Submergence: What can you do?

 

Rice plants transport air (i.e., oxygen) from the leaves to the roots. So, rice can survive and grow in flooded fields as long as at least some leaves stick out of the water. However, complete submergence cuts the oxygen supply and most rice varieties die within a few days. When submergence happens at flowering, fertilization can not occur and complete yield loss is the consequence even if the plants survive.

Plants after submergence

 

Reduce the damage by:

 

choosing adequate cultivars (tall and/or submergence tolerant varieties);

 

Choosing a variety that can grow taller in case of floods

 

adjusting the planting time to fit in the hydrological fluctuations in the area;

 

double transplanting (seedling are transplanted two times to have tall seedlings for areas with medium deep flooding risk);

 

(click on the arrows)