Preparing a rice nursery bed involves specific steps including dry ploughing, organic matter application, irrigation, and puddling to create the ideal environment for seedling growth.
Steps for Rice Nursery Bed Preparation
Based on the provided reference, the preparation of a rice nursery bed follows a structured approach to ensure the soil is fertile and suitable for sowing rice seeds.
Here are the key steps involved:
1. Initial Dry Ploughing
The first step is to prepare the soil when it is dry. This is crucial for breaking up compacted soil and improving aeration.
- Action: Dry plough the nursery area.
- Repetition: This dry ploughing should be performed twice.
2. Organic Manure Application
Adding organic matter significantly improves soil fertility and structure, providing essential nutrients for young seedlings.
- Material: Apply Farm Yard Manure (FYM) or compost.
- Quantity: Apply 1 tonne of FYM or compost per 20 cents of nursery area.
- Note: 1 tonne is approximately 1000 kg. 20 cents is a unit of land area, roughly equivalent to 871.2 square feet or about 0.08 hectares.
3. Irrigation
After incorporating the organic matter, the field needs to be irrigated to make the soil workable and initiate decomposition of the organic matter.
- Action: Irrigate the nursery bed.
4. Soaking Period
Allowing the irrigated bed to remain wet helps in soaking the soil thoroughly and prepares it for subsequent operations.
- Duration: The bed should be allowed to be wet for another two days after irrigation.
5. Puddling
Puddling is a vital step in wet rice cultivation. It involves churning the soil under submerged conditions to create a soft mud layer, which helps in transplanting and reduces water percolation.
- Initial Puddling: The bed should be puddled twice.
- Subsequent Puddling: The puddling process may be repeated after a gap of one week. This ensures the soil structure is maintained and any remaining clods are broken down.
By following these steps, you can effectively prepare a rice nursery bed that provides a conducive environment for healthy seedling development before transplanting them to the main field.
