Author(s):

Brajendra, KV Rao, K Surekha, PC Latha, MBB Prasad, R Mahendra Kumar and V Ravindra Babu

Abstract: Rice in India ranks first in the use of land (44 million ha), water (more than 50% irrigation water) and inputs (38-40% of fertilizers and 17 – 18% pesticides) and is grown in diversified environments viz., water logged to rainfed uplands, jhums to deep water, high humid to arid temperatures and flood prone to drylands. Soils are so extraordinarily varied that there is hardly any type or texture of soils on which rice cannot be grown viz. acid peaty soils of Kerala (pH 3), highly alkaline soils (pH 8.5 & above) of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. It is cultivated exclusively as a rainfed crop in areas with precarious monsoon and unpredictable rainfall distribution. It is also raised in areas where water level reaches 5 metres or more. The rice culture in Kuttanad district of Kerala is below the sea level, while in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, it is grown almost upto an altitude of 2000 msl (6600 ft). A wide range of rainfall distribution pattern (drought, submergence, deepwater) and distinct differences in soils (coastal and inland salinity, alkalinity, acidity), agro-climatic situations (high humidity) and seasons has resulted in the cultivation of thousands of varieties and one can see a standing rice crop at some part of the country or the other in any time of the year.

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