A typical method for casting flooded field
rice growing is as follows:
Land
preparation
A leveled, flat landbed is surrounded
by side earth walls, for water control. Then, the surrounded
field is flooded until the water level is approximately
1-2 cm high and allowed to sit for a few days. The source
of water could come from natural rainfall, cannels, or
a well.
Seed
preparation
Separate from the prepared ricefield,
paddy seeds are soaked overnight. The next morning, the
seeds are drained and allowed to rest for a few days.
The seed will sprout. (Seed preparation and land preparation
are done at the same time.)
Plowing
After the prepared land
has been allowed to sit for a few days, it is now ready
for plowing. Farmers could plow the ricefield either by
using modern machinary or using animal labor (i.e. water
buffaloes). Plowing is necessary to eliminate weed that
could grow overnight in the flooded field, without using
chemicals. Moreover, plowing also signifies the beginning
of the rice growing cycle.
Casting
Immediately after plowing, rice
sprouts are transferred to the plowed field. This transferring
method is called casting. In Thailand, hand casting by
an experienced farmer is preferred, in order to produce
even rows of casting.
Resting
After casting, rice
sprouts will mature to young plants in a few days. Water
is then drained into the field until its level reaches
that of the lowest leaves on the rice plant; however,
the water level must not exceed 2-3 cm high. For the next
3-4 months, rice plants will be left to grow into paddy
and turn lightbrown in color. In the mean time, the rice
field remains constantly flooded.
Draining
Once the rice paddy turns light
brown, water is drained, and the field is left to dry.
Harvest
After the drained field is completely
dry, and the plant turns to hay color, the paddy is harvested
either by a sickle or a machine.
