Production Technology of Organic Basmati Rice

Production Technology of Organic Basmati Rice

Production Technology of Organic Basmati RiceThe success of the green revolution in the country in recent decades has often marked significant externalities affecting natural resources and human health as well as agriculture itself.  Environmental and health problem associated with agriculture have been increasingly well documented. Increasing consciousness about conservation of environment as well as health hazards has brought a major shift in consumer preference towards food quality. In India organic farming has received considerable attention during 2000 and Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation constituted a Task Force on Organic Farming.

Production Technology of Organic Basmati RiceOrganic farming is an alternative agriculture, which has been proposed as a solution to problems associated with inputs of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It is based on ecological approach to nutrient supply and crop protection rather than a chemical one. In ‘tarai’ of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, rice is a major crop during the ‘kharif’ season, with quality rice as an important component of its cultivation due to domestic and export demand. Rice is involved with the lives of millions of people on this earth and almost half of the Indian population consumes it as the staple food. Basmati rice is a globally reputed aromatic group of rice, having pleasant aroma, superfine grain (> 6.5 mm long) along with extensive kernel elongation and soft texture of cooked rice. Production of high quality basmati rice is therefore a major concern of future agricultural strategy.

Basmati is long grain aromatic rice grown for many centuries in the specific geographical area, at the Himalayan foot hills of Indian sub-continent, blessed with characteristics extra- long slender grains that elongate at least twice of their original size with a characteristics soft and fluffy texture upon cooking, delicious taste, superior aroma and distinct flavor, Basmati rice is unique among other aromatic long grain rice varieties.

Agro- climatic conditions of the specific geographical area as well as method of harvesting, processing and aging attribute these characteristic features to Basmati rice. Owning to its unique characteristics the “scented Pearl” lends a touch of class that can transform even the most ordinary meal into a gourmet’s delight. Production of high quality basmati rice is therefore a major concern of future agricultural strategy. The areas of Basmati Rice production in India are in the states of J & K, Himanchal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttarakhand and western Uttar Pradesh.India is the leading exporter of the Basmati Rice to the global market. The leading aromatic fine quality rices in world trade popularly known as Basmati rice is fetching good export price in the international markets. The surge in basmati rice demand overseas set the cash registers of exporters ringing and it also bode well for the Indian farmers who contribute nearly 70% to country's basmati output.  About two third of basmati rice produced in India is exported. The country has exported 37, 57,271.44 MT of Basmati Rice to the world for the worth of Rs. 29,299.96 crores during the year 2013-14. Cultivation of organic basmati rice needs standard package of practices for its successful production and farmer’s profitability. When a farmer grows organic rice, next ‘rabi’ crop is also important to complete a cropping system under organic mode of cultivation. In Tarai conditions, quality rice and chickpea cropping system under organic mode of cultivation has been found successful.

Production Technology of Organic Basmati Rice

Land preparation

With organic farming, it is better to provide nutrient to soil and let soil feed the rice crop. Generally green manure must be preferred to other organic fertilizer because green manure is easier to handle and more effective in supplying nutrients for growing organic rice. When green manuring is to be done, one irrigation followed by two harrowing should be practiced. This is followed by sowing green manure crop ( Sesbania/ Crotalaria species).

Varieties

Quality rice including traditional aromatic rice because of low nitrogen requirement are better suited for organic farming although high yielding varieties can be also cultivated organically.  Basmati - 370, Taraori Basmati, Dehraduni Basmati (Type-3),  Pusa Basmati-1, Pant Sugandha Dhan 15,  Pant Sugandha Dhan 17, Pant Sugandha Dhan 21, Pusa Sugandha – 2, Pusa Sugandha – 5, Pusa 1121. Traditional scented cultivars like Kalanamak, Hansraj, Basmati Safeda, Bindli and Tilak chandan can also be grown suitably under organic farming

Nursery raising

Nursery for the scented varieties should be sown by 15 th June so that transplanting could be done by July 15 th. Ripening during cool weather in considered to favor the development and retention of aroma in grains of Basmati rice. The approximate nursery area required is 500 - 700 m 2 for transplanting 1 ha. When water is scarce, the pre-germinated seeds could be sown on 15 cm high beds of convenient length and 1.5 m width. Total of 20-25 kg seeds /ha is required for long grain basmati varieties.

