"SEC | S20W2: How to cultivate a paddy"

It feels good that I am joining the engagement challenge for the second week. My favourite community, steem-agro, keeps the tides up as we find peace participating here.

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In preparing for paddy cultivation, we will consider this duo stage as very important and foundational to our very first beginning.

In seedbed preparation, we have to prepare the land for this purpose by using machinery (the tractor) to plough the soil. This should be done in such a manner that the soil is levelled down enough to avoid sloppy areas or areas that would promote waterlogs.

When all the machinery work is concluded, it is important that we flood the soil with water enough to cause moisture to the ground. In achieving this, the soil has to be padded around it to avoid leakages. This allows water to settle in and give it the actual mix of soil and water.

When we are satisfied with the flooding and the soil is saturated, it is important we exit and dry the land. When drying the soil is completed, we can
now go for smoothing of the seedbed. This makes way for soil preparation.

The soil preparation, is what follows next in our paddy cultivation. A soil testing procedure is carried out to ascertain the pH level of the soil. This is one important stage that allows us to know how to deal with other preparations. This is an important guide to fertilization application.

This would also give us an insight on how to handle pests and diseases and what type of seed to use so as to achieve high yield. Sowing is down to get this stage completed.

Planting at the right means we are 50% prepared to handle other things that follow on. This helps us to stay a step ahead of those things that would ordinarily be a problem to our crops.

Planting at the right time would help us manage the ever less predictable weather conditions of our present time. When we plant at the right time, it happens that we have low chances of being affected by climatic changes.

Planting at the right time would also help us manage the prevalence of pests and diseases. We would have been prepared for them beforehand, and also, our crops are of a good resistant stage to withstand them.

Planting at the right time would adequately make provisions for us on water availability. We plant knowing the outcomes of seasons and well as the provision for irrigation systems. Planting and leveraging on rainfall supplies would be strategic.

Planting at the right time would allow us to plan and make adequate use of resources** around us. We don't need to be faced by shortages or taken by surprise by outcomes.

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Planting at the right time means that we will likely have low cases of our crops failing at different germination stages. It guarantees that soil temperature is of best condition to promote yield.

The essence kf Planting at the right time is.to achieved good quality yield of our crops and also best quantity as well. This means a happy farmer during harvest.

Water is essential until harvest is achieved. This means that at different stages in paddy cultivation, we have to irrigate where rainfall is available. I mentioned this during seedbed preparation where we had to flood the soil. We will still have to flood the soil at later stages when we observe less moisture.

The paddy farm requires mositure, but we have to be weary of not causing soil waterlogging that choke crop out of oxygen.

Fertilizer application should be introduced based on our calculation and precision to observation. We don't introduce our NPK because we need to. This can be done based on the leaf performance and growth pattern.

Also, fertilizer should be applied based on routine soil testing done on the farm. Like we did during the soil preparation stage, it should guide us on amounts to apply.

The hoppers are majorly seen as devourers of our paddy farm, be it the green or brown leaf hoppers. We also have the steem borers and leaf folder. This leaf is so annoying as they juat come and create a discomfort to our crops that deprives them of food through sunlight (photosynthesis).

We all have different methods of managing pests and diseases. Sometimes, the use of natural methods are important to help remove this pests without much trouble. We introduce our birds like the duck, and it does a lot of picking up.

During soil preparation, seed selction was mentioned, we should know this is important. Selcting seeds that resistant to most of this pests and diseases are suitable for use always.

The use of pesticides also could be used. This is a chemical control measure and should be guided during use.

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After harvesting, we are faced by another stage which is;

• drying the rice to enable other processes
• threshing the rice to remove the straw
• Winnowing to help remove chaff
• We will now clean up by seperating broken grains and other debris.

During storage one thing is certain which is ensuring we achievd a moisture free rice. This determines how far we can store them in silos and other storage facilities.

This is my storyline and entry for paddy cultivation.

I am inviting @evetim, @pretty-precious, @chant.