In recent years, the early earing phenomenon of late rice has become widespread, significantly impacting both yield and quality. Early rice spikelets typically start to ear in late August, about 10 to 15 days earlier than normal. This leads to longer panicles, extending the growth period by 6 to 9 days compared to regular late rice. As a result, the plants enter reproductive growth prematurely, often referred to as "not married before pregnancy." This causes fewer tillers, weak seedlings, and uneven plant heights, leading to higher empty grain rates and yield losses of over 20%, sometimes even up to 50%. To address this issue, farmers need to implement effective preventive measures.
Timely transplanting is crucial. If there's a conflict between the timing of late rice transplanting and previous crops, it's advisable to delay the harvest of the previous crop if necessary. For example, if the previous crop was peppers or cucumbers, which experience a sharp drop in price and quality in late July, it might not be worth rushing the harvest. In such cases, using alternative methods like direct seeding or transplanting can help avoid over-aged seedlings.
If seedlings are at risk of aging, they should be transplanted into a prepared field with spacing of 13 cm by 13 cm, placing two seedlings per hole. If no transplanting is possible, pulling out the seedlings and replanting them in their original spot can prevent further aging when they reach the critical stage.
Field management for late rice must be strict. First, ensure proper planting density—around 20% more basic seedlings. For hybrid rice, aim for 100,000 to 120,000 seedlings per acre, and for conventional rice, around 150,000. When transplanting, keep the depth shallow and do it in the afternoon to avoid high temperatures. Applying nitrogen and potassium fertilizers, along with shallow irrigation, can promote healthy growth.
Farmers should also watch for the "wild feathers" phenomenon. These long, thick leaves, known as "pheasant feathers," signal hybrid ear formation. Some farmers mistakenly believe this indicates seed purity issues and wait too long to act, missing the chance to correct the problem. It’s important to distinguish between true hybrid characteristics and "wild feathers," which are caused by over-aging rather than impure seeds. The main stems and tillers of affected plants are often fused. To address this, cut the third leaf from the main stem where the flag leaf has already emerged, then combine with cultivation and apply 5 to 8 kg of urea per acre to encourage tillering and early development. Aim to achieve the desired number of seedlings by mid-August.
Applying "920" (gibberellin) can also help. Due to the extended heading period, there is a mismatch between early and late tillers. The non-heading plants are often weaker, leading to poor tillering and spike formation. Spraying 1.5 grams of "920" per acre, dissolved in a small amount of alcohol and mixed with 40 kg of water when about 50% of the plants have started heading, can increase effective panicles by about 10% and boost yield by 30 to 50 kg per acre. This method proves highly effective in managing early earing issues.
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