Rice Seedling Technology for Mechanical Transplanting

Compared to manual transplanting, mechanical transplanting of rice offers advantages such as time and labor savings, reduced pest and disease damage, and improved rice quality and yield. Many regions now utilize mechanical transplanting. Below, we introduce the seedling technology for mechanical transplanting of rice.

Rice Seedling Technology for Mechanical Transplanting

1. Field Preparation: Choose fields that are sheltered from the wind, receive ample sunlight, have fertile soil, convenient irrigation, quick transportation access, and are easy to manage. It is recommended to prepare the seedbed area in a ratio of 1:80-100 to the main field, and confirm the area of the seedbed. About 15 days before cultivation, plow and irrigate the field and apply sufficient basal fertilizer.

2. Seed Preparation: Select high-quality, high-yield varieties for seed preparation. It is advisable to use traditional sun-drying methods to treat the seeds before cultivation.

3. Furrow Opening: The standard size for furrows is 1.4×5 meters, with a length not exceeding 7 meters. The width and depth should be approximately 0.3 meters and 0.25 meters, respectively. When opening furrows, use straight lines and a flat method similar to conventional wet seedbeds. Before cultivation, the furrow surface should be 5cm higher than the water level in the furrow to prevent seed washout during subsequent operations.

4. Seedling Tray Placement: It is recommended to use soft trays measuring 58cmx28cmx2cm. Depending on the rice variety, prepare 20-22 seedling trays per hectare. Place 2 rows per furrow, aligning the trays closely and filling gaps with mud slurry.

5. Mud Filling: After laying the seedling trays, filter the mud slurry from the furrow into the trays. The mud should be free of stones and impurities. Start by filling the four corners of the tray to balance it, then fill it up and smooth it out. Avoid filling the mud higher than the tray, as this may obstruct the seedling tray from fitting into the transplanting machine.

6. Standard Transplanting: Once the trays are filled with mud and settled, transplant the seedlings. Use a professional mechanical transplanter for transplantation. These transplanters are not only affordable but also offer high precision, fast planting speed, good quality, simple operation, and convenience.

7. Standard Seeding: After transplanting, use a float board to press the seeds into the mud slurry, leaving half of the seed exposed. Maintain uniform depth, flatten the seedling trays, and ensure that the seeds can absorb sufficient moisture and germinate uniformly. Apply a 50% solution of tricyclazole at 500 times dilution (60kg per acre) for disinfection to prevent sheath blight.

8. Standard Mulching: After transplantation, use bamboo strips aged over a year to set up arches at regular intervals. The strips should be 2.2m long, 2cm wide, spaced 0.5-0.7m apart, with an arch height of about 0.4m. Cover with plastic film (double-layered) and press the edges tightly with mud. Ensure proper irrigation and drainage in the rice field.

Above are the seedling technology guidelines for mechanical transplanting of rice. With proper fertilizer and water management in the later stages, good seedlings can be cultivated. Let's get started!