Pomelo is very large citrus fruit of botanical name Citrus maxima. It is very sweet taste after ripening . Have you ever tried a honey pomelo ? This large citrus fruit can be found in the produce section from late fall to early spring. Here's more about this tasty unique citrus fruit.The fruit is used in many festive celebrations throughout Southeast Asia. After a Captain Shaddock of an East India Company ship introduced it to Barbados, the fruit was called "shaddock" in English. The fruit is also known as jabong in Hawaii and jambola in varieties of English spoken in South Asia. The etymology of the word "pomelo" is uncertain. It may be an alteration of "pompelmoes", in Tamil pomelo are called pampa limasu, which means "big citrus". The name was adopted by the Portuguese as pomposos limoes and then by the Dutch as pompelmoes. Typically, the fruit is pale green to yellow when ripe, with sweet white ( or, more rarely , pink or red) fle...
Rice is actually the seed of the grass species Origa sativa (or Origa globerrima for African rice). Rice (a monocot) is generally grown as an annual plant. But in tropical regions, rice plants can survive as a perennial and produce a crop for up to 30 years.
Depending on the variety and soil fertility, the rice plant can grown from 3.3 feet to 5.9 feet or more. The leaves of rice plants are 20-39 inches long and less than 1 inch wide (usually 0.79-0.98 inches). The flowers are very small and are pollinated by air. The flowers are produced in a branching arch for a 12-20 inch long pendulous inflorescence. And the edible seed is a grain (karyosis) which is 0.20-0.47 in. Long and 0.079-0.118 in. Thick.
Rice farming is well suited for countries and regions with low labor costs and high rainfall. Because, rice farming requires sufficient water and it is labor intensive. However, rice can be grown almost anywhere ( even with the use of a roofing system that controls water in mountainous areas or on steep hillsides. Rice actually grows well in parts of Asia and Africa.
Rice is the most popular staple food and is used in many different ways. A large quantity or part of the sugarcane and maize crops are used for purposes other than human consumption. But rice is the most important grain in relation to human nutrition and calorie intake. Rice is providing a fifth of the calories consumed by humans worldwide.
How rice is grown ?
Rice farming is very easy and simple, and if you are a beginner you can start growing rice. Rice can be grown in different types of soil and in different environments depending on the availability of water. Here we are talking about everything from rice farming to planting to harvesting.
Choose a good location
First of all , you have to choose a very good location for rice cultivation. Rice plants are versatile, and they can be grown on a variety of soil types with low permeability and pH between 5.0 and 9.5 Rice plants require full sun, so the selected land should have access to full sun.
Depending on the availability of water, rice can be grown in many different environments. Plants can be grown in both irrigated and rainfed ways , and they can also survive floods. However, there are rice friendly environments;
Coastal wetlands
Deep water or floating rice
Terai, irrigated ( rice is grown in both wet season and dry season)
Terai, rainforest (which is prone to drought, moderate depth, waterlogging , submergence and flood prone)
Diced rice
Soil preparation
Rice cultivation is possible in a wide range of soils. The sandy loam to sandy loam soil is the best loam soil from the loamy loam soil, the least permeability to clay loam soil, is considered to be free from simplicity for rice cultivation. Whatever the type of soil, you have to prepare it completely to grow rice. You must ensure that the soil is in the best physical condition for crop growth and the soil surface is flat.
Preparing the land for rice cultivation involves digging or digging, mixing and leveling the soil " till". Tillage helps in weed control, and also allows seeds to be sown at the right depth. And then you have to level the surface to reduce the amount of water wasted by very deep water or uneven pockets of exposed soil.
Rice farming generally follows dry, dry and wet system. Drought and semi-drought systems of rice farming depend on rainfall , and usually do not have supplemental irrigation facilities. On the other hand in the wet rice farming system, the rice crop is grown with assured and abundant water supply by rain or irrigation. We are talking about all these system below.
