Sunday, August 24, 2008

TRANSPLANTING RICE IN STRAIGHT ROWS

TRANSPLANTING makes other field operations such as weeding, spraying and applying fertilizer easier. By transplanting, farmers can maintain proper plant spacing, resulting in uniform growth.



OPERATION 1.
Using planting wire and board


STEPS

1. Establish the first base line
Stake two points and tie abaca twine or string between them, preferably parallel to one of the border levees. The distance between the levees and the base line will depend on the purpose of planting.

2. Establish the second line
From one end of your first base line, stretch the abaca twine in a perpendicular line; making a straight angle between the 2 base lines. This angle may be established by comparing with the corner of a notebook or by comparing with the corner of a notebook or by applying the Pythagorean equation:

a2 + b2 = c2


3. Setup the planting wire
Tie the wire ends to bamboo poles. Stretch the wire along the first base line and drive the poles into the ground at each end.
4. Distribute seedlings bundles through out the plot.
5. Position the planters along the planting wire.
Set the planting board at both ends of the planting wire to guide you in row spacing. Then position the planters along the planting wire.
6. Plant the seedlings
Take enough seedlings from the bundle, keeping the roots together. Hold the seedlings in one hand. Using your thumb, separate the right number of seedlings for one hill and hold them between the thumb and the index or middle finger. Then, with your free hand detach these seedlings from the bundle. Use your thumb, index finger, and middle finger, protecting the roots while inserting them into the soil right under the mark on the planting wire. Plant dapog seedlings 1.5cm deep or just enough for the roots to come in contact with the soil. Plant wetbed seedlings 1.5-3.0cm deep. Plant the seedlngs upright. Make sure the planting board is properly placed while you are planting. When the first row has been planted, move the planting wire to the next mark on the planting boards. Move backward to plant subsequent rows.
7. Collect extra seedlings and plant them in the alleyways.
You can use these seedlings for replanting missing hills later.
8. Clean the planting wire and boards and remove the base lines.
9. Keep the field saturated but with no standing water or maintain a shallow water level.
If you can control the water, keep the field saturated after transplanting until the plants recover (generally, in 4 days). Then increase water level gradually up to 5cm. But if you cannot control the water, maintain a shallow water level after transplanting until the plants recover.
10. Replant missing hills.
Ten days after transplanting, replant all missing hills using the extra seedlings previously saved, or the new tillers of thick neighboring hills.

OPERATION 2. Transplanting using the wooden marker.

STEPS

1. Establish the first base line
Stake 2 points and tie abaca twine or string between them, preferably parallel to one of the border levees. The distance between the levees and the base lien will depend on the purpose of planting.
2. Establish the second base lie
From one end of the first base line stretch the abaca twine in a perpendicular line, making a right angle between the 2 base lines. This angle may be established by using a notebook or by applying the Pythagorean theory:

a2 + b2 = c2

3. Mark the field
Drain the field and let it stand overnight. The following day, mark the field for transplanting. Pass the wooden marker along the second base line. Allow the marker to touch the base lien as you pass. As you return, pass the marker over the last mark previously made. Use this as your guide. Continue until you readch the other end. Pass the wooden marker across the field, following the first base line as your guide. Follow the same operation until you reach the other end.
4. Distribute seedling bundles throughout the field.
5. Plant the seedlings as in step 6 of Operation 1.
At the first base line, line the planters up facing the field. Plant the seedlings at the intersections of the lines, moving forward so that the markings will not be erased.
6. Maintain a shallow water level
If you can control the water, keep the field saturated after transplanting until the plants recover (generally 4 days). Then increase water level gradually up to 5 cm. But if you cannot control the water, maintain a shallow level after transplanting until the plants recover.
7. Replant missing hills.
Ten days after transplanting, replant all missing hills using the extra seedlings previously saved, or new tillers of thick neighboring hills.



RAISING SEEDLINGS BY THE WETBED METHOD

WETBED METHOD is preferable in areas where water control is not dependable.

CHARACTERISTICS OF WETBED SEEDLINGS
Good wetbed seedlings are uniform in size, and easy to pull and transplant; free from diseases, pests and their damage. Mechanical injury should be minimal, tough with short but erect leaves and vigorous roots; able to recover quickly after transplanting.


