Rice cultivation in alkaline soils (ਕਲਰਾਠੀਆਂ ਜਮੀਨਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਝੋਨੇ ਤੋਂ ਚੰਗਾ ਝਾੜ ਲੈਣ ਲਈ ਜਰੂਰੀ ਨੁਕਤੇ)

Addition of Gypsum: If the pH of soil is more then 9.3 then apply gypsum on soil test basis and give one or two heavy irrigations. • Preparation of Seed bed: Do not puddle, because water intake rate in these soils is very low. Irrigate the tilled field and give a light planking to pulverize the clods. • Transplanting: Transplant seedlings a week earlier than the normal time of transplanting, because the initial growth of plants in alkali soils is slow. Plant three or four 40 days old seedlings per hill. More seedlings per hill are recommended because of higher mortality in these soils. Do not grow PR 127 under alkali conditions. • Fertilizer Application: Apply 20-25 per cent more nitrogen than in normal soils. Alkali soils are low in organic carbon and the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer in these soils is also low. Add 60 kg of nitrogen through 130 kg of urea per acre in three splits, 1/3 at transplanting, 1/3 three weeks after transplanting and the remaining 1/3 six weeks after transplanting. Apply the same amount of phosphorus as to the normal soils. In addition, apply 25 kg of zinc sulphate heptahydrate or 16 kg zinc sulphate monohydrate per acre during the preparatory tillage Where dhaincha is grown for green manuring, add the quantity of P2O5 recommended for rice to this legume and omit the application of phosphorus to the succeeding rice crop.