Paddy Planting Made Easy: A Practical Guide

If you’re new to rice farming or just looking for a refresher, this guide breaks down paddy planting into clear, doable steps. No jargon, no fluff—just what you need to get a healthy crop from seed to harvest.

Preparing the Field and Soil

First thing: clear the field. Remove weeds, stones, and any debris that could choke young seedlings. Level the land gently; a smooth surface helps water spread evenly. Next, test the soil. Rice thrives in slightly acidic to neutral pH (5.5‑7). If the soil is too alkaline, spread a thin layer of elemental sulfur and let it work for a week.

When it’s time to add nutrients, use a balanced fertilizer—30‑20‑20 works well. Spread it evenly and incorporate it a few inches into the topsoil. This gives the seedlings a nutrient boost right from the start.

Choosing Seeds and Sowing

Pick high‑quality, disease‑free seeds. For most regions, a short‑duration variety like ‘IR64’ or ‘PTB 33’ gives good yields and fits tight planting windows. Soak the seeds in water for 24‑36 hours; this softens the hull and speeds up germination.

When the water level in your paddy is about 5‑10 cm, spread the soaked seeds by hand or with a seed drill. Aim for a spacing of about 20 cm between rows and 15 cm between plants. Too dense and the plants will compete for light and nutrients; too sparse and you waste land.

After sowing, raise the water level to 5‑10 cm. This shallow water protects seedlings from birds and keeps weeds at bay. Maintain this level for the first three weeks, then slowly raise it to 20‑30 cm as the plants grow taller.

Weed control is crucial during the early stage. Hand‑pull any weeds you see, or use a light mechanical weeder. Avoid herbicides unless you’re an experienced farmer, as they can harm the delicate seedlings.

Water management decides the success of paddy planting. Keep the field flooded during the vegetative stage, then drain it a week before flowering to improve root oxygenation. After flowering, refill the field to assist grain filling.Fertilizer applications continue throughout the season. A second dose of nitrogen (around 40‑50 kg/ha) is usually applied at the panicle initiation stage. Follow up with a potassium boost (30‑40 kg/ha) about two weeks before harvest.

Watch out for pests like rice bugs and leafhoppers. Simple traps or a gentle spray of neem oil can keep them under control without harming beneficial insects.

The final step is harvesting. When most grains turn golden and the moisture content drops to about 20‑22%, start cutting. Let the cut stalks dry in the sun for another day or two, then thresh and store the rice in a cool, dry place.

With these straightforward steps, paddy planting becomes less intimidating and more rewarding. Stick to the basics—prepare the field, choose good seeds, manage water, and keep an eye on nutrients and pests—and you’ll see a healthy, high‑yielding crop.