Origin Of Rice
Rice is an annual food crop consumed in most countries of the world. It is a staple food and the world’s most important grain crop because it accounts for 20% of all calories consumed by humans. Rice is native to the region of the Yangtze River valley in China.
Rice is a monocot plant with round culms, flat leaves, and terminal panicles. Rice grown in tropical regions can survive as a perennial plant and produce a ratoon crop for 20 years. Its plant can grow to 1-1.8 meters tall, depending on the cultivar and soil fertility. The grass leaves are long and slender, 50-100 cm long and 2-2.5cm wide.
Rice is rated top amongst the popular food crops like banana, wheat, and corn. About 3 billion people (half of the world’s population) consume rice. Africa has cultivated rice for more than 3500 years.
Nutrient Composition Of Rice
Rice contains a lot of carbohydrates content. However, it has many other nutritional contents, beneficial to the human body. Nutritional facts of white rice per 100 g:
- Calories 130
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Dietary fiber 0.4 g
- Potassium 35 mg
- Protein 2.7 g
- Sodium 1 mg
- Total carbohydrates 28g
- Total Fat 0.3 g
Preferred Botanical Name:
Preferred Common Name:
Local Common Names;
- Ibibio: Adesi
- Yoruba: Iresi
- Hausa: Shinkafa
Medicinal Properties And Uses Of Rice
Rice is helpful in the body in so many ways. It is a great food combination to ensure good health. Below are some of its uses:
Great Source of Energy
Rice is an energy-giving food. It functions as fuel in the body, enabling man to work and carry out day-to-day activities. It also aids the functioning of the brain. The vitamins, minerals, and other organic elements boost your organ systems’ functioning and metabolic activity, increasing energy levels.
Cholesterol Free
Rice does not contain harmful fat, cholesterol, or sodium. It is a food that benefits your body; it is an essential constituent of a balanced diet. Any food that may offer nutrition without negative impacts on health is a bonus!
Lower levels of fat, cholesterol, and sodium may also help decrease obesity and the health problems related to being overweight.
Blood Pressure Management
Rice is low in sodium, making it an ideal food for those suffering from high blood pressure and hypertension. High sodium causes the veins and arteries to tighten, which enhances the stress and strain on the cardiovascular system since the blood pressure boosts.
That can result in conditions like atherosclerosis, stroke, and heart attacks. So eating foods low in sodium is highly recommended.
Skincare
Medical professionals state that powdered rice can be applied externally to prevent particular skin problems. On the Indian subcontinent, ayurvedic professionals instantly recommend rice water as an excellent cream to cool off swollen skin surfaces.
The brown or wild rice contains phenolic compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties, which help calm irritation and redness. The anti-oxidant capacity likewise helps delay the look of wrinkles along with other untimely telltale signs of aging that may affect the skin.
Rich in Vitamins
Rice is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals such as niacin, vitamin D, calcium, riboflavin, fiber, iron, and thiamine. The foundation for body metabolism, defense mechanisms, health, and the general functioning of the organ systems are built on these vitamins.
Resistant starch
The plenty of starch in rice reaches the bowel in an undigested form. This kind of starch energizes the development of beneficial bacteria, and bowel movements improve. Rice also reduces the effects of conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and diarrhea.
How To Grow Rice
Yield Information Of Rice
Depending on the variety, a rice crop will reach maturity around 105-150 days after crop germination. In some country regions, the mean temperature is favorable for rice cultivation throughout the year; the variety and stand density determines the number of grains per panicle.
Most varieties commonly produce 70 – 100 grains per panicle; the higher the plant density, the lower the number of grains per panicle.
Nursery And Transplant Requirement Of Rice
- Water the nursery bed regularly to keep the soil moist but not puddled and provide good drainage to allow easy irrigation.
- Select a good site with well-drained fertile soil exposed to full sunlight and conveniently located in an area close to the main planting site.
- Prepare seedbed at least seven days but preferably 14 days before the seeds are sown. Seedbed properties are 1 to 1.5 meters wide, length: 10m, height: 4 to 6 cm above the ground surface, and well leveled.
- Disperse the germinated seed uniformly on a wet-bed nursery or surface that is leveled for dry bed nursery.
- Use seed rate of 80–100 kg/ha depending on the percentage of seed.
- Drain excess water from the nursery bed for about a week.
- For a hill, transplant 2 to 3 seedlings to a depth of 3-4cm and at a 30 x 30 cm spacing.
Soil And Sun Requirements Of Rice
- Your land choice should have fertile and water-retaining soil. Clay soil with organic matter is an ideal soil type.
- Rice requires at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily. The plant requires sufficient sunlight during its growth period.
- The required minimum temperature is 15°C; plants will not grow below that temperature.