Dry and semi-dry system: For rice cultivation in these systems, you have to prepare the field by giving many kinds of comforts and sorrows. When plowing and tapping, add lots of organic material to it. You should add organic matter to the soil at least 2-4 weeks before sowing or planting.
Wet system: In the wet system, plow the field well and prepare puddle from 3-5 cm of standing water in the field. The ideal depth of the puddle is found in clay soil, clay loam soil about 10cm. Flatten the land after the puddle, and doing so is important to facilitate a union distribution of water and fertilizers.
For commercial rice farming business, you also need to apply some chemical fertilizer to produce maximum yield. Although the exact amount of fertilizers may vary from place to place. On average , you will need to apply around 50 kg of nitrogen , 12 kg of phosphorus and 12 kg of potash. Test a soil before applying chemical fertilizers. And if possible, consult an agricultural expert in your area to make a good recommendation.
Climate Requirements for Rice Cultivation
Rice plants can be grown under a wide variety of climatic conditions. They can also be grown under widely varying altitude conditions, and they can be grown up to 3000 meters above sea level. In fact, relatively hot and humid climatic conditions are considered good for rice farming. Rice is most commonly grown in areas/regions where abundant water supply, prolonged sunlight and high humid conditions are available. Temperatures between 16 ° C and 30 ° C (although the plant can survive up to 40 ° C).
Choose a variety
Many varieties (actually too many varieties) or rice farming are available worldwide. Rice varieties and types are divided into different categories based on culinary preferences, characteristics and also vary regionally. Depending on the region, hundreds or thousands or even more rice varieties are available and new varieties are constantly being developed.
In the case of regional rice varieties, countless varieties of rice are available. Each of these varieties is found in a specific area. For example D Kalo Beruin, Khato Dosh, Lapa, Balam, Bashmoti, Bina, Chinigura, Digha, Gadai Lashkari, Katri Bhog, Minikit, Mau Berin, Moulta, Pajam and Thakur Bhog are some Bangladeshi rice varieties. Bhut Muri, Hansraj, Dubrez, Hay Sriram, Kamini, Patna and Laxmi Bhog are some of the Indian rice varieties.
In terms of culinary preferences, rice varieties are usually classified as long, medium and short grains. Long grain rice remains intact after cooking. Medium grain rice becomes more viscous and is typically used for sweet dishes. And small grain rice is often used for rice pudding. And within these 3 varieties many cultivars are available worldwide.
Many different rice varieties are available depending on the characteristics or color. Varieties of brown, white, red, black, and purple rice are available.
Many different improved or hybrid rice varieties are also available. These improved varieties are highly productive and give higher yield than traditional varieties.
However, you have to choose the variety of rice based on its availability in your region and you also have to consider the purpose of your production while selecting different varieties. But you should always choose local varieties that are easily available in your area. Please contact your local government. Or private seed producer to obtain high yield, disease resistant varieties.
Seed purchase
After selecting the variety you want, buy seeds from any of your local suppliers. Consider buying good quality, high yields and disease free seeds from any of your local government. Or private seed producer.
Seeds per acre
The exact amount of seeds depends on the rice variety and also on the method you adopt for rice cultivation. Generally, 10–12 kg of seed will be sufficient for direct sowing, and 25–30 kg will be sufficient for planting method.
Planting
The rice plant is grown in two ways. They are grown either by direct sowing or by transplanting. Whichever system you use, you should treat the seeds with a fungicide / insecticide before sowing.
Direct sowing: In a direct seeding system, you have to broadcast dried seeds or pre-germinated seeds by hand or using a machine. Dried seeds are manually transmitted to the soil surface in rainfed and deep-water ecosystems, and are then incorporated either by plowing or after the soil has dried. But seeds usually pre-germinate before broadcasting in irrigated areas. This is a very easy method and requires less labor.
Transplanting: Transplanting is the most popular rice planting method across Asia. In this system, transplanting is grown in prepared seed and then planted in the main wet field. This system requires less seeds and is an effective method to control weeds. The transplanting method requires more labor, although today some machines are available for planting, which will reduce the use of labor.
