosco PB 1692,
• Kosco PS 5 ,
• Kosco PB 1718,
• Kosco PB 1509

Seed Treatment

Treat the seeds with Carbendazim 50% WP at a dosage of 2 grams per litre of water per kg of seeds. Soak the seeds in water for 10 hours, then drain any excess water. This wet seed treatment protects seedlings from diseases like blast for up to 40 days. Put the soaked seeds in a gunny bag, cover with more gunnies, and leave in a dark spot for 24 hours to sprout.

Spacing

Proper spacing is necessary to ensure optimal growth. In transplanted fields, a spacing of 20 cm x 10 cm is recommended. For direct seeding, row spacing of 20 cm is ideal.

Nutrient Management

Paddy requires a balanced supply of nutrients for optimal growth:

Non-Hybrid Rice: Total requirement: 40:20:20 NPK kg/acre

• At sowing: 43.5 kg Urea, 125 kg Single Super Phosphate (SSP), 33 kg Muriate of Potash (MoP)
• 30 days after sowing: 43.5 kg Urea

Hybrid Rice: Total requirement: 48:20:20 NPK kg/acre

• At sowing: 130 kg Urea, 312 kg SSP, 83 kg MoP
• 30 days after sowing: 54 kg Urea
• 60 days after sowing: 27 kg Urea

Irrigation Management

Water management is critical in paddy cultivation:

• Flood Irrigation: Commonly used method, especially in lowland rice farming.
• Alternate Wetting and Drying: A water-saving technique that alternates between wet and dry conditions.
• Frequency: Irrigation should be frequent during the initial growth stages and can be reduced as the crop matures.

Intercultural Operations

Weeding

Weeding is essential to eliminate competition for nutrients and water. Manual weeding, mechanical weeding, and the use of herbicides are common practices.

Herbicides for Paddy Fields

1. Saathi Herbicide
   For pre-emergence in nursery and transplanted rice, Spray 80 gm per acre or 1 sachet per tank.
   For early post-emergence, use 200 gm/acre, equivalent to 2-3 sachets per tank.

2. Nominee Gold Herbicide
   Spray Nominee Gold Herbicide at 200 ml per acre.
   For nurseries, apply 10-12 days after sowing.
   For transplanted rice, apply within 10-14 days when most weeds have emerged, typically at the 3-4 leaf stage, depending on soil and climatic conditions.
   For directly seeded rice, apply within 15-25 days after sowing.

Thinning

Thinning is necessary in direct-seeded fields to maintain optimal Rice plant density and ensure healthy crop growth.

Crop Protection

Pest Management

Common pests affecting paddy include stem borer, leaf folder, and brown planthopper. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies should be employed:

Brown plant hopper

Infected Paddy plants have a dried-up appearance that often looks “hopper burn.” This bug also serves as a carrier for the grassy stunt virus.

Chemical Control : Spray Pymetrozine 50% WG – 120 gm OR  Fipronil 5 % SC 400 ml per acre.

Rice stem borer

The caterpillar bores into the central shoot of paddy seedlings and tillers, leading to the drying of the central shoot, known as “dead heart”. 

Chemical Control: Broadcast Reagent Ultra 4 kg per acre after 10 days of transplanting. Spray Thiamethoxam 25 WG – 100 gm OR Coragen insecticide 60 ml OR Fipronil 5 SC 400 ml per acre.

Paddy Thrips

Thrips cause damage in both nurseries and main fields. Symptoms include yellow or silvery streaks on the leaves of young seedlings.

Chemical Control: Spray Thiamethoxam 25% WG -100 gm OR Imidacloprid 17.8% SL – 100 ml per acre.

Rice Caseworm

Caterpillars feed on leaf tissues, causing them to turn papery, and create small cases inside the leaves.

Chemical Control: Spray Quinalphos 25 EC – 400 ml per acre.

Green Leaf Hopper

Symptoms include the yellowing of leaves from the tip downwards, leading to drying. The plants exhibit stunted growth and serve as vectors for the Rice Tungro virus.