- Land preparation is an important step for crop growth before you can plant rice. The process involves tilling and digging up the soil (plowing and harrowing), mixing, and leveling the soil.
- Tilling the soil allows seeds to be planted at the correct depth and helps control the weed. You can till the soil with simple tools such as hoes, or with the help of draft animals such as buffalo, or with machines such as tractors.
- The land is leveled to reduce the water wasted by uneven pockets of too-deep water or exposed soil. The importance of effectively balancing the soil is that seedlings will quickly be established, crop management becomes easy, and yields and grain quality increase.
- Nitrogen is essential to rice plants at their tillering and panicle initiation phases. It is a vital nutrient for rice plants because it enhances growth, yield, and grain quality; lack of nitrogen results in stunting and uniform yellowing of the plants.
Watering Requirements Of Rice
Rice requires a lot of water. As a result, rice cultivation is done only in those areas where the minimum rainfall is 115 cm. However, regions with average annual rainfall between 175-300 cm are the most suitable.
Rice also needs flooded conditions with the depth of water varying over 25 mm at transplanting to as much as 150 mm for ten weeks of the growing period.
A general rule is that the rice crop will need approximately 10mm of water per day. Therefore a crop that matures in 100 days will require about 1000mm of water, while a crop of 150 days will require 50% more.
Planting And Spacing Requirements Of Rice
Consider the availability of space during rice planting. Rice seedlings grown on wet-bed or dry-bed are transplanted after 15-21 days at 20 x 20 cm spacing. You can also use a close spacing of 15 x 15 cm or 10 x 10 cm; this will depend on the planter’s availability and the cost of transplanting.
Harvesting Of Rice
Harvesting of rice involves collecting only the mature rice crop from the field. Harvesting involves cutting, stacking, handling, threshing, cleaning, and hauling. Harvesting can be done manually or mechanically. Using simple tools like sickles and knives during harvesting shows the manual method.
Although manual labor is labor-intensive, it is effective when a crop has fallen over or lodged. It will take about 40 to 80 hours to manually harvest a hectare of rice crop, and you will require additional labor to collect and haul the harvested crop manually.
Reapers or combined harvesting are the mechanical means of harvesting rice, but they are not common because they are expensive and not easily available. Threshing the rice involves separating the grain from the stalk and cleaning, and the processes can be done by hand or machine.
Storage of Rice and Rice Seeds
A suitable temperature for storing grains, including rice, is 40°F or below. Rice can last up to 10 and 30 years if stored at a constant 70° F with oxygen absorbers and in more excellent storage areas sealed in oxygen-free containers. Do not store in an open, humid, or moist area.
Dry the grains at a moisture level of 14%; use plastic or wooden pallets to keep the grains; do not store the grains directly on the floor.
Diseases And Pests Of Rice
Bacterial Leaf Streak
A bacteria causes this, and its symptoms include small, water-soaked streaks between leaf veins that are initially dark green and then translucent. Spots merge, and their color turns to light brown. The use of resistant rice varieties can control this disease.
Leaf Scald
A fungus causes this resulting in a scalded appearance on leaves. The lesion is marked with different zones alternating light tan and dark brown from leaf tips. Control it by planting resistant varieties.
Grassy Stunt
This viral disease causes pale green or yellow leaves, irregular patterns on leaves, and stunted plants. It can be managed as resistant varieties have been made to be able to resist the disease.
Leafhoppers And Planthoppers
The insect causes puncture on leaves and complete drying out of plants. It also transmits a lot of viruses affecting rice. You can control naturally by adopting the crop rotation method of planting and using natural enemies and predators.
Mole Cricket
This insect causes a cut in tillers at ground level and causes a gap in the rice field. You can control traditionally by practicing crop rotation, leveling, and adequately irrigating the field every 3-4 days after planting. Collect and kill the insect during land preparation.
Rice Blast
Fungi causes it. Symptoms include lesions on all parts of the rice shot, death of leaf blades, black necrotic patches on culm, and rotting panicles. Ways of managing this disease include planting resistant varieties and utilizing good water management to ensure plants do not suffer from drought stress.
Conclusion
Rice truly is a remarkable food, providing a wealth of nourishment and versatility. Its complex carbohydrates provide an abundant source of energy for our bodies, promoting proper functioning and helping with weight control. Moreover, this humble grain packs a powerful punch of vitamins and minerals, such as B vitamins and iron, that contribute to our overall health. With its low levels of sodium and cholesterol, rice also supports a healthy heart, while its dietary fiber aids digestion and keeps our gut in top shape.
Rice is an ideal choice for those with dietary restrictions, as it boasts gluten-free properties. Not only is it accessible and affordable, but its long shelf life also makes it a sustainable option for food globally. This versatile grain not only helps address concerns around food security, but it also supports and celebrates diverse culinary traditions.