Care
It is necessary to take extra care for rice cultivation. Rice is not a plant and then harvests, and the plants require a lot of care. Here we are talking more about the care process of growing rice.
Fertilizer: It is necessary to apply additional fertilizers for maximum yield. Do not put all these chemical fertilizers in the soil once preparing the soil. Apply all organic fertilizers and half chemical fertilizers during soil preparation. And then apply the remaining half chemical fertilizers twice with an interval of 30 days.
Watering: Cultured rice is extremely sensitive to water scarcity. To ensure adequate water during the growth period, it is good to maintain the flood situation in the field (especially for the cultivation of lowland rice). In the case of rainfed rice farming, you will not have to think much about it and nature will do the rest. But in case of dry or semi-arid conditions, you need to water the field regularly. Remember, after transplanting, you have to keep the field filled with water for 2 weeks.
Weed control: Controlling weeds is very important for rice cultivation. Weeds consume nutrients from the soil, so you have to remove them from the field. Both manual weeding or chemical weeding are used for commercial rice farming business. Consult your local agricultural expert to make a good recommendation.
Pests and diseases
Rice plants, like some other commercial crops, are susceptible to certain pests and diseases. The rice plant has a wide range of 'enemies' in the area including rodents, harmful pests, viruses and diseases. Understanding the interactions between pests, natural enemies, host plants, other organisms, and the environment allows farmers to determine if any pest management may be necessary. To control all these pests, diseases or other problems, it is always good to keep good contact with the agricultural expert of your area.
Harvesters
Depending on the variety, rice plants reach maturity approximately 105 to 150 days after the establishment of the crop. You can start harvesting the crop when the moisture in the grain decreases by 20% -25%. Rice harvesting activities include harvesting, stacking, handling, threshing, cleaning and hauling. You can do all harvesting activities manually or by machine. And remember, good harvesting methods help maximize grain yield and minimize grain damage and degradation.
Manual harvesting: Manual harvesting is very common across Asia, and involves cutting the rice crop by hand-cutting tools such as sickle and knife. Manual harvesting is good when the crop has ripened or fallen and is very effective indeed. But manual harvesting is labor intensive and sometimes expensive.
Mechanical harvesting: Mechanical harvesting is easier and less labor intensive. Mechanical harvesting is done using a reaper or combine harvester. Mechanical harvesting is not common or popular in most areas, mainly due to the availability and cost of machinery.
Attainment
Total yields may vary depending on various factors such as variety chosen, soil type, method of cultivation, methods of farm management, etc. On average, with modern improved varieties, you can expect around 1500 to 2000 kilograms per acre.
Rice nutrition
Rice is the most important grain in relation to providing human nutrition and calorie intake (one fifth of the calories consumed by humans worldwide). It is the staple food of more than half of the world's population. According to Wikipedia, cooked, unpolished, white, long-grain rice is made up of 3% protein, 28% carbohydrate, 68% water and negligible amounts of fat. '
And in a serving of 100 grams of cooked rice, it provides 130 calories and does not contain a significant amount of micronutrients (with all being less than 10% of the daily value). Cooked, white, low-grain rice also provides 130 calories and contains 100 grams of B vitamins, iron, and moderate amounts of manganese (10–17% DV).
Health Benefits of Rice
Rice is the staple food of more than half of the world's population. Most people eat rice without knowing or caring for its health benefits. However, rice has some notable health benefits;
It is a good source of energy and it is cholesterol free.
Rice is a moderate source of certain vitamins and minerals.
Rice bran oil is considered healthy, and supports heart health.
Rice intake is good for preventing skin problems and it also helps in preventing chronic constipation.
Rice is said to help in the prevention of cancer, and it also helps in blood pressure management.
Hope you like this guide. Rice is the most economically important crop worldwide. And if you can do everything perfectly then commercial rice farming business is very profitable.
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