Rice (Oryza sativa), a vital staple food for over half the world population, holds immense agronomic and economic importance, particularly in Asia. Known by various regional names like “Dhaan” in Hindi, “Nel” in Tamil, and “Vari” in Telugu, rice cultivation is central to agricultural studies and competitive exams like UPSC, IBPS AFO, and State Agriculture Services. This blog offers an in-depth overview of rice crop agronomy, rice cultivation practices, and cultural methods to help aspirants prepare for agriculture competitive exams.
Rice Crop Overview
- Botanical Name: Oryza sativa
- Common Names: Rice (English), Dhaan (Hindi), Nel (Tamil), Nellu (Malayalam), Vari (Telugu)
- Crop Seasons: Kharif, Rabi, and Summer
Soil and Climate Requirements
Rice grows well in a variety of soils, especially clay loam soils with good water retention. Ideal pH is 5.5 to 6.5 (slightly acidic). The crop thrives in warm and humid climates, requiring temperatures between 21°C and 38°C, and tolerates up to 40°C.
Nursery Management and Seed Preparation
Types of Seedbeds:
- Dry Bed: Prepared in June and December. Needs fine tilth and levelling.
- Wet Bed: Requires 4–5 ploughings and plot division for drainage.
- Dapog Nursery: Polyethylene-covered beds. Ready in 13–14 days. Requires zinc spray in deficiency.
Seed Selection and Treatment:
- Use a salt solution (60g/L) to remove floaters.
- Treat seeds with Bavistin (2g/kg) or Taqat Fungicide (2g/L) to prevent rice blast.
Seed Rate and Planting Methods
Sowing Method | Seed Rate (kg/ha) |
Transplanting | 30 to 35 |
Direct Seeding | 75 |
SRI | 7 to 8 |
Main Field Preparation
- Pre-monsoon ploughing helps reduce pests and weeds.
- Puddling improves water retention and reduces seepage.
- SRI (System of Rice Intensification) uses 8–12-day-old seedlings and square spacing.
Transplanting Seedling Age:
- Kharif: 20–25 days
- Rabi: Up to 30 days
Spacing:
- Kharif: 20×10 cm
- Rabi: 15×10 cm
- SRI: 25×25 cm
Fertilizer Management
- Wet Season: 80:40:40 N:P:K kg/ha + 10t FYM
- Dry Season: 120:60:60 N:P:K kg/ha + 10t FYM
- Zinc Deficiency: 25kg/ha Zinc Sulphate as basal dose
Irrigation Practices
- Maintain saturation for 7 days post-transplanting.
- 3–5 cm water level during the growth phase.
- Drain water before top-dressing and resume after 24 hours.
- Stop irrigation 10–15 days before harvesting.
Weed Management
- Pre-emergence: Craze (Pretilachlor 50% EC), NACL-Eraze Strong (Bensulfuron + Pretilachlor)
- Post-emergence: Nominee Gold (Bispyribac), Almix (Metsulfuron + Chlorimuron)
Pest and Disease Management
Major Insect Pests of Rice
Pest | Symptoms | Recommended Management |
Yellow Stem Borer (Scirpophaga incertulas) | Dead heart in vegetative stage; white earheads at flowering | Zygant (Flubendiamide 0.7% GR) – 5 kg/acre; Ferterra (Chlorantraniliprole 0.4% GR) – 4 kg/acre |
Gall Midge (Orseolia oryzae) | Onion shoot/silver shoot appearance due to gall formation | Ekalux (Quinolphos 25% EC) – 2 ml/L; Curacron (Profenofos 50% EC) – 100 ml/acre |
Brown Plant Hopper (Nilaparvata lugens) | Hopper burn, honeydew secretion, circular patches of dead plants | Flotis (Buprofezin 25% SC) – 2 ml/L; Prorin (Profenofos 40% + Cypermethrin 4% EC) – 400 ml/acre |
Rice Hispa (Dicladispa armigera) | White papery streaks on leaves; tips turn white | Lara 909 – 1.5 ml/L; Curacron – 100 ml/acre |
Leaf Folder (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis) | Folded leaves with larvae and faecal pellets inside | Lara 909 – 1.5 ml/L; Curacron – 100 ml/acre |