ADVANTAGES
- Fewer seeds are required per unit ara of ricefield.
- Seedlings are easily transplanted
- The number of seedlings per hill can be specified
- Suitable for experimental purposes


DISADVANTAGES
- It requires a larger seedbed area
- Preparation of seedbed, care, and pulling of seedlings are laborious.
- Seeds are easily carried away by rainwater if heavy rain occurs shortly after sowing.


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MATERIALS

- seeds with 2-3 mm radicle incubated for 24h
- meter stick or steel tape
- thoroughly prepared land sufficient for given amount of seeds
- any recommended insecticide
- knapsack sprayer
- abaca twine
- bamboo stakes (1 x 2.5 x 100 cm)
- ammonium sulfate

OPERATION 1. Preparing wedbed

STEPS

1. Compute the the area required for the seedbed
The wetbed area required per hectare ranges from 350 to 500 m
2
. Each seedbed should be about 1-1.5 m wide to facilitate seedbed management.

2. Select the best location.
The seedbed should be conveniently located for irrigation and drainage. It should be safe from flood and far from electric light. The seedbed should be fertile, exposed to full sunlight, and accessible to the operator.

3. Prepare the land
Prepare the seedbed 30-35 days before planting time. Plowing once and harrowing 2-3 times at 7-10 days intervals between operations is sufficient to prepare the field.

4. Flood the field in between operations
Maintain water at a level sufficient to cover the soil. This servs as a guide in leveling the bed.

5. Measure the area of seedbed.
With a steel tape or other measuring device, measure or twine and 4 bamboo stakes to outline the predetermined area.

6. Construct the seedbed
Raise the bed 4-5 cm above the original soil level to facilitate drainage. Collect the mud around the outlined area and smooth the surface of the seedbed. Incline the surface gradually toward both sides to facilitate drainage during the first few days.

OPERATION 2. Sowing the seeds

STEPS

1. Allow the mud on top of the bed to settle overnight to keep the seeds from sinking.
2. Sow the pregerminated seeds evenly on the seedbed (about 100g/m
2bed).
Sow these thinly over the entire area.
3. Sow the remaining seeds
The remainder should be sown on those spots that did not receive enough seeds at first sowing.

OPERATION 3. Care of the wetbed

STEPS

1. Irrigate the seedbed
After 4 days, irrigate the seedbed about 2-3 cm deep. Gradually increase the water depth to 5cm to control weeds and facilitate pulling of seedlings.
2. Protect the seedlings
Spray the seedlings with any recommended insecticide 7days after sowing. If necessary, repeat application after 10days. Protect the seedlings from carabaos, rats, and birds.
3. Protect seedlings from nitrogen deficiency
Yellowing of the lower leaves indicates that the seedlings need nitrogen. If you observe this, broadcast 50-100g of ammonium surfate or 20-40g urea per square meter of seedbed.

OPERATION 4. Preapare seedlings for transplanting

STEPS

1. Pull seedlings
Increase the water depth to about 10cm 1 day before pulling. Grasp 2-3 seedlings at a time between your thumb and 4 fingers. Pull seeds close to the base to avoid injury.
2. Wash soil from the roots
Wash the roots carefully. Do not strike the seedlings on a hard object to remove mud, because this will injure the plants.
3. Arrange the seedlings
After uprooting enough seedlings (5-8 cm in diameter), arrange them by holding the bunch in your left hand and tapping the roots gently on your right palm.
4. Bundle the seedlings.
Bundle the seedlings with a 40cm long soft material like abaca twine.

First, hold the seedlings with your left hand. Make a loop at one end of the twine and put it under left thumb. Wind the longer end of the twine around the seedlings just above your forefinger, passing over the first loop.

Do this twice, then make a loop at the other end and insert this inside the first loop.

Tighten the first loop by pulling one free end of the twine. Now you have a bundle of seedlings.

5. Distribute the seedlings in the field
If transplanting is done immediately after pulling, distribute the bundled seedlings throughout the field. If not, protect the seedlings from drying by submerging the roots in water.


