Four key points for rice management in August: seize the critical period to ensure a bumper harvest

1. Apply rice field herbicides at the right time. To eliminate weeds in the rice field, herbicides should be applied at the right time. This saves labor (no need for intercultivation) and money (about 2 yuan per mu for chemicals), and also resolves the conflict of weeds competing with rice seedlings for fertilizer and light, which restricts the normal growth and development of rice seedlings. The specific method is: 5—7 days after transplanting, apply per mu 20 grams of Caocaolong or 60—100 grams of Dingbian mixed with urea (combined with topdressing), fine sand, or dry mud powder 30—40 jin, broadcast after the dew has dried, and maintain a shallow water layer for 4—5 days.

2. Carry out scientific fertilization. More than 70% of the late rice in our province is hybrid rice, with few original transplanted seedlings, and more than half is also seedling-thrown, with a short seedling period and insufficient sturdiness. Therefore, leaf-promoting fertilizer should be applied early, with 20—25 jin of urea per mu 5—7 days after transplanting; leaf-strengthening fertilizer should be applied at the right time, with 10—15 jin of compound fertilizer per mu 15—20 days after transplanting (or 20 jin of urea and 25 jin of potassium chloride). Around the Autumn Equinox, it is best to broadcast 100—150 jin of lime powder per mu, which can both strengthen the seedlings and enhance resistance to diseases and pests. From mid-to-late September to early October, apply about 10 jin of compound fertilizer per mu as fertilizer for strengthening the panicle and grains.

3. Carry out timely and rational irrigation and drainage. Although rice needs a relatively large amount of water during its growth period, from the perspective of its normal physiological requirements, it is afraid of both drought and waterlogging. Therefore, from transplanting to the peak tillering stage, shallow irrigation should be maintained, and soaking should be avoided, to promote early and rapid growth and sturdy development of the rice plants, after which the field should be kept moist. In high-yield rice fields with deep soil layers, field drying in the middle and late stages should also be carried out, and only ten days before heading should a shallow water layer be maintained on the field surface to meet the water requirements for booting and heading. Afterwards, the water layer on the field surface should be drained away, and it is enough to keep the soil layer moist.

4. Strengthen the prevention and control of diseases and pests. First, conscientiously and regularly go deep into the fields to investigate and do a good job in forecasting, especially in historically severely affected areas of diseases and pests. If disease or pest damage is found, it must be controlled promptly, continuously, and thoroughly. For newly introduced rice varieties, also carefully observe their resistance to diseases and pests. The disease that mostly occurs in late rice is sheath blight. From the peak tillering stage to the young panicle formation stage, if high temperatures are accompanied by continuous rain and high relative humidity in the field, this disease is likely to occur in densely growing rice fields. If found, spray promptly with 1 jin of 1% validamycin mixed with 200—300 jin of water, or spray with a 1000-fold solution of 50% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder. If the occurrence is severe, spray again after 5—7 days. In terms of insect pests, the second and third generations of stem borers occur only in certain years and certain areas. The more commonly occurring pest is mainly the rice leaf roller. It mostly occurs from mid-to-late September to early October, damaging the flag leaf and the top second and third leaves below it. When the damage is severe, it not only affects normal heading and flowering, but also directly leads to an increase in empty grains and a decrease in 1000-grain weight, greatly affecting yield. For this disease, spray 40 grams per mu of 18% bisultap aqueous solution mixed with 100—120 jin of water, or use 90% crystalline trichlorfon at 1000-fold dilution and spray 150—200 jin per mu. It is best to spray in the evening. If it rains within six hours after spraying, replant as soon as possible.