Earhead Bug (Leptocorisa acuta) | Brown spots on grains at milky stage, chaffy grains | Ampligo – 100 ml/acre; Coragen – 60 ml/acre |
Common Diseases of Paddy
Disease | Causal Agent | Symptoms | Management |
Rice Blast | Pyricularia oryzae | Spindle-shaped brown spots with grey center; node and neck blast | Mantis 75 WP – 200 g/acre; Custodia – 300 ml/acre |
Brown Leaf Spot | Helminthosporium oryzae | Oval/circular brown spots coalescing into large patches | Amistar Top – 200 ml/acre; Contaf – 200 ml/acre |
Sheath Blight | Rhizoctonia solani | Grey spots on sheath enlarging to brownish lesions | Filia – 200 ml/acre; Zerox – 200 ml/acre |
False Smut | Ustilaginoidea virens | Greenish velvety smut balls on spikelets | Filia – 200 ml/acre; Amistar Top – 200 ml/acre |
Bacterial Leaf Blight | Xanthomonas oryzae | Water-soaked lesions turning yellow with wavy margin | Hal (Streptocycline + Tetracycline) – 6 g/50 L water |
Bacterial Leaf Streak | Xanthomonas campestris pv. oryzicola | Linear water-soaked streaks turning brown | Hal (Streptocycline + Tetracycline) – 6 g/50 L water |
Integrated Pest and Disease Management Tips:
- Monitor fields regularly to detect early symptoms.
- Use resistant varieties wherever available.
- Maintain proper spacing and avoid over-fertilization.
- Ensure field sanitation and proper water management.
Harvesting and Threshing
Harvest when panicle changes from green to yellow. Manual harvesting requires bundling and threshing, whereas combine harvesting performs both simultaneously.
Yield and Varieties
- Average Yield: 4 to 5 t/ha
- Popular Varieties: RNR 15048, Naveen, Pusa Basmati 1, Pusa 44
- Hybrids: PRH 10, DRRH 1, Mahyco 504, JK 6004
To understand the topic more effective way visit our YouTube video
PYQs for Agriculture Competitive Exam
- Which type of seedbed uses polyethylene sheets for rice nursery?
(a) Dry bed
(b) Wet bed
(c) Dapog
(d) Raised bed
Answer: (c)
2. Optimal pH range for rice cultivation is:
(a) 4.0–5.0
(b) 5.5–6.5
(c) 6.5–7.5
(d) 7.5–8.0
Answer: (b)
3. Which rice pest causes “dead heart” in seedlings?
(a) Rice hispa
(b) Yellow stem borer
(c) Leaf folder
(d) Gall midge
Answer: (b)
4. For transplanting, ideal age of seedlings in Kharif is:
(a) 10 days
(b) 15 days
(c) 20–25 days
(d) 30–35 days
Answer: (c)
5. System of Rice Intensification (SRI) recommends spacing of:
(a) 15×10 cm
(b) 20×15 cm
(c) 25×25 cm
(d) 20×20 cm
Answer: (c)
6. What is the seed rate for SRI method?
(a) 75 kg/ha
(b) 30 kg/ha
(c) 7–8 kg/ha
(d) 50 kg/ha
Answer: (c)
7. Which disease causes spindle-shaped brown spots with grey centers?
(a) Sheath blight
(b) Rice blast
(c) False smut
(d) Brown leaf spot
Answer: (b)
8. Most critical irrigation stages in rice are:
(a) Tillering, vegetative, maturity
(b) Flowering, panicle initiation, grain filling
(c) Transplanting, booting, ripening
(d) Panicle elongation, anthesis, maturity
Answer: (b)
9. Which insect causes “silver shoot” in rice?
(a) BPH
(b) Rice hispa
(c) Gall midge
(d) Rice bug
Answer: (c)
10. What is the recommended fertilizer dose for wet season rice?
(a) 60:30:30
(b) 100:50:50
(c) 80:40:40
(d) 120:60:60
Answer: (c)
Understanding the package of practices of rice cultivation is essential not only for practical farming but also for clearing agriculture competitive exams like IBPS-AFO, UPSC and State Services. Mastery over topics like rice cultivation practices, cultural practices of rice crop and irrigation and pest management will provide aspirants an edge. Keep revising with MCQs and stay updated with current agricultural trends for better results.
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