Techniques for Early Rice to Tackle Rain and Flooding

To scientifically address the current impacts of continuous rain and flooding, the focus should be on ensuring the protection of seedling fields, timely transplanting, and maintaining seedling numbers, with an emphasis on accelerating early rice transplanting, strengthening field management, and reinforcing disaster prevention and reduction. Ensure full transplanting and focus on boosting early rice production.

(1) Protect Seedling Fields and Transplant Timely

For outdoor seedling fields that have not yet been transplanted, ensure proper drainage to prevent flooding. For concentrated seedling fields with smaller seedlings, where possible, use coverings to protect them from rain. In areas lacking these conditions, apply deep-water protection to safeguard seedlings from heavy rainfall. For seedling fields in facilities, strengthen windproof measures ahead of time to prevent damage from severe weather. For fields where land preparation and fertilization have been completed, transplant quickly to avoid heavy rainfall. For fields that have not yet been prepared, expedite land preparation and transplanting. For newly sown direct-seeded rice fields, apply 2-3 cm of water to form a protective layer, preventing the seeds or young plants from being washed away by rain. Once the weather clears, immediately drain the water to avoid seedling and seed washout.

(2) Control Water Layer and Drain Timely

For fields that have not yet been transplanted, apply sufficient base fertilizer to speed up land preparation and maintain a mud-skin water operation to prevent subsequent heavy rainfall from washing away fertilizers and water. Two days after fertilization, create a 4-5 cm shallow water layer and promptly drain excess water from the field to avoid fertilizer loss due to rainfall. For newly transplanted rice fields, before the arrival of heavy rain, maintain a 3-4 cm shallow water layer to protect seedlings from being washed away and reduce the floating seedling rate. For fields that are greening, maintain a mud-skin water layer and create a 1-2 cm shallow water layer to reduce flood risk. For fields in the tillering stage, clean out the drainage system ahead of time and connect it with external drainage ditches to drain excess water, promoting tillering in rice plants.

(3) Check and Supplement Seedlings, Prevent Pests and Diseases

For fields where heavy rain has caused seedling floating, missing seedlings, or dead seedlings, promptly check and supplement seedlings once the weather clears. This can be done by replanting from surplus seedlings, or by selecting vigorous plants from unaffected fields for division and replanting to ensure sufficient seedlings. Flooded rice fields often suffer leaf damage and leaf blight, making them prone to diseases like damping-off and root rot. Newly grown leaves, tillers, and stems are also vulnerable to pest infestations. Closely monitor pest and disease developments, and implement integrated pest management strategies to reduce damage.

(4) Strengthen Field Management to Promote Recovery

After heavy rain, promptly drain water, reduce waterlogging, and aerate the fields to promote rice rooting. For seedbeds and fields with weak seedlings or pale leaves, consider applying quick-release nitrogen fertilizer to boost seedling recovery. For fields that have been severely damaged and cannot be restored, clear the field and replant, or switch to direct-seeded rice to minimize disaster losses.