Introduction

• Well drained upland field with sandy loam soil near irrigation

source is selected for bed preparation.

• 500m2 nursery produces seedling sufficient for 1 ha field. Beds 1-

1.5 m wide and length depending upon the slope and structure of

soil are made. Raised beds are ideal if the soil is clayey.

• Wet bed, dry bed and SRI Nursery are the three major methods

of raising rice seedlings in a nursery.

Nursery Site Selection:

Nursery should be located away from electric light as they attract

insects at night.

Location: Near irrigation source, leveled, and convenient for

cultural operations and free from stubbles, stones, etc.

Soil Characters: Fertile, rich in organic matter, free from soil

borne pathogens, nematodes, pests and weed seeds.

Land Preparation

Dry Nursery: Summer ploughing reduces the water requirement for

initial land preparation. Flood the field 1 or 2 days before ploughing

Wet Nursery: Add organic manures as needed. Irrigate, plow,

puddle and level the field

SRI Nursery: Seedlings raised in egg boxes filled with medium is

advantageous but conventional wet beds can be used. The addition

of organic manure is advisable.

Puddling for wet nursery

Land preparation for dry rice nursery

Land Preparation

Seed Bed Preparation for Dry nursery

• Raised beds of 120 cm wide, 15 cm high and any convenient

length should be prepared with a channel half a meter wide all

round them to facilitate drainage.

• 30kg FYM must be added in 15 m2 nursery bed.

Fig. Seed bed for dry rice nursery

Seed Bed Preparation for Wet Nursery

Leveling of seed bed surface

• Seedbeds are 2.5m wide and 8-10m

long depending on soil and slope.

• 30cm wide drainage channels are dug

around seedbeds.

• Collect the puddled soil from channel

and spread it on the seedbeds so as

to raise them.

• Level surface of seedbeds so that

water drains into the channels.

Seed Bed Preparation for SRI Nursery

• Raising seedlings in egg boxes filled with vermicompost or

organic manure is also advantageous.

• Conventional wet beds are commonly used for raising seedlings

by SRI method.

• Addition of organic manure before sowing is advisable.