SCIENCE CITY OF MUNOZ – Sow the rice seeds uniformly on a well-pulverized lithao-prepared furrow, preferably early morning or late in the afternoon, thus the leading rice agency of the country said in its advisory on the new method in dry season planting.
The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice)- Batac in coordination with some farmers and local government units’ technicians came up with a modified methodology for this dry direct seeding technique in growing rice.
Samuel P. Liboon, lead researcher for the modified dry direct seeding technique (MDDST), said the “seeds must be covered with soil by passing wooden plank, drawn diagonally to the direction of the furrow by a farm animal.”
Instead of seeding on dry soil and using completely dry seeds, PhilRice recommends the use of moist soil and pre-germinated seeds.
The sowing should be done when the upper 25-30-centimeter depth of the soil is already moist, the MDDST recommended.
Covering the seeds is to encourage a soil-seed-water contact for faster seed emergence, Liboon said.
The seeding rate used in this method is just 60 to 80 kilogram per hectare of certified seeds, half of the amount needed in traditional direct seeding.
According to the study, pre-emergence herbicide can be applied immediately after covering the seeds under the MDDST. This way, it added, the growth of weeds can be prevented.
For better results, PhilRice recommends the use of drought-tolerant varieties such as PSB Rc14. This variety can give a yield advantage of 1.6 tons per hectare using the MDDST over those planted using traditional farmers’ practice.
With MDDST application, farmer-cooperators in Region I and Abra are now harvesting as high as 7 tons per hecatre using the MDDST, according to Alma Aguinaldo of PhilRice Batac.
She also said they are now able to plant other crops earlier to utilize available soil moisture.
Farmers who have tried MDDST, the PhilRice noted, have experienced increase in net income especially in rice production by about P16,000 to P18,000 per hectare.
By maximizing the use of available soil moisture, farmers can save as much as P2,500 to P3,500 per hectare on seedbed preparation, pulling and transplanting costs.
The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice)- Batac in coordination with some farmers and local government units’ technicians came up with a modified methodology for this dry direct seeding technique in growing rice.
Samuel P. Liboon, lead researcher for the modified dry direct seeding technique (MDDST), said the “seeds must be covered with soil by passing wooden plank, drawn diagonally to the direction of the furrow by a farm animal.”
Instead of seeding on dry soil and using completely dry seeds, PhilRice recommends the use of moist soil and pre-germinated seeds.
The sowing should be done when the upper 25-30-centimeter depth of the soil is already moist, the MDDST recommended.
Covering the seeds is to encourage a soil-seed-water contact for faster seed emergence, Liboon said.
The seeding rate used in this method is just 60 to 80 kilogram per hectare of certified seeds, half of the amount needed in traditional direct seeding.
According to the study, pre-emergence herbicide can be applied immediately after covering the seeds under the MDDST. This way, it added, the growth of weeds can be prevented.
For better results, PhilRice recommends the use of drought-tolerant varieties such as PSB Rc14. This variety can give a yield advantage of 1.6 tons per hectare using the MDDST over those planted using traditional farmers’ practice.
With MDDST application, farmer-cooperators in Region I and Abra are now harvesting as high as 7 tons per hecatre using the MDDST, according to Alma Aguinaldo of PhilRice Batac.
She also said they are now able to plant other crops earlier to utilize available soil moisture.
Farmers who have tried MDDST, the PhilRice noted, have experienced increase in net income especially in rice production by about P16,000 to P18,000 per hectare.
By maximizing the use of available soil moisture, farmers can save as much as P2,500 to P3,500 per hectare on seedbed preparation, pulling and transplanting costs.
