How to grow rice seedlings? A detailed introduction to 5 seedling-raising methods

AbstractRice seedlings can be raised using the water seedling method, moist seedling method, dry seedling method, two-stage seedling method, and plastic soft-tray seedling method. The appropriate sowing method for raising seedlings can be chosen according to sowing time, planted variety, sowing rate, water and fertilizer conditions, planting region, climate, and so on.

1. Water seedling method

1. Water seedling raising is a traditional rice seedling method in China, but it is used relatively little now. For rice seedling raising, seeds with strong vitality and strong germination vigor must first be selected. To increase the seed germination rate and seedling survival rate, the seeds can be appropriately sun-dried.

2. Seedlings are mainly raised through flooded water management. The water layer has a certain effect on weed control and heat preservation against cold, makes seedling pulling easier, and causes relatively little seedling damage. Flooding the seedling field in saline-alkali land has a certain effect on protecting seedlings from salt. If flooded for a long time, the soil will lack oxygen, causing seedlings to grow spindly, affecting root penetration, and resulting in poor seedling quality.

2. Moist seedling method

1. The moist seedling method makes it relatively easy to regulate the contradiction between water and air in the soil. After sowing, seedlings emerge relatively quickly and neatly, and the probability of physiological damping-off is relatively small. This seedling-raising method helps promote emergence and rooting and avoids bud rot and dead seedlings.

2. This seedling-raising method lies between water seedling raising and dry seedling raising. Water management can be used to promote and control seedling growth, thereby replacing traditional seedling methods.

3. When sowing in early spring, the plastic-film moist heat-preservation seedling method is usually adopted, which helps prevent low-temperature cold damage. On the basis of moist seedling raising, after sowing, a layer of film is covered over the seedbed surface. Low arches are generally used for covering, which helps preserve heat, preserve moisture, and increase temperature. To prevent bud rot and seedling rot, sowing can be done early at the right time, thereby increasing the seedling survival rate.

3. Dry seedling method

1. During dry seedling raising, no water layer is maintained; the soil only needs to remain moist. It is often suitable for double-season early rice and cold regions.

2. The seedling bed for dry seedling raising is relatively fertile and loose. Paper tubes or plastic soft trays can be used for seedling raising. This method's sowing period is not affected by water sources, it is convenient to operate, and it is suitable for cultivating large, medium, and small seedlings. This seedling-raising method has a relatively long seedling age, does not cause root tangling, and has a relatively wide range of applications.

3. Open-close film dry seedling raising: use wire or bamboo strips to build an arch shed. The bed surface width is about 1.5 m, the middle height is about 25-35 cm, and one is inserted about every 50 cm. Then cover both sides with plastic film, and finally overlap about 20-30 cm at the top of the arch shed. If ventilating to harden seedlings, it can be opened from the top. This method is relatively convenient to operate, saves labor and effort, is convenient for later management, helps make seedlings grow evenly, and increases the seedling survival rate.

4. Two-stage seedling method

1. This method divides the seedling-raising process into two stages. First, densely sown dry seedlings are used to cultivate small seedlings with 3-4 leaves. Then they are planted at a certain density in a temporary seedling field that has been plowed, harrowed, and fertilized. After they are cultivated into large, strong seedlings with multiple tillers, they can be transplanted to the main field.

2. This method is relatively suitable for late-planted middle rice after wheat stubble, double-season continuous cropping late rice, and so on. Its advantages are low seed use, strong early growth, a relatively high seedling survival rate, and the ability to adjust conflicts in crop rotation timing.

5. Plastic soft-tray seedling method

1. The seedlings raised by this method can not only be manually transplanted, but can also be thrown for planting. It helps reduce seedling-raising costs, is convenient to manage, has a low incidence of disease during the seedling stage, increases the proportion of seedling field, and gives seedlings high resistance.

2. Calcium plastic soft trays are usually used for raising seedlings. They are about 58 cm long, about 28 cm wide, and about 2.6-2.8 cm deep. Then nutrient soil is put in, and they are watered and sown. For general manual transplanting, the sowing rate is about 70-80 grams per tray. For mechanical transplanting, the sowing rate is about 100 grams per tray. Other seedling-raising methods are similar to open-close dry seedling raising.