Rice can be sown be drilling, dibbling, transplanting or broadcasting of sprouted seeds. In Konkan region transplanting is widely adopted and it gives higher yield than other methods. Now a days few farmers are going for drilling, due to labour shortage. However, there is more weed infestation in drilled rice and therefore use of herbicides is a must in this case.

20 x 15 cm for transplanted dwarf rice.

25 x 15 cm for medium tall varieties like Mahsuri.

Shallow transplanting 3-5 cm depth is advisable as it fevers better tillering.

Dry sowing is generally adopted for Kharif  rice. Ploughing of the nursery area is done towards the last week of May. Then raised beds of 3x1.25 m are prepared. The furrow depth in between two beds is about 15 to 18 cm. For transplanting 1.0 ha area, nursery area of 0.1 ha is required. About 5.0 tonnes per ha of FYM or compost be supplied to the nursery areas before sowing. At the time of sowing 0.5 kg nitrogen and 0.5 kg P2O5 should be applied in the nursery area.

Shallow sowing, upto 2-3 cm depth should be adopted on the raised bed. Sowing on the nursery bed should be done in line by opening bands of 2-3 cm depth and 10 cm apart with the help of Kudali. Sowing of rice nursery should be completed upto first week of June. For effective weed management, Butachlore @ 2.0/ha should be sprayed after receiving a good absorbing rain. At the time of spray the seed bed should be wet.

In case of rabi hot weather rice wet seed-beds are prepared. Where, after releasing of water from the canals, the nursery area is puddled and properly leveled by planking and over it sprouted seeds of rice are uniformly broadcasted. Soil of the nursery area is kept saturated. No water is allowed to stagnate in the nursery area, before sprouting of the seed.

When the nursery is of 12 to 15 days old, it should be top dressed with 0.5 kg N/ha. The fertilizer should be applied in between the rows and be mixed in the soil with weeding hook or khurpi.

At 6th leaf stage the seedlings are ready for transplanting. A day before uprooting of the seedlings, the nursery area should be irrigated, so that it will facilitate easy uprooting with less root injury.

The fields should be ploughed twice, first after onset of the monsoon and second about a week before transplanting. This helps in destroying the early weed flora. At the time of transplanting puddling is done by 3-4 turns of bullock plough or by power tiller or tractor. At the time of puddling about 3-4 cm water level is maintained over the surface. 

At list 5.0 t/FYM or compact be applied for one ha area. It should be applied in the field just before second ploughing so that it will be properly incorporated in the soil.

Fertilizer dose of 100 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 + 50 kg K2O is recommended for improved varieties of rice. For hybrid rice, it is 150 kg N + 75 kg P2O5 + 50 kg K2O. At the time  of transplanting 40% N, 100% P2O5 and K2O be applied. Remaining, nitrogen dose should be split into two equal doses and first top dressing should be done, ne month after transplanting i.e. at tillering and second should be done at panicle emergence stage. After application of fertilizer, it should be incorporated by using rotary hoe.

If glyricidia is available, it should be incorporated in the field about a week before transplanting. The dose of glyricidia leaf manuring is 5 tonnes/ha. If glyricidia green leaf manuring is done, the fertilizer dose can be reduced to 50%.

For controlling weeds herbicides namely, Butachlor @ 2.0 kg/ha or oxadiargyl @ 0.10 kg/ha should be sprayed (600 lit of water/ha) uniformly upto 4-5 days after transplanting, followed by hand weeding 40-50 days after transplanting (DAT).

Rice prefers low lands as it is a water loving plant. However, in Konkan it is transplanted even in uplands. If requires fertile soil with good amount of clay in it, so that it can retain more moisture and check percolation of water and maintain water logging conditions. It generally prefers the pH range of 5.5 to 8.0.

For fine varieties 35 kg seed is sufficient for preparing nursery for transplanting 1.0 ha area. On the other hand, for course varieties, the seed rate is 50 kg/ha. In case of hybrids, the seed rate is 10 kg/ha.

2-3 seedlings are transplanted per hill. While in hybrid rice only one seedling is transplanted per hill. Normally, at 20x15 cm spacing, 333333 hills are accumulated in a hectare. 

Most of the rice varieties are ready for harvesting, 30 to 35 days after flowering. If harvesting is delayed, it results into yield reduction due to shattering and bird damage. The crop should be harvested when lower 4-5 grains in the panicle are in late dough stage, with light greenish yellow in colour.

After harvesting the crop should be allowed to dry in the field for two days and then it is tied in small bundles and carried to the threshing yard. Harvesting should be done with Vaibhav sickle, as it helps in harvesting the crop close to the ground. This results into higher straw yield and also helps in controlling the stem borer by reducing the space for hibernation

After threshing and winnowing the crop should be dried in the sun for 2-3 days. Then it should be stored in the beans or other containers.