AT A GLANCE
- Transplant 21–25 day old seedlings, 2–3 per hill, by mid-July.
- Split nitrogen in three: at transplanting, at tillering and at panicle initiation.
- Apply Zinc Sulphate with Micronutrient Mixture at transplanting in zinc-deficient soils — prevention is cheaper than cure.
- Rusty-brown spots on older leaves 2–4 weeks after transplanting usually mean khaira.
Nursery and transplanting
| Step | Timing | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery sowing | Late May – mid June | Healthy, treated seed; about 1/10th of the field area as nursery |
| Transplanting | Late June – mid July | 21–25 day seedlings, 2–3 per hill |
| Spacing | — | About 20 × 15 cm (rows × plants) |
Older seedlings (over 30 days) tiller poorly. If you must transplant late, plant more seedlings per hill and closer.
Fertilizer: how much and when
| Nutrient | Per hectare | Per acre |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) — high-yielding varieties | 120 kg | 48 kg |
| Phosphorus (P₂O₅) | 60 kg | 24 kg |
| Potash (K₂O) | 60 kg | 24 kg |
| Zinc Sulphate with Micronutrient Mixture | 25–30 kg | 10 kg |
Hybrids usually need about 25% more NPK. Basmati and scented varieties need less nitrogen — excess makes them lodge.
- Day 0Transplanting Irrigate ½ N + P, K, Zn & micronutrient mix
- Day 25–30Tillering ¼ N
- Day 50–55Panicle initiation ¼ N
- Day 70–80Flowering Irrigate
- 10–15 days before harvestDrain the field
- At transplanting: all phosphorus, all potash, the zinc and micronutrient mixture, and half the nitrogen.
- At active tillering (about 25–30 days after transplanting): a quarter of the nitrogen.
- At panicle initiation (about 50–55 days after transplanting): the last quarter of the nitrogen.
Khaira: recognising and treating zinc deficiency
Khaira is not a germ disease — it is zinc hunger. It is most common in high-pH, sodic and continuously flooded soils, and in fields that have grown rice–wheat for years without zinc.
- Appears 2–4 weeks after transplanting.
- Small rusty-brown spots on older leaves that join into patches; leaves may turn brown and dry.
- Plants stay short, tiller poorly, and the field looks patchy and uneven.
To prevent khaira in the next crop, apply zinc together with other micronutrients at transplanting:
Water management
- Keep about 2–5 cm of standing water for the first weeks after transplanting while plants establish.
- Paddy does not need deep water all season. Letting the water disappear for 1–2 days before re-flooding saves water without losing yield.
- Never let the field dry out at flowering — it causes empty grains.
- Drain the field 10–15 days before harvest for even ripening and easier harvesting.
Not sure what your crop needs?Send clear photos of the crop — the whole plant, the affected leaves up close, and the field — with your crop and its age. Our team will reply in Hindi or English.
