Louisiana Rice Production Handbook Foreword Clayton A

1 2 Louisiana Rice Production Handbook Foreword Clayton A. Hollier Introduction......................................................................................................................4 Steven D. Linscombe General Agronomic Guidelines.......................................................................................4 Steven D. Linscombe, John K. Saichuk, K. Paul Seilhan, Patrick K. Bollich and Eddie R. Funderburg Growth and Development of the Rice Plant...............................................12 Richard T. Dunand DD-50 Rice Management Program............................................................20 John K. Saichuk, Steven D. Linscombe and Patrick K. Bollich Rice Varieties...........................................................................................23 Kent S. McKenzie, Steven D. Linscombe, Farman L. Jodari, James H. Oard and Lawrence M. White III Soils, Plant Nutrition and Fertilization......................................................32 Patrick K. Bollich, John K. Saichuk and Eddie R. Funderburg Pest Management.....................................................................................37 Weed Management David Jordan and Dearl E. Sanders Disease Management Donald E. Groth, Milton C. Rush and Clayton A. Hollier Insect Management Dennis R. Ring, James Barbour, William C. Rice, Michael Stout and Mark Muegge Blackbird Management James F. Fowler and Joseph A. Musick Harvest and Storage................................................................................95 Harvesting Rice William A. Hadden Rice Drying and Storage Douglas L. Deason Rice Economics........................................................................................100 L. Eugene Johnson, G. Grant Giesler and Michael E. Salassi Farm Management Marketing U. S. Farm Policy for Rice Glossary..................................................................................................110 3 Foreword Clayton A. Hollier Rice has been produced in Louisiana since the early 1700s. Not only have the methods of growing rice changed dramatically in the last 300 years, but also the systems by which we share information about rice production. Although there are other methods of disseminating information, for years extension and research publications have addressed specific aspects of rice production in the state. In the 1980s several faculty members in the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center recognized that a comprehensive, one-volume publication was needed to advise extension agents, agribusiness dealers, consultants and any other rice industry representatives about rice production in Louisiana. That Rice Production Handbook, published in 1987, was not intended to replace other LSU Agricultural Center publications, but to enhance existing and future rice publications written by the LSU Agricultural Center faculty. The current volume, in many ways, is not a revision of the 1987 publication although some portions of the original version have been revised. The Louisiana Rice Production Handbook is, in reality, a new publication encompassing the technology and knowledge of today that will help the rice industry of Louisiana flourish in the next millennium. I thank all of those who supported this effort, especially the authors of the various sections and the reviewers of the entire publication. Their many hours of dedication, advice and encouragement are appreciated more than can be expressed here. Also, thank you to all who provided the slides for the photographs. Photographs express in many ways what words cannot. Introduction Steven D. Linscombe French explorers led by Bienville first introduced rice into Louisiana in 1718. The production of rice was limited for the next 150 years. It was grown mainly in small plots along the Mississippi River as food for laborers and low income farmers. Production increased rapidly after the Civil War. The total crop increased from 1.6 million pounds in 1864 to 9.5 million pounds four years later. Production reached 22 million pounds by 1874 and doubled in the next three years. In 1884, a visiting farmer from Iowa discovered that rice could be produced on the broad flat prairie lands of southwest Louisiana by using mechanized methods then used to produce wheat in the upper Mississippi Valley. This led to a major expansion of rice production. Production has expanded to other areas of Louisiana, especially the northeastern portion. Rice continues to be an important agronomic crop in southwestern Louisiana also. Rice acreage has fluctuated in Louisiana in recent years from a high of 620,000 acres in 1994 to a low of 518,000 acres in 1991. Much of this fluctuation has been caused by farm policy programs and world market economics. Rice will continue to be important to Louisiana agriculture. With this in mind, LSU Agricultural Center scientists who work in various aspects of rice production and economics in Louisiana have written this publication to help Louisiana producers increase yields while holding down costs and thus increase their profits. The information incorporates the latest findings from extensive rice research and extension programs conducted in Louisiana by the LSU Agricultural Center. Much of this work is funded at least partially by the state’s rice producers through check-off funds administered by the Louisiana Rice Research Board. 4 GeneralGeneral AgronomicAgronomic GuidelinesGuidelines Steven D. Linscombe, John K. Saichuk, K. Paul Seilhan, Patrick K. Bollich and Eddie R. Funderburg Site Selection soils are usually not suitable for rice Because rice is grown under flooded production. An important factor, regardless conditions, it is best produced on land that of soil texture, is the presence of an is nearly level, minimizing the number of impervious subsoil layer in the form of a water retaining barriers or levees required. fragipan, claypan or massive clay horizon Some slope is required to facilitate that minimizes the percolation of irrigation adequate drainage. Generally, slopes of water, making it possible to hold water in less than 1 percent are necessary for rice paddies which are, in essence, adequate water management. Most of shallow ponds. Louisiana’s rice-growing areas are well suited for rice production with a minimum Water Requirements of land forming. Recent innovations using The ability to achieve optimum water laser systems have made precision leveled management is essential in attempting to or graded fields physically and maximize rice yields. In general, pumping economically feasible. capabilities are adequate if a field can be Precision grading of fields to a slope of flushed in two to four days, flooded in 0.2 foot or less change in elevation four to five days, and drained, dried and between levees is important in rice reflooded in two weeks. This is much production for the following reasons: (1) easier on fields that have been uniformly permits uniform flood depth, (2) may leveled to a slope of no more than 0.2 eliminate a large number of levees, (3) foot fall between levees. facilitates rapid irrigation and drainage, (4) can lead to the use of straight, parallel Planting Dates levees which will increase machine The optimum seeding dates will vary efficiency, (5) eliminates knolls and by location as well as from year to year potholes which may cause delay of flood because of variation in environmental or less than optimum weed control and (6) conditions. Rice yields may be reduced by reduces the total amount of water planting too early or too late. Average necessary for irrigation. daily temperature at seeding is important Previous cropping history is important in stand establishment. At or below 50 when selecting fields. Some herbicides degrees F, little or no rice seed used on rotation crops may persist in the germination occurs. From 50 degrees to soil and injure rice planted the next year. 55 degrees F, germination increases but Some herbicide labels may preclude not to any great extent until above 60 growing rice the year after that herbicide degrees F. Plant survival is not satisfactory is used. until the average daily temperature is above 65 degrees F. Soils Based on this information and seeding Rice can be grown successfully on date research, the following dates of many different soil textures throughout seeding recommendations are made: Louisiana. Most rice is grown on the silt Southwest Louisiana - March 20 - April loam soils derived from either loess or old 30 alluvium, which predominate the North Louisiana - April 10 - May 15 southwestern region, and, to a lesser Extremely early seeding can lead to a extent, the Macon Ridge area of northeast number of problems including (1) slow Louisiana. The clay soils in the emergence and poor growth under colder northeastern and central areas derived conditions because of the inherent lack of from more recent alluvial deposits are also seedling vigor and cold tolerance in many well adapted to rice culture. Deep sandy varieties, (2) increased damage from 5 seedling diseases (predominantly water disease pressure and spindly plants that mold) under cool conditions, (3) increased may be more susceptible to lodging. damage from birds (blackbirds, ducks and Experimental results and commercial geese) which are more numerous in the experience have shown that higher early spring and (4) decreased activity of seeding rates are required when broadcast some herbicides. seeding than drilling rice. Water seeding or While later seeding may avoid some dry broadcasting requires 120-150 pounds problems

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