How to Increase Rice Production Per Acre: Tips and Tricks for Farmers

Rice is one of the most important staple crops in the world, feeding more than half of the global population. However, rice production is facing many challenges, such as climate change, water scarcity, pests and diseases, and declining soil fertility. To meet the growing demand for rice, farmers need to adopt improved practices and technologies that can increase their yield and income per acre. Here are some tips and tricks for increasing rice production per acre:

1. Choose the right variety

Different varieties of rice have different characteristics, such as maturity, yield potential, resistance to pests and diseases, and quality. Farmers should choose the variety that suits their agro-ecological conditions, market preferences, and available resources. For example, hybrid rice varieties can produce higher yields than conventional varieties, but they also require more inputs and management. Some examples of high-yielding rice varieties are IR64, IRRI 6, IRRI 9, BRRI dhan 28, BRRI dhan 29, etc.

2. Use quality seeds

Quality seeds are essential for ensuring good germination, vigor, and yield. Farmers should use certified seeds from reliable sources or produce their own seeds using proper seed production techniques. Quality seeds should be free from weeds, pests, diseases, and other impurities. They should also have high purity (at least 98%), germination (at least 80%), and seedling vigor (at least 70%).

3. Prepare the land well

Land preparation is important for creating a favorable environment for rice growth and development. Farmers should plow the land thoroughly to break up soil clods, level the field to ensure uniform water distribution, and incorporate organic matter to improve soil fertility and structure. Land preparation should be done at least two weeks before transplanting or sowing.

4. Apply balanced fertilizers

Fertilizers provide essential nutrients for rice plants, such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S), zinc (Zn), etc. Farmers should apply balanced fertilizers according to the soil test results, crop requirements, and recommended rates. Generally, rice requires about 120 kg of N, 60 kg of P2O5, and 60 kg of K2O per hectare (1 hectare = 2.47 acres). Fertilizers should be applied in split doses at different stages of rice growth, such as basal (before or at transplanting or sowing), tillering (20-25 days after transplanting or sowing), panicle initiation (45-50 days after transplanting or sowing), and flowering (65-70 days after transplanting or sowing).

5. Manage water efficiently

Water is a critical factor for rice production, as rice is a semi-aquatic plant that grows best in flooded conditions. However, water is also a scarce and expensive resource that needs to be managed efficiently. Farmers should adopt water-saving practices, such as alternate wetting and drying (AWD), which involves maintaining a thin layer of water (1-2 cm) on the field until the water level drops to 15 cm below the soil surface, then refilling the field to the original level. AWD can reduce water use by 15-30% without affecting yield. Farmers can also use drip irrigation or sprinkler irrigation systems to deliver water directly to the plant roots and avoid evaporation losses.

6. Control weeds, pests, and diseases

Weeds, pests, and diseases can reduce rice yield and quality by competing with rice plants for nutrients, water, light, and space; damaging plant parts; and transmitting pathogens. Farmers should use integrated pest management (IPM) strategies to control weeds, pests, and diseases in an environmentally friendly way. IPM involves combining cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical methods to prevent or minimize pest problems. For example, farmers can use crop rotation, intercropping, resistant varieties, clean seeds, proper land preparation, water management, weed control, natural enemies, traps, pheromones, and pesticides to manage weeds, pests, and diseases in rice fields.

By following these tips and tricks, farmers can increase their rice production per acre and improve their livelihoods.

Rice Production Per Acre: Trends and Implications

Rice is one of the most important staple crops in the world, feeding more than half of the global population. According to the latest statistics from Statista, the world rice acreage in 2021 was around 165.25 million hectares, with China, India and Indonesia being the top three rice producers . The global production of milled rice in 2020/21 was estimated at 502.98 million metric tons, up from 495.77 million metric tons in 2019/20 . However, the global rice consumption in 2020/21 was projected to exceed the production, reaching 509.4 million metric tons . This indicates a growing demand for rice in the world market, especially in Asia and Africa.

The yield of rice per harvested acre is a key indicator of the efficiency and productivity of rice farming. It reflects the effects of various factors such as climate, irrigation, fertilization, pest management, seed quality and variety selection. According to Statista, the average yield of rice per harvested acre in the world was 6,789 pounds in 2020/21, slightly lower than the previous year’s 6,801 pounds . The highest yield was reported by Egypt, with 11,980 pounds per harvested acre, followed by Australia with 10,890 pounds and Japan with 10,560 pounds . The lowest yield was recorded by Madagascar, with only 1,540 pounds per harvested acre .

In the United States, rice production in 2020 was estimated at 228 million cwt (hundredweight), up 23 percent from the 2019 total . The planted area for 2020 was estimated at 3.04 million acres, up 19 percent from 2019 . The average yield for all United States rice was estimated at 7,619 pounds per acre, up 146 pounds from the 2019 average yield of 7,473 pounds per acre . The leading states for rice production in 2020 were Arkansas, California and Louisiana, accounting for 81 percent of the total U.S. rice output . California reported the highest yield of 8,760 pounds per harvested acre, followed by Missouri with 7,940 pounds .

The trends and implications of rice production per acre are significant for both farmers and consumers. For farmers, increasing the yield of rice per acre can reduce the cost of production and increase the profitability. For consumers, increasing the supply of rice can lower the price and improve the food security. However, increasing the yield of rice per acre also poses some challenges such as environmental degradation, water scarcity, pest resistance and genetic erosion. Therefore, sustainable and innovative practices are needed to balance the economic and ecological aspects of rice production.

References:

http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/current/CropProdSu/CropProdSu-01-11-2013.pdf

https://ricediversity.org/outreach/educatorscorner/documents/Carolina-Gold-Student-handout.pdf

https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Todays_Reports/reports/cropan21.pdf
https://www.statista.com/topics/1443/rice/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/190832/top-us-states-for-rice-yield-per-harvested-acre/

https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Todays_Reports/reports/cropan21.pdf

https://wikifarmer.com/rice-harvesting-yield-per-hectare-and-storage/

https://www.statista.com/statistics/190479/rice-yield-per-harvested-acre-in-the-us-from-2000/

https://www.statista.com/statistics/190832/top-us-states-for-rice-yield-per-harvested-acre/

https://www.irri.org/rice-farming-practices

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