Innovative Techniques and Practices in Sustainable Rice Cultivation

Sustainable rice cultivation in Europe is based on contemporary techniques that are implemented by more and more cultivators, with the aim of reducing water consumption, limiting chemical inputs and protecting the environment.
At the same time, these practices improve soil health and increase crop yields.

Key Elements of Sustainability in Rice Cultivation

Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD)

Producers manage rice field irrigation by alternating periods of inundation and