Why do they flood the rice fields with water if the rice is already growing beautifully? (5 photos)

Even a person far from agriculture will probably remember that rice is grown in a special way. In Asia, fields with this crop are completely flooded with water so that they resemble a shallow lake.





But rice doesn’t need that much moisture at all. It can easily grow in just well-watered soil. And most plants will die completely under a layer of water due to rotting.

Why did people in Asia, from ancient times, put so much effort into building canals and literally flooding their fields?

Why don't plants rot?

History and modernity

Rice is an extremely popular ancient product that was grown seven thousand years ago. In Asian countries it is most in demand; in the Chinese state alone there are approximately eight thousand varieties. Since rice is the main crop in Asian countries, its production is of utmost importance.



The maximum amount of cereals is grown in China; approximately 140 million tons are collected every year. India, Vietnam, and Indonesia are also considered “rice” countries. Outside of Asian territories, Brazilians can be called rice lovers. In Latin America, the scope is much more modest - up to 15 million tons annually.

In Europe, the crop is actively grown in Italy, where hundreds of varieties grow. There are also plantations in the United States, Australian and Turkish lands.

Growing method

The plant is cultivated using the pouring method, otherwise it is called irrigation. The technology involves growing in fields that are flooded with water. About half a month before harvesting, moisture is removed from the plantations. The seeds are first germinated in special containers, and then the original seedlings are transferred to the plantation.





In Asian countries, seedlings are picked manually. In the States, a different planting technology is used; planting material is immediately sent into the soil. This is not done manually, but with the assistance of aviation in most cases.

Why are fields watered?

As mentioned above, rice crops do not require a huge amount of water. If wild rice does grow in moist soil, then modern varieties can easily grow without being in wet areas. However, water prevents weeds from breaking through, which clog the rice and reduce the yield level.

Rice loves water and grows calmly in such places; it is not susceptible to rotting from swampy conditions. It is quite difficult for weeds to break through in such circumstances.



The irrigation method has one more advantage - environmental friendliness. Although it also does not exclude the use of pesticides, insecticidal compounds and fertilizers. With this method of cultivation, herbicides that stop the growth of weeds are most often not necessary. But these substances are needed in small quantities.

Dry rice farming

There are countries that grow the crop using the dry method. The fields in this option are standard; they are not spilled with water until they stagnate. Rice grows well with this cultivation method, but experts admit that the yield level is more modest than with flood cultivation.