METODO PER LA COLTUVAZIONE DI CEREALI SU TERRENI IRRIGATI

Method of growing rice comprises ploughing, harrowing and levelling the soil after autumn tilling; applying a pre-plant herbicide; dressing the seed with fungicide and growth promoter; sowing the seed; adjusting the water level according to the growth of the rice plants; protecting the crop against weeds, pests and diseases by "agrotechnical" and chemical treatment; gradually draining the field as the rice grain begins to mature; and harvesting the rice. The improvement comprises (a) subsoiling the field transverse to the previous ploughing direction prior to harrowing; (b) levelling the field and excavating a system of pipeless drains before applying the pre-plant herbicide; (c) applying most (80-85%) of the total N fertiliser and all of the P fertiliser at the same time as sowing; (d) pumping water into the field at a rate of 30-50 l/ha.sec. when the seedlings have emerged; (e) applying the rest (15-20%) of the N fertiliser at the 2- to 3-leaf stage; (f) applying all of the K fertiliser at the 6- to 8-leaf stage; (g) spraying the plants at the start of the waxy grain stage with 150-200 l/ha. of an N or P feed contg. 15-20 ml/ha of a 2,4-D amine salt; and (h) cutting swaths around and across the field after draining and before harvesting. The process is stated to increase yields by a factor of 2-3, to reduce water consumption by 5-10% and to reduce the delay in sowing by 5 days. Exemplified yields are 6.0 and 6.2 t/ha.