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Paddy Rice and Upland Crop Cultivation Operations

Agriculture · 農業 · Written by Tokutei Pass based on the official study texts; not copied verbatim.

Rice Seed Selection (Saltwater Selection) and Raising Seedlings

In paddy rice cultivation, first perform "saltwater selection (ensuisen)" using salt water with a specific gravity of about 1.13 to select plump, heavy seeds that sink to the bottom, followed by seed disinfection to prevent disease.

Soak the disinfected rice seeds in water so they absorb sufficient moisture ("soaking / shinshu"), then warm them at around 30–32℃ until sprouts emerge by about 1mm ("pre-sprouting / saiga") before sowing into nursery trays.

Manage temperature and moisture carefully during seedling raising, and acclimate the seedlings to outdoor temperatures and sunlight before transplanting ("hardening / kouka").

Key points


  • In saltwater selection, choose the heavy, well-filled rice seeds that sink to the bottom.

  • Follow the sequence: seed disinfection -> soaking (shinshu) -> pre-sprouting (saiga) -> sowing.

  • Acclimating seedlings to outdoor air and sunlight before transplanting is called "hardening (kouka)".
WordMeaning
saltwater seed selection
seed soaking / pre-sprouting
nursery tray (seedling box)
hardening (acclimation of seedlings)

Paddy Field Preparation (Tilling and Puddling) and Transplanting

To prepare a paddy field, first spread basal fertilizer and compost and perform "tilling/plowing (kouki)" to break up clods and aerate the soil. Also plaster the levees ("azenuri") around the paddy to prevent water leakage.

Next, flood the paddy and pulverize and level the wet soil in an operation called "puddling (shirokaki)". Puddling prevents water seepage, suppresses weed emergence, and creates an even surface for transplanting seedlings.

After transplanting with a rice transplanter, manually plant seedlings into any missed spots ("missing hills / kekkabu") in a step called "replanting (hoshoku)".

Paddy Field Preparation (Tilling and Puddling) and Transplanting

Key points


  • Tilling breaks up and aerates the soil, while levee plastering prevents water leakage through the bunds.

  • Puddling levels the flooded soil, prevents water seepage, and suppresses weeds.

  • Missed hills after mechanical transplanting are filled manually through replanting (hoshoku).
WordMeaning
tilling (plowing) / levee plastering
puddling (leveling flooded soil)
rice transplanter
missing hill / replanting

Paddy Water Management, Mid-season Drainage, and Panicle Fertilizer

Right after transplanting, maintain slightly deep water to protect seedlings from wind and cold until roots establish; once established, switch to shallow water to warm the soil and promote "tillering (bungetsu)".

Once the target number of stems is reached, temporarily drain the paddy to dry the soil in a practice called "mid-season drainage (nakaboshi)". This suppresses non-productive tillers, releases toxic soil gases, supplies oxygen to strengthen roots, and prevents lodging.

During young panicle formation, apply "panicle fertilizer (hogoe)" to improve grain number and ripening. Keep the field well-irrigated during booting, heading, and flowering when water demand peaks, and use deep water during cold spells to protect young panicles.

Paddy Water Management, Mid-season Drainage, and Panicle Fertilizer

Key points


  • Use shallow water after establishment to promote tillering, then perform mid-season drainage (nakaboshi) once stems are sufficient.

  • Mid-season drainage suppresses unproductive tillers, vents soil gases, strengthens roots, and prevents lodging.

  • Apply panicle fertilizer (hogoe) at young panicle formation and avoid water shortages during booting and heading.
WordMeaning
tillering / non-productive tillers
mid-season drainage
young panicle / panicle fertilizer
heading (panicle emergence)

Rice Pests & Diseases, Harvesting, Drying, and Hulling

Typical rice diseases include "rice blast (imochibyou)", which causes lesions on leaves and panicles, and "sheath blight (mongarebyou)". Key pests include "planthoppers (unka)" that suck stem sap and wither plants, and "stink bugs (kamemushi)" that feed on panicles and cause black-spotted "pecky rice (hantenmai)".

Optimal harvest timing is judged by cumulative temperature after heading (about 950–1,100℃) and when roughly 80–90% of the grains on the panicle have turned yellow. Before harvesting, drain the paddy ("final drainage / rakusui") so the ground firms up for the combine harvester.

Freshly harvested rough rice spoils quickly if left wet, so dry it in a grain dryer to a moisture content of about 14.5–15.0%. Next, remove the husks with a rice huller (momisuriki) to produce "brown rice (genmai)" and sort out immature grains.

Key points


  • Control rice blast, planthoppers, and stink bugs (which cause black-spotted pecky rice).

  • Harvest when about 80–90% of grains have yellowed, after draining the field (rakusui) to firm the ground.

  • Dry harvested grain to about 14.5–15% moisture and hull it into brown rice (genmai).
WordMeaning
rice blast disease / pecky (spotted) rice
final drainage before harvest
combine harvester
rice hulling / brown rice

Cultivation of Major Upland Crops (Wheat/Barley, Soybeans, and Tuber Crops)

Wheat and barley are sensitive to excess moisture, requiring good field drainage. In winter, perform "wheat treading (mugifumi)" by pressing down the young plants to prevent frost heaving, spindly growth, and lodging while encouraging strong root development.

Soybeans (a legume) have symbiotic "rhizobia (root nodule bacteria)" that fix atmospheric nitrogen, so basal nitrogen fertilizer is kept low. Perform intertillage and hilling ("chuukou / baido") during growth, and prevent drought during flowering and pod filling.

Potatoes are planted using cut seed tubers with eyes, and soil is hilled around the base to prevent light exposure and greening (toxic solanine formation). Sweet potatoes are planted from vine cuttings, and "vine turning (tsurugaeshi)" prevents adventitious rooting along the vines.

Key points


  • Wheat treading (mugifumi) prevents frost heaving, spindly growth, and lodging.

  • Soybean roots host symbiotic root nodule bacteria (rhizobia) that fix nitrogen from the air.

  • Potatoes are planted from seed tubers and hilled to prevent greening, while sweet potatoes are planted from vine cuttings.
WordMeaning
wheat treading (soil compaction on seedlings)
root nodule bacteria (rhizobia)
intertillage / hilling (earthing up)
vine turning (sweet potato)

Rice, Field Crops and Vegetables

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