RAISING SEEDLINGS BY THE DAPOG METHOD

DAPOG METHOD is preferable in areas where water management is excellent. The dapog seedbed should be watered with a sprinkler or wet stick broom so that the seeds will not be displaced. It can be made on various surfaces. A concrete floor, a raft made of banana stalks with soil on top, or an elevated platform can be used as the seedbed.

CHARACTERISTICS OF DAPOG SEEDLINGS
Good dapog seedlings are uniform in size; free from diseases, pests and mechanical injury; and hardly, with short but erect leaves and vigorous roots.

ADVANTAGES OF DAPOG METHOD
- time in the seedbed is greatly reduced
- area required for the seedbed is reduced
- there are more choices for seedbed location
- seedlings do not suffer from root or stem injury
- labor cost for pulling seedlings is eliminated

DISADVANTAGES
- larger quantity of seeds is required
- seedlings are short
- number of seedlings per hill cannot be controlled easily
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MATERIALS


- 3 kg seeds incubated for 36-48 h (having 3-5 radicles)
- meter stick or steel tape
- thoroughly prepared land
- enough banana leaves to cover the seedbed
- banana bracts from matured stalks
- 20 bamboo sticks, 0.5 x 1 x 30 cm
- stick broom or sprinkler
- wooden board with handle
- 4 bamboo stakes, 1 x 2.5 x 100 cm
- 8 liter bucket


OPERATION 1: Preparing the dapog seedbed

STEPS

1. Compute the area required
Use 1m2 seedbed per hectare. The seedbed must be 1-1.5 m wide easy management.
2. Prepare the land
Usually, one plowing followed by one harrowing is sufficient to prepare the land.
3. Flood the field
Maintain enough water to cover the soil surface. This serves as a guide in leveling the soil.
4. Measure the area
With a steel tape or other measuring instrument, measure the desired dimensions of your seedbed. Use string or abaca twine and bamboo stakes to outline the bed area.
5. Construct the seedbed.
Collect mud around the area outlined and transfer it to the enclosed area. The height of the seedbed should be increased to 4-5 cm above the original soil level. Smooth and level the surface of the seedbed.
6. Cover the surface of the seedbed.
Allow 1 day for the mud to settle before covering the bed. Use banana leaves with the midribs removed, or plastic sheets as lining material. Spread these on top of the seedbed. Leaves should be spread with the underside up. The leaves should overlap each other, and no holes or breakage should expose the soil underneath.
7. Surround the seedbed with banana extracts.
Lay strips of 5 cm-wide banana bracts carefully along the edges of the seedbed. Secure the bracts by driving the thin bamboo sticks through them and into the soil to keep the bracts upright and firmly in place.

OPERATION 2. Sowing seeds in the dapog seedbed

STEPS

1. Broadcast the seeds
Broadcast the pregerminated seeds over the banana leaf enclosure. Pack the seeds to make a uniform layer 3 seeds thick.

2. Water the seeds
Sprinkle the seeds with water using a wet stick broom or a gardener's sprinkle. Do not pour water directly on the seeds or you will displace them.

OPERATION 3. Care of the dapog seedbed

STEPS

1. Water the seedbed
Water the seedbed 3-4 times a day with a gardener's sprinkler or a wet stick broom. After 4 days, irrigate the seedbed continuously to a 1-2 cm water depth.
2. Press the seeds gently every day.
Press the seeds lightly by hand or with a wooden board one a day until the fourth day. This maintains even germination and keeps the roots of the seedlings in contact with the banana leaves or plastic sheet. Do not press heavily, or you will destroy the seedbed.
3. Protect the seedlings from pests.
On the fifth and tenth day, spray recommended insecticide on the seedbed and around it. If necessary, fence the seedbed to protect it from rats, birds and animals.

OPERATION 4. Preparing seedlings for transplanting

STEPS
1. Roll the seedlings
Seedlings are ready for transplanting 9-14 days after sowing. Loosen and roll the carpet of seedlings or dapog into a convenient bundle. Roll the dapog with the leaves turned inward and roots outward.
2. Bring the dapog to the field to be planted.