Water seeding rice in Malaysia

Rice is the third most important crop in Malaysia after rubber and palm oil which were the first and second respectively in terms of production and is mainly grown in the eight granary areas in Peninsular Malaysia covering an area of about 209,300 ha.

Standing water in the field at the time of seedling broadcast helps to suppress weedy rice. In Malaysia, too, seedling broadcasting was found effective in reducing weedy rice infestation.

The rice, which is seeded into water 7-10 cm deep, sinks to the soil, germinates, and emerges from the water. The field remains flooded at a depth of 7-10 cm until a few weeks before maturity.

In this method, pregerminated seeds (24-h soaking and 24-h incubation) are broadcast in standing water on puddled (Wet-water seeding) or unpuddled soil (Dry water seeding). Normally, seeds, because of their relatively heavyweight, sink in standing water, allowing good anchorage.

The rice varieties that are used possess good tolerance of a low level of dissolved oxygen, lowlight, and other stress environments. In addition to irrigated areas, water seeding is practiced in areas where early flooding occurs and water cannot be drained from the fields.

An adequate water supply is necessary for water seeded rice. Fields should be small to ensure precise water management. Poor water management results in loss of both preplant nitrogen and red rice suppression. The methods of water management used in water-seeding rice are pinpoint and continuous flood.
Water seeding rice in Malaysia