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Crop rotation in rice<\/a> Irrigated farming is one of the strategies to improve soil health, control weeds, and increase productive stability. Between June and December, a period encompassing the off-season and the establishment of the new crop, the producer can define the species and management practices that will be used before and after rice cultivation. Planning also allows for improved water use and recycling. nutrients<\/a> and reduce dependence on inputs. The choice of system, however, must consider drainage conditions, topography, the area's history, infrastructure, and the property's economic objectives.\n<\/p>\n Rotation and succession in irrigated rice.<\/strong><\/p>\n Crop rotation consists of the planned alternation of species in the same area over different growing seasons. In irrigated rice, the system can alternate the cereal with rainfed crops or temporary pastures during cycles of two years or more. Succession, on the other hand, corresponds to the sequence of crops in the same agricultural year or in consecutive years. An example is the cultivation of rice followed by a winter cover crop, such as oats or ryegrass, and then rice again the following summer.<\/p>\n When there are limitations in terms of terrain, drainage, or irrigation infrastructure, simpler systems, such as rice \u2192 winter cover \u2192 rice, tend to be used. In areas with better conditions for rainfed crops, it is possible to adopt more diversified systems, such as rice \u2192 soybeans \u2192 pasture \u2192 rice.<\/p>\n Weed control<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the main benefits of diversification lies in the management of invasive plants adapted to the irrigated rice environment. Species such as Echinochloa spp., including red rice and barnyardgrass, can become more difficult to control in areas continuously cultivated with rice. Alternating between environments with and without water and between different crops also expands the possibilities for herbicide management and helps reduce selection pressure on resistant biotypes.<\/p>\n The soil gains protection and fertility.<\/strong><\/p>\n Crop rotation also contributes to improving soil structure and fertility. Continuous cultivation associated with intensive tillage operations and prolonged periods under water can promote compaction and degradation of the soil structure. Winter cover crops and summer legumes help to build structure, increase organic matter, protect against erosion, and recycle nutrients, especially nitrogen. A more diverse root system also favors exploration of the soil profile and can improve the availability of water and nutrients for crops.<\/p>\n Water, pests and diseases<\/strong><\/p>\n Crop rotation planning allows for the coordination of irrigation water use with the needs of different crops and better utilization of seasonal rainfall. Alternating species can also interrupt cycles of rice-specific diseases and pests, reducing the need for chemical interventions. In addition to agronomic gains, diversification can contribute to economic stability by combining rice with summer crops, such as soybeans, or with integrated crop-livestock systems.<\/p>\n Crops for winter<\/strong><\/p>\n Between June and September or October, the producer can use different species for cover crops, grazing, or seed production. Among the winter grasses are black oats (Avena strigosa), rye (Secale cereale), and annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum). Legumes such as vetch (Vicia sativa) and crimson clover (Trifolium vesiculosum) can also be used.\n<\/p>\n Mixtures of grasses and legumes allow for a combination of straw production and nitrogen fixation. When well managed, the cover crop protects the soil and prepares the area for the subsequent rice crop in minimum tillage or no-till systems.<\/p>\n Soybeans and corn are included in the planning.<\/strong><\/p>\n Between October and March or April, soybeans can be an alternative in areas with good drainage and suitable terrain for rainfed cultivation. Corn can also be included in the rotation in specific situations, provided that the risk of waterlogging and the longer cycle of the crop are considered.<\/p>\n Annual summer pastures, such as millet or other adapted grasses, can also be used in crop-livestock integration systems. In areas with limited drainage, rotation with rainfed summer crops may be restricted. In these cases, succession between rice and winter cover crops remains an alternative for managing crop residue and water.<\/p>\n What to do between June and December<\/strong><\/p>\n After harvesting rice, the producer should assess the moisture, compaction, crop residue, and weed infestation of the area. In very waterlogged areas, it may be necessary to wait for the moisture to decrease before sowing the winter crop or allowing machinery to enter the field.<\/p>\n Between June and August, the choice of species should consider straw production, root system, ease of management, and compatibility with the rice planting window. Between August and October, the producer needs to define the cover crop management, which may involve grazing, mowing, roller-knife, or chemical desiccation, according to the purpose of the crop.<\/p>\n During the transition to rice cultivation, between September and November, it is necessary to adjust irrigation and drainage systems, regulate machinery, and plan weed control. Rice sowing, between October and December, should consider the appropriate time for the region, the cultivar's cycle, expected rainfall, and the availability of water for irrigation.<\/p>\n The decision must consider each area.<\/strong><\/p>\n The choice between crop rotation and succession needs to be made according to the characteristics of each plot. Higher areas with better drainage are more suitable for rotation with rainfed summer crops, such as soybeans. Low-lying and poorly drained areas tend to favor succession systems between rice and winter cover crops. The history of red rice and other weeds should also be considered in the decision. The greater the infestation, the greater the need to alternate crops and growing environments.\n<\/p>\n The economic objective must also be considered, whether it be grain production, livestock farming, income diversification, or soil restoration. The available infrastructure, including machinery, irrigation and drainage systems, and equipment for no-till farming, completes the criteria for defining the system.<\/p>\n Management needs to be reviewed every season.<\/strong><\/p>\n Planning begins with a diagnosis of the area, considering cultivation history, productivity, phytosanitary problems, soil characteristics, topography, and water availability. Then, the producer must define the system's objective, select the species, and create an operational calendar between June and December. Each harvest, the system can be adjusted according to productivity, management costs, and the evolution of phytosanitary problems.<\/p>\n Among the best practices is avoiding planting rice after rice for many consecutive years, especially in areas with a high history of red rice. It is also recommended to keep the soil covered throughout the year, adopt integrated weed, pest and disease management, and seek technical assistance from an agricultural engineer when introducing new species or making changes to water and soil management.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\nTHE MM Cereais<\/strong> It works with the best rice grains on the market and also keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and analysis about agribusiness.
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