Rice

• A complete package on rice management has been developed for all the major ecosystems of Kerala apart from the general recommendations already prevalent. A NPK dose of 20:10:10 kg/ha for the first crop and 30:15:15 kg/ha for second crop is recommended for the Koottumundakan system, prevalent in many parts of the coastal tract. In Onattukara, application of NPK 80:40:45 kg/ha (60 kg N supplied in the form of inorganic and 20 kg N as organic manure) raises the grain yield to a significant level. A fertilizer dose of 60:30:30 kg/ha is rcommended in the second crop season for photoinsensitive variety-Dhanya in Onattukara. Application of 90 kg nitrogen per ha in three splits at 15, 35 and 55 DAS gives a higher grain yield for direct sown medium duration rice during the additional crop season in Kuttanad. In Kole lands, the need for increasing the dose of N for early (Annapurna) and medium duration (Jaya) varieties were established and the doses have to be increased from 70 kg and 90 kg to 90 kg and 110 kg per ha respectively. In Pokkali lands, application of 20 kg N and 40 kg P₂O₅ / ha at the time of dismantling and distribution of seedlings registered a 30 per cent increase in grain yield. Application of chemical fertilizers can be dispensed with for Vyttila-1 and Vyttila-2 in Pokkali rice fields.

• Application of 50% N as chemical fertilizer and 50% N as FYM for the first crop and 100% N as chemical fertilizer for the second crop is recommended. Rajasthan phosphate is found as a substitute for Mussorie Phosphate for the acid soil of Kerala. Coating urea with neem extract (containing about 5% neem triterpenes) at 1% rate and shade drying for one to one and a half hours and then applying in direct seeded puddled low land rice increases nitrogen use efficiency. An NPK dose of 50:25:25 kg/ha is recommended for Mashoori. A fertiliser dose of 50:25:25 NPK is recommended for Jayathi.

• During the second crop, 5 cm irrigation once in six days is adequate for areas where water is assured. For summer rice, 5 cm irrigation two days after disappearance of ponded water is sufficient where the ground water level is shallow.

• Experiments on rice seed storage indicated that seed viability can be maintained at 80 per cent upto 8 months in the case of mid duration varieties and upto one year in the case of short duration varieties, if stored in poly bags. Tips on quality seed production in rice and maintenance of viability of stored seed given.

• Cowpea may be raised as an intercrop in dry seeded lowland rice by sowing along with rice, to serve as a source of green manure

• There is an average rice yield increase of 1 tonne per ha due to subsurface drainage. This will considerably reduce acidity and salinity and also the salt load in the crop root zone. The technology is being popularised by the Department of Agriculture under Kari Land Development Scheme.

• Anilophos 30 EC @ 0.4 kg. ai/ha may be sprayed on the sixth day after transplanting for weed control in rice. For dry seeded rice, the herbicides, thiobencarb 1.5 kg, oxyflourfen 1-2 kg, pendimethalin 1.5 kg and pretilachlor 1.0 kg per ha were suggested.

• As a part of integrated pest management in rice, common natural enemies of insect pests found in rice ecosystem were identified and recommendations incorporated IPM schedule.

• Application of Contaf-5 EC (Hexaconazone) is effective in controlling incidence and spread of sheath blight disease in rice. In regions where brown plant hopper is a regular pest, avoid the application of the following insecticides due to the chances of resurgence; Methyl parathion, Fenitrothion, Deltamethrin, Carbaryl, Fenthion and Quinalphos