Chemical Control: Spray Ampligo insecticide – 100 ml OR Marshal insecticide – 400 ml per acre. 

Leaf Roller or Leaf Folder

The leaves fold along their length, providing shelter for the larvae inside. The larvae feed on the green tissues of the leaves, causing them to turn white and eventually dry out.

Chemical Control: Spray Profex Super Insecticide – 400 ml OR Quinalphos 25 EC – 400 ml per acre. 

Disease Management

Paddy is susceptible to diseases such as blast, bacterial blight, and sheath blight. Effective disease management includes:

Blast (Magnaporthe oryzae)

The infection affects leaves, nodes, and the neck. Initially, white to gray-green lesions or spots with brown borders appear. These spots then enlarge into spindle-shaped marks measuring 0.5 to 1.5 cm in length and 0.3 to 0.5 cm in width, featuring an ashy center.

Organic Control:  Spray P. fluorescens @ 150 gm per acre

Chemical Control: Spray Tricyclazole 75% WP @ 120 gm/acre OR Azoxystrobin 11% + Tebuconazole 18.3% SC @ 250 ml/acre

Sheath Blight (Rhizoctonia solani)

Initially, the infection appears on leaf sheaths close to the water level as oval, greenish-grey spots. As these spots grow, their centers turn greyish-white with irregular blackish-brown or purple-brown borders. 

Organic Control:  Apply Neem cake at 150 kg/ha. Foliar spray of P. fluorescens at boot leaf @  150 gm/acre.

Chemical Control: Spray Hexaconazole 5% SC @ 300 ml/acre OR Azoxystrobin 11% + Tebuconazole 18.3% SC @ 250 ml/acre

Brown Spot ( Helminthosporium oryzae)

The spots, ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 mm in width, merge to create large patches that cause the leaves to dry up. On the panicle and neck, a brown discoloration is noticeable.

Chemical Control: Spray Indofil m45 @ 500 gm/acre OR Adama custodia @ 250 ml/acre.

False smut (Ustilaginoidea virens) 

Each rice grain becomes a cluster of yellow fruiting bodies. Grains affected by the disease exhibit greenish smut balls with a velvety texture.

Chemical Control: Spray saaf fungicide @ 400 gm/acre OR Ridomil gold @ 400 gm/acre.

Bacterial leaf blight (Xanthomonas oryzae pv. Oryzae) 

Water-soaked to yellowish streaks appear on leaf blades or begin at leaf tips with wavy edges. Severely infected leaves often dry out rapidly.

Chemical Control: Spray Validamycin fungicide @ 400 ml/acre OR Copper oxychloride 50 wp @ 400 gm + Plantomycin 100 gm/acre.

Rice Tungro Virus

Leaves turn yellow or orange-yellow and may develop rust-colored spots. Flowering is delayed, with panicles that are small and not fully extended.

Chemical Control: Broadcast Reagent Ultra 4 kg per acre after 10 days of transplanting. Spray Thiamethoxam 25 WG – 100 gm OR Fipronil 5 SC 400 ml per acre.

Harvesting & Threshing

Rice Crop Duration

The duration of the paddy crop varies from 90 to 150 days, depending on the variety.

Harvesting

Harvesting is done when the grains reach physiological maturity and have a moisture content of about 20-25%. Harvesting methods include manual cutting and mechanized harvesting.

Threshing

Threshing involves separating the grains from the stalks. Traditional methods like beating the bundles on a hard surface and modern methods using threshers are used.

Yield

The rice yield per acre varies based on the variety and cultivation practices, typically ranging from 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes per acre. With advanced techniques and high-yielding varieties, yields can be significantly higher.

Conclusion

Paddy farming in India is a vital agricultural practice with immense potential for profitability and growth. Farmers can enhance their yields and contribute to the nation’s food security by adopting modern cultivation practices and effective crop management strategies.

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