Seed Treatment

Salt solution (15 %) is prepared for dipping the seed. This salt solution concentration can be tested with fresh egg which floats in the solution. Thereafter seed selected for nursery should be poured in salt solution. Seeds in the solution should be stirred and the floating seed should be discarded. The solution is then poured off to another bucket and those seeds are selected which is settled in the solution. This salt solution can again be used.   

After treatment with salt solution, pre-hydration of seeds for 20-24 hours is done for advancing germination. Seeds are thereafter dried in shade to decrease their moisture content and facilitate their free flow during drilling. Before sowing seed must be treated with Tricoderma and Pseudomonas @ each of 5 g/kg seed or Pant bio-agent 3 (mixture of Pseudomonas and Tricoderma) @ 10gm/kg seed. Precaution must be taken that the treated seed should not be exposed to the direct sunlight.

Nutrient management in nursery

Poor nursery is a major problem under organic mode due to various nutrient deficiencies and poor growth of seedlings. To have optimum growth of seedlings following nutrient management practices should be followed.

Sowing of Crotalaria juncea shall be done by first week of April. Allow Crotalaria to grow for 45 days with irrigation as and when required. Incorporate it on the dry soil and apply water after incorporation. After 12-15 days prepare the field for nursery. Rock phosphate if available may be applied @ 1 kg/10m2 at the time of Crotalaria incorporation.

After incorporation of green Application of 25 kg FYM and 100 g ZnSO4 / 10 m2 is recommended for raising nursery. In addition to this, if zinc deficiency is observed in nursery, 2 sprays of ZnSO4 (0.5%) + lime (0.25%) in water at 10 and 20 days after sowing is recommended. Spray of ZnSO4 may be done with five time diluted vermi-wash / compost leachate.

Leachate of vermicompost (10%) + Neem cake (10%) + Cow urine (10%) along with Tricoderma and Pseudomonas  (@ each of 5 gm/l) may spray in the nursery after 15 days which will supplement the partial nutrient requirement of the nursery crop and protect seedlings from insects and diseases.

Nutrient sources and management for main field

In organic cultivation of rice crop, we feed the soil micro and macro organisms, which deliver a smorgasbord of minerals, vitamins and other nutrients to the crop at metered pace. Nutrient management is one of the important components of organic rice cultivation. Basmati rice crop required about 90-120 kg N, 40-60 Kg P2O5 and 40 kg K2O depending on the type of cultivars of organic rice. Most of the organic sources which could be utilized for the fulfillment of N needs can meet the requirement for P, K and other nutrient requirements. Organic farming in the long run may not show the problem of micronutrient deficiency particularly Zn in rice. Initially, zinc deficiency may appear and it must be corrected by spraying Zn SO4 @0.5% (5 kg and 2.5 kg Lime in 1000 L of water per hectare) can be done.

Details of nutrient sources and management for basmati rice production are described as under:

Nutrient sources and management for main field (A) Green Manure: Green Manure crop of Sesbania aculeata and Crotalaria juncea can be the best source of nutrition which can taken before transplanting of rice. Sesbania or Crotalaria green manure crop can be sown in last week of April to first fortnight of May with seed rate of 25-30 kg/ha. Generally broadcasting of green manure seeds is practiced. However, better green manure crop can be raised if line sowing is adopted at 45 cm row spacing. One pre-sowing irrigation with 1-2 irrigations in between green manure crops depending on summer rains are sufficient for their growth. Trichoderma (5 g/L) and Pseudomonas (5 g/L) should be sprayed on standing Sesbania /Crotalaria green manure crop. In-situ green manure crop should be turned down around 55-60 days after sowing which can contribute approximately 75-100 kg N/ha, 25-30 kg P2O5 /ha and 75-100 kg K2O/ha fulfilling the nutritional requirement of organic basmati rice crop .

(B) FYM: If available, well decomposed FYM should be applied @ 20 t/ha, which can supply about 75-100 kgN/ha, 35-40 kg P2O5/ha and 75-100 kg K2O/ha. FYM should be decomposed and Tricoderma and Pseudomonas each @ 1kg/pit or Pant bio-agent 3 (mixture of Pseudomonas and Tricoderma @ 2kg/pit) must be applied during decomposition. Trichoderma and Pseudomonas not only helps in decomposing the FYM faster but also improves the quality of FYM and resist to the crop from diseases.  Water should be sprayed at regular intervals (at least once after bioagent application) and 15 and 7 days before FYM use to maintain moisture.

