Farmers Must Know! Here’s How to Strengthen Rice Stems
One of the causes of crop failure in rice plants is the collapse of the stems. This can occur due to wind or rain impact, as well as the inherently fragile quality of the stems. Farmers need to know how to strengthen rice stems to prevent losses during the harvest season. Stem lodging in rice plants can result in grain shedding, leading to suboptimal harvest yields.
Preventing Stem Lodging in Rice Plants
Strengthening rice stems can be achieved through preventive measures. Stem lodging cases usually occur before the harvest season, especially during the rainy season when rainfall and wind can affect the balance of rice stems. Here are further details on preventing stem lodging in rice plants:
Selecting superior seed varieties
The selection of seed varieties greatly influences the strength of the rice stems. Low-quality seed varieties can result in weak rice stems, making them prone to lodging. Therefore, it is necessary to choose seed types that are resistant to lodging. These include varieties such as Inpari 43 Agritan GSR, Ketan Grendel, Pamera, Ciherang, and Inpari 33.
Balanced fertilization
The application of rice plant fertilizers should be in sufficient quantities, neither too little nor too much. Among the fertilizers applied is nitrogen to ensure that the rice plants are fertile and green. However, excessive nitrogen application can make the plants susceptible to lodging due to over-fertility. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the fertilization ratio so that rice plants can grow optimally.
Providing stem-strengthening fertilizers
Furthermore, fertilizers specifically providing strength to rice plant stems should also be applied. Among the types of fertilizers used are those containing potassium (K) and phosphate (P). These two elements function to strengthen rice plant stems, making them sturdy. These elements should be provided not only during the rainy season but also throughout the growth period to prevent rice stems from lodging easily.
Controlling pests and diseases
Equally important is pest and disease control. During the planting period, there will always be pest attacks that weaken the plants and make them prone to lodging. Some pests can attack rice stems, making them less sturdy. There are also pests that directly cut rice stems.
Therefore, pest control is just as important as providing sufficient fertilizers. Rice plant pests may include rats and other seemingly harmless small animals. Pest and disease control should be carried out as early as possible to ensure healthy rice plant growth.
Handling if rice stems have already lodged
In some unexpected cases, rice stems may still collapse despite a series of preventive measures being taken. If this happens, efforts can be made to ensure that nutrient transfer to the rice grains remains optimal. One salvage effort that can be done is by tying or bundling the stems together to keep them upright.
This method may not be very effective as it takes a long time, especially if stem lodging occurs over a considerable area. However, compared to leaving them as they are, this method is still beneficial for the development of subsequent grains.
Conclusion
That’s how to strengthen rice stems to maximize harvest yields. For crops like rice plants with tall stems, they are more susceptible to lodging due to their height. This issue can be addressed by planting high-quality superior seeds.
Adjusting to the plant height type, consideration of the seasons should be taken into account in selecting rice plant types. During windy rainy weather, rice varieties with shorter stems are recommended. By paying attention to these points, it is hoped that harvest yields can be maximized.