Before sowing, rice seeds generally require soaking treatment, and mastering proper soaking methods is key to improving rice germination rates. So what are the specific methods? Let's find out.
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Conventional Rice Soaking Method: Conventional rice soaking typically involves disinfection with chemicals and multiple washes:
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Chemical Disinfection: Seeds are soaked in disinfectant solution. Common disinfectants include chlorine bleach, lime water, and formalin. For example, with chlorine bleach, soak seeds in a solution of 500 times the concentration (2 grams of chlorine bleach per 1 kilogram of water) for 6-8 hours. The disinfectant solution should be one inch above the surface of the seeds (do not change the water during disinfection). Then rinse the rice seeds thoroughly with clean water to remove any remaining disinfectant solution.
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Multiple Washes: During soaking, seeds are rubbed with gloved hands 3-4 times to remove soil, pathogens, and other substances that hinder water absorption, speeding up water absorption.
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Hybrid Rice Soaking Method: Hybrid rice soaking typically involves graded soaking and multiple soaking methods:
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Multiple Soaks: Seeds are placed in woven bags (snake bags) and soaked in warm water at 35-36°C for 4 hours. After draining, wrap the seed bags with film while still warm for heat preservation and germination. After 7-8 hours, soak them in water at 25°C for 2-3 minutes, then drain and continue germination. Repeat this process until the seeds sprout.
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Graded Soaking: This method involves selecting poorer quality seeds from hybrid rice seeds, soaking and germinating them separately from the plump seeds to utilize the seeds and cultivate strong seedlings. First, select seeds floating on the surface after soaking in 30% mud water, remove and wash them separately. Then soak the selected seeds in warm water for 12 hours. Finally, rinse the seeds with clean water and air dry in a cool, ventilated place.
In summary, there are slight differences in the pre-soaking treatment between hybrid and conventional rice seeds, mainly reflected in the fact that hybrid seeds should not be sun-dried for a long time and need to be graded during soaking. Additionally, the soaking methods for hybrid and conventional rice seeds are also different, so pay attention to distinguishing between them.
