What is the best time to drain rice fields for drying?

Field drying, also called roasting the field, pausing the field, or draining dry, is a technical measure in rice cultivation. It can enhance lodging resistance and increase the seed-setting rate and grain weight, so what is the best time to drain rice fields for drying? What should be noted?

What is the best time to drain rice fields for drying?

The best time to drain rice fields for drying is from June to July each year, that is, at the late tillering stage and the early jointing stage. Of course, the timing of field drying differs depending on the planting period, seedling condition, soil type, water source conditions, and so on. For example, fields transplanted before May 15 should be drained immediately for drying, while fields transplanted before June 1 are expected to reach the field-drying standard on July 1-2. In addition, field drying generally lasts about 5-10 days, and when about one third of the plants in the field have jointed, field drying should be stopped.

What should be noted when draining rice fields for drying?

1. When drying the field, take care that it is neither excessive nor insufficient, and do not dry it heavily in one go, which would cause tillering to drop suddenly and sharply and affect healthy growth.

2. After field drying, rewater promptly and keep the field alternately dry and wet, to benefit rice jointing and booting.

3. If the seedling condition is poor, you can also apply 4-5 jin of urea per mu together with irrigation water, to help growth recover quickly.

4. When to dry rice fields and the timing of rice field drying have been introduced here. For rice field drying, only by mastering the “heat level” can the proper effect be achieved.

5. Field drying should be carried out during a period when rice is not very sensitive to water, that is, from the late effective tillering stage to the period when internodes begin to elongate. Generally, when the number of effective tillers reaches the predetermined requirement, the field can be drained dry or allowed to dry naturally for field drying. For rice fields with soft, muddy soil and excessive growth, it can be done in any period except from after transplanting to the late effective tillering stage.

6. For old rice fields on saline-alkali soil, if the salt content in the plow layer has clearly decreased, light drying can also be done, but be careful to prevent salt return. In cold regions, rice fields should not be dried after young panicle differentiation, to prevent cold damage.

Rice field drying must be carried out at the appropriate time, otherwise it will not only fail to increase yield and enhance lodging resistance, but may also produce the opposite effect.