Rice Planting

BEST FOR CLAY, SILT LOAM OR CLAY LOAMS IN HARDINESS ZONES 6 TO 11 WHERE PONDING IS POSSIBLE.

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Fertilizer

Best Results: Follow your soil test (sample in fall) Apply 90 lbs/ac of Nitrogen (urea or Ammonium sulfate) before the plants reach 12 inches to dry ground. Add 60 units of P and K at planting. Add Sulfur to sandier soils and Zinc to low organic matter soil.

Field Prep

Disk and roll the soil until smooth, avoiding clods or wet soil that could rut. You may want to use a fall or spring burndown.

Herbicides

Start with a weed free seed bed.

  • Prowl (check with your state label) can be used at planting or just after planting
  • A shallow flood water acts as an herbicide

Planting Date

For best results, check with your local extension service for exact dates for your area. In general, rice can be planted after the last spring frost when the soil temperatures are above 55°, but no greater than 90°.

North: Early May -Early June in Zone 6
South: March – May

Planting Prep

Depth: Plant seeds ¼ to 1 inch deep into moist, not muddy soil

Planting Rate: 80-100 lbs. per acre for drilled spacing (6-8 inches apart). Try to have 12-20 plants emerged per square foot.

Broadcast 120 lbs. onto a mudflat **planting data compiled from the University of Arkansas and USDA.