Methods

Of
Raising Rice
Seedlings for
transplanting

Dapog Method

Main Features:

This method of raising nurseries has been introduced in India from Philippines. It has
been adopted by some farmers in Andhra Pradesh for raising seedlings.

The essential feature of this method is to have a very thick stand of the nursery
seedlings without any contact with the soil.

The main merit of this method is that less area is needed to raise seedlings. Twentyfive to 30 square meters of area is enough to raise seedlings sufficient for planting one
hectare.

The seedlings are raised faster in this method. It saves almost half of the time in
seedling rising.

Procedure:

In this method, beds could be prepared on an even but slightly raised (4 to 5

centimeters) surface in an open field or on even cement floor.

About one square meter of seed bed should be required for every three kilograms of
seed, width of 1.5 meter has been found easily manageable.

Cover the soil surface of the seed bed evenly and completely with banana leaves with
the protruding midribs removed or preferably with plastic sheets.

Carefully lay strips of banana bracts along the edge of the seed bed. Push thin bamboo
pegs through the bracts into the soil to keep bracts upright and firm.

About 36 to 48 hours pre germinated seeds should be broadcast uniformly over plastic
or banana leaves at the rate of three kilograms per square meter.

Follow this by sprinkling water gently. Sprinkle water three to four times a day up to
four days to keep the seed bed wet.

Thereafter cover it with one to two centimeters of water till end. Also press the seeds
lightly once a day till fourth day.

Dapog seedlings would be ready for transplanting within 11 to 14 days of sowing. The
seedlings thus raised can be rolled like a carpet with roots facing outside and carried
to the transplanting site.

Loosen the interlocked roots carefully before transplanting.

Dry Bed Method

Main Features:

The dry nursery where the dry seed is sown in dry soil.

This method is practiced in areas where water is not sufficient to

grow seedlings in wet nurseries.

Procedure:

Plough the field three to four times till the soil is thoroughly
pulverized. Prepare beds of the same size as in wet nurseries but 15
centimeters high with channels (30 centimeter wide) between them.

Sow the seed in rows 10 centimeter apart in dry or moist condition

of soil.

Use the same seed rate and fertilizer as in wet nurseries. The sown
seeds should be taken for water management in these beds.

Allow the water to run in channels first and then raise the level of
water slowly to saturate the soil of beds.

Do not flood water in beds. Keep the seed bed saturated with water.

Maintain a thin film of water if possible after 5 days of sowing.

Follow all the operations as described for wet nurseries.

Advantage:

Seedlings can be raised with limited water supply.

Preparation of dry nursery is easier than wet nursery.
Pulling is easier. Seedlings come out easily and do not adhere to each other, so dry
nursery facilitates single planting and quick manipulation during planting.
Seedlings get, established quickly due to favourable conditions in the planted fields.
Seedlings are hardy and can resist adverse condition to some extent.
Seedlings raised in dry nursery tiller early and profusely

Wet Bed Method

Main Features:

Wet nursery where sprouted seed is sown on the moist puddled soil
Wet nurseries are preferred under irrigated condition.

Procedure:

The nursery area into narrow beds of 1.25 meter width and of any convenient length
depending upon the slope.

Construct the drainage channels 30 centimeters wide in between the seed beds.

Apply 225 g urea or 500 g ammonium sulphate and 500 g single super phosphate per
10 square meters.

Uniformly broadcast about two or three handfuls of seed on a square meter of seed
bed.

Keep the seed beds saturated with water for first five days and then increase gradually
the level of water up to 5 centimeters as the seedlings grow.

Drain the excess water in periods of heavy rains during the first week of sowing.

Adopt suitable disease and pest control measures. An application of 50 g of urea per
square meter may be made by top dressing in case of nitrogen deficiency symptoms.
In zinc deficient soils, give two sprays of zinc sulphate (5 kg zinc sulphate + 2.5 kg
calcium hydroxide mixed in 1000 liters of water for one hectare), one 10 days after
sowing and another 20 days after sowing. In case of iron deficiency 0.5%. Ferrous
sulphate solution should be sprayed.

Seedlings would be ready for transplanting at an age of 20-25 days.

Advantages:

Less seed is required per unit area. It may be grown in any type of soil but the suitability will vary.
Growth is quicks with strong and sturdy seedlings. Number of seedlings per hill.