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Drought: What are the symptoms and what can you do?
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Rice is very sensitive to drought, especially around the flowering stage. All plant nutrients are taken up via water, so the nutrient uptake of the plant is also reduced.
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Symptoms:
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Plant under drought stress
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early leaf senescence (=early aging)
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occurrence of whiteheads and spikelet sterility
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flowering can be earlier or later depending on the variety
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(click on the arrows)
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Reduce the damage by:
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irrigation; this is the best method but often expensive and difficult
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Irrigation with sprinklers
Direct seeding
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choosing a good cultivar and a planting date that increases the probability of moisture being available during the critical flowering period
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direct seeding establishment which makes better use of early rains and helps to avoid late seasons drought
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good nutrient management to avoid drought induced nutrient limitations
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improving the soil so it can better hold water (e.g. by using organic materials like manure or crop residues)
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(click on the arrows)
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