Azolla(C) Azolla: Inoculation of Azolla bio-fertilizer at 7 days after transplanting of rice crop @ 2 t/ha in standing water and its growth during the rice crop adds organic matter and nitrogen to the soil which will be a beneficial practice for nitrogen nutrition of organic rice. The Azolla incorporation at the time of puddling of rice soil @ 6t/ha can also provide about 25-30 kg N/ha. For Azolla incorporation we need to produce required amount of biomass in multiplication tanks/ponds.

(D) Vermi-Compost :  Application of Vermicompost @ of 10 tonne /ha (dry weight basis) can meet out the nutrient requirement of organic rice. Vermicompost can be fortified with Trichoderma and Pseudomonascultures (@ 1.0 kg/100kg) which will enhance their quality.

Enriched compost (E) Enriched compost: Various methods of composting for nutrients enrichment through rock phosphate, pyrite and micro-organism have better quality with respect to N, P, K and S content. The rate of application of enriched compost should be 10 t/ha (dry weight basis). In case of acute  P deficiency as in hills, application of Rock Phosphate @ 5q/ha once in three years may take care of phosphorus nutrition of the organic rice in addition to application of FYM.

After incorporation of green manure crop 20 kg N should be given through well decomposed FYM/Vermicompost/Enriched compost for two years; after then only in-situ Sesbania green manuring will be sufficient to provide nutritional requirement for basmati rice.

It has observed that application of integrated sources organic responded better as compared to single alone source. After green manuring one third dose (2.5 t/ha) of the nitrogen should be given through vermicompost after 20-25 days of transplanting. Integration of FYM + Vermicompost + Enriched compost + Neem cake (1/4+1/4+1/4+1/4) found to be better. Application of FYM and enriched compost as basal and vermicompost and neem cake as top dressing at 20-25 days after transplanting was found to be better practice.

Transplanting:

Immediately after incorporation of green manure/one day after incorporation rice transplanting may be done. The incorporation of green manure crop could easily be done with the tractor drawn puddler. Depending on duration of the variety, 25-30 day old seedling of rice should be transplanted. Before transplanting roots of seedlings may be dipped in suspension of Pseudomonas fluorescens (@5 g/l).   Planting geometry of 15 × 15 cm. (row to row × hill to hill) to be maintained in organic rice cultivation so that 1 m2 area has about 50 hills. Square geometry has smothering effect on weeds.

Weed Management:

Growing of green manure crops, puddling and efficient water management reduces the occurrence of weeds under transplanted condition. When FYM or other organic sources are applied, 2 hand weddings (one at 20-25 days and another at 40-45 days after transplanting) or two mechanical weeding with conoweeder will result in efficient management of weeds. In direct seeded crop 2-3 hand weedings up to the age of 45 days will result in satisfactory control of weeds. 

Water Management:

Under submerged soil condition, 2-5 cm of standing water should be maintained for 15-20 days to control the weeds after then saturated conditions are more appropriate. In case of uplands, 2-5 irrigations depending on rainfall of the region should be given. The crop should not suffer from water stress in the critical period of the growth i.e. from panicle initiation to flowering in any case particularly under organic farming system. However, continuous stagnation of water also promotes infestation of diseases and insects. At the time of attack of insects and diseases, water should be drained out.

Disease and Pest managementDisease and Pest management

The important insect- pest and diseases have been briefly discussed below:

Stem borer: Basmati rice is mainly attacked by yellow stem borer. The attack commences right from seedling stage and continues up to grain formation stage. The adult females lay eggs in leaves. The caterpillars come out which creep to the lower plant parts wherefrom they bore into the lower portion of the stem to get inside causing dead hearts. If infestation takes place at earing stage, white grainless ears emerge which are called white ear heads. In Pusa Basmati-1 attack is of medium intensity, however, one has to be vigilant right from early plant growth stage.

Disease and Pest managementLeaf folder: It is also one of the main insect-pest of basmati rice. Adult leaf folders are small in size. Their caterpillars damage the crop. The caterpillars fold the both corners of the leaves and remain into the folded leaf wherefrom they eat away the green matter of the leaves leaving white stripes thereupon. The damaged leaves slowly dry up and the plant becomes weak resulting in reduced productivity.

Rice HopperRice hoppers: There are mainly two types of plant hoppers viz., white backed and brown plant hopper and small in size. Female lays eggs inside lower leaves on the stem @ 200-400 eggs per 8-10 days. The young one start sucking plant sap from the stem immediately after coming out of the eggs. The infested fields present masses of dried plants bearing spots identical to burnt spots and hence it is called hopper-burn. Moisture and excess of nitrogen serve as the predisposing conditions for rapid multiplication of hoppers, therefore, drain the water for about 5-6 days if possible.  In rice fields, there exist a good deal of natural predators and different types of spiders which prey upon hoppers.

Gandhi bugGandhi bug:  Grey green adults measuring 15 mm in length and can be identified by their smell. Both the adults and the young ones suck the milky grains leaving dull whitish spots on the grains resulting in unfilled grains. For this, the field bunds should be kept free of weeds. When there are one or more bugs per hill spray neem based insecticide

Hispa : Its black coloured adults and caterpillars which scraps the green matter from the leaves to eat away the same and the leaves get dried up.

Diseases: Important diseases of rice are brown spot (Helminthosporium oryzae), blast (Magnaporthe grisea), sheath blight (Rhizoctonia solani) and bacterial blight (Xanthomonas campestris cv. oryzae).

Integrated Management of Diseases and Pests:

I. General precautions:

Selection of the resistant and well adopted varieties for specific areas.

Selection of the clean and diseased free seeds.

Proper agronomical practices like optimum planting time and seedling age, planting geometry, depth of planting, etc.

Good water management for example at the time of attack of insects and diseases, water should be drained out.

Avoid planting under full or partial shade to avoid bacterial blight (BLB). Once BLB attacks plants in shade these plants become source of inoculums for remaining field.

II. During nursery sowing:

Seed treatment with salted water followed by Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens (@ each 5g/kg seed) orPant Bio-agent-3 @ 10 g/kg seed.

Apply one pheromone trap for stem borer per 100 m2 nursery area.

III. During Field preparation:

Apply FYM/vermicompost pre-colonized with Trichoderma harzianum (TH) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (PsF).

After incorporation of green manure, spray Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens @ each 5g/liter of water just at the time of incorporation of green manure crop.

IV. After transplanting till maturity

After transplanting till maturityUse pheromone traps (5 mg pheromone per trap; 20 traps/ha; 20 x 25 m distance) within a week of transplanting for stem borer and replace lure after 30 days. Maintain height of trap at 50 cm in nursery and early stage of the crop. As a plant grows height of the traps should be raised so as they are all the time approx. 30 cm above crop canopy.

Avoid water stagnation.

Spray of 2-5% neem oil or 10% cow urine fortification with neem leaves (one week before application) along with Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens (5 g /l) or Pant Bio Agent-3 (10 g/l) which will control the insects as well as diseases.Three to four sprays are to be given at 10-15 days interval starts from active tillering stage. Precautionary measures should adopted for controlling insects, pest and diseases. Therefore, spraying may be continued before attack of insects and diseases.

Foliar spray of 5% vermiwash /compost tea treated with Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens will also full fill the nutritional requirement and protect the rice crop from broad spectrum diseases.

Harvesting

Traditionally, rice is manually harvested by hand using simple tolls like sickle and threshing is also performed manually. Manual harvesting is done when 80 per cent panicles have turned golden yellow. However, combine harvest machine or threshing machine is replacing traditional methods. In such cases, the risk of organic grain mixing arises, so it is hardly recommended that the machine is properly cleaned before switching to handling organic crop. Harvested seeds should be cleaned properly and should be graded as per standard procedures. Rice grain should have 15 % moisture before storage.

Yield   

Taroari and Dehraduni Basmati  or Type-3 (2.5-3.5 t/ha), Hansraj (2.5-3.0t/ha), (2.5-3.5 t/ha) and Kala Namak (1.5-3.0 t/ha), high yielding basmati varieties viz. Pusa Basmati 1, Pusa 1121, Pusa Sugandha 5, Pusa 1509 (3.5-4.5 t/ha).