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[EarthNSky <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>]

Lynda wrote:
> In the valley, in California, where tons of rice is grown, they seed
> in March.

Not to be too picky, Lynda, but the Calrice website says they plant in
April-they prep the fields in March. ;)


They are done and harvest in September.  The average temps run
> between 75 and 100 during those months.  Hitting 90s regularly in
> July, August and September.
>
> Of course, one of the characteristics of that northern end of what is
> known as "The Valley" in California is that it is quite humid.  So
> that 90 feels like 110!

I think the humidity is a necessary factor with rice.

Thanks for the Carla Emery heads up.  I have her book and always forget
that it is such a good resource...the rest of this post is from the book.
OK, so Carla says...

Rice can send up as many as 12 tillers, so it can produce 2 to 3 times
as much grain as the same sized field of wheat.

Two requirements are
1. clean water
2. At least 40 days of temps above 70 degrees.

Upland and Lowland rice available from
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
POB 158
North Garden VA 22959
They offer a 120 day variety that is easy, requires less water than
corn, and has no insect or disease problems.

Polit Farms
POB 625
Maxwell CA 95955

Chok-Ammuay Co
89/19 Phya Thai Rd
Ratchatewi, Bangkok 10400
Thailand

Nam-Thai Chiang Co
120 Soi Taklang
Chakpet RD
Bangkok, Thailand


The last two companies also sell hullers and milling equipment.


Lowland rice will not tolerate dry ground.
Upland rice can be grown like other grains, but yields on dry land are
30-70% less than flooded field types.
In 1850 upland rice was grown in Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois.

Less irrigation water is needed in more humid areas than in drier areas.

In rotation, to avoid pests, try rice, oats, then potatoes on the same
ground in suceeding years...or rice, soybeans, lespedeza, or rice
soybean, then a winter cover crop that can be a green manure

The most common fish raised in swampy patties are buffalo, bass, and
catfish.  Mosquito fish can be stocked at 100/acre
Excess fertility causes the rice stalks to grow long and fall over.
Irrigation/flood water should be warm, at least 70 degrees, not cold
well water.  Lower water temps delay harvest, sometimes by 30 days or more.

Rice grows well in 1 inch of water, but 4 inches is needed to thwart
weeds.  More than 6.4 inches is bad because depth inhibits tillering.

In paddy environment, cultivate and prep paddy by driving animals
through the paddy to trample weeds and work the mud.

Rice can be planted on dry ground or onto ground covered with water.  It
can be broadcast by hand or machine or drilled on dry ground that is
then flooded, or the see can be sprayed from an airplane.

If seed is planted dry, depth should be 1.5-2 inches.  Rice needs a lot
of water or rain to germinate, but will not germinate if water is
standing on the soil.

A family sized nursery bed is a mini-paddy about 2x4 ft.  Place in a
warm, sunny area.  Bed should be rich in compost.  Pre-flood and drain
to make mud. Broadcast sprouted seeds or press unsprouted seeds into the
mud, but do not cover them entirely.  Scatter a light sand layer over
them, followed by a light mulch layer.  As soon as germination occurs,
flood the soil.  Once primary leaves appear, slowly drain the bed.  When
the seedlings are 4-5 inches tall, 30-40 days of maturity, they must be
transplanted.  Seedlings can be pulled and clumped together for easier
handling.  Once in the field, pull off 2-6 plants and push them into the
mud to root (see separate post about the art of doing this) common
spacing is 4-17", usually 6". It is best to allow enough space for a
person to walk through so that the paddy can later be weeded.(water
weeds may grow were land weeds will not) In an artificial paddy, I
believe that spacing could be much closer-no weeds.

To transplant with soil, dig/pickup plant with soil attached.  It may
take two weeks for the plants to become established after transplant.

If the rice has been transplanted and spaced uniformly, it can be hand
weeded.  Pull weeds and turn upside down-stick back into mud.

Use a painted stake to gauge depth of field.
Always drain the paddy slowly to prevent lodging(falling over)

Once the rice begins to head, do not enter the paddy.  Keep the paddy
flooded with at least one inch of water.

Mature rice is 3-5 feet tall, turning yellow, with heavy heads drooping
downward.  Some heads mature early, some later.  General rule is that
when 1/10 of the rice has headed out, harvest is 35-45 days away, unless
it is a heavy crop, and then maybe 55 days away.  Two to Three weeks
before harvest, drain the field.

To harvest, cut the stalk 6-18 inches above ground.  Spread rice out to
allow it to dry.  Dry for at least 24 hours before binding. Shock up the
bound rice for one week up to 3 months.  Protect from rain and moisture.
 Rice threshes most easily when fully mature and dry.

Thresh rice on a hard surface with a flail or bat or human feet.<g>
Remove straw and use for livestock feed, mulch, stuffing, or fuel.
Sweep up grain, winnow chaff.  Rice will still have greenish brown husk
or hull.  Store rice in the hull for longevity.  To remove hulls, pound
them, roll, or grind them, but expect to break at least 20% of the
kernels.  Kernels can be pounded with a wooden pestle in a large
mortar.(I plan to make one out of a tree truck) Winnow the husks.  The
pounding of rice will also polish/whiten it, removing all the husk and
bran.  White rice is thereby less nutritious than brown, unpolished rice.
Rice should be kept in airtight container.

To answer an earlier question, the wild rice in Minnesota lakes is a
'water oat' Zizania species.

Whew!  That was a workout!

Bev


--
“Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to
hate. Hate leads to suffering.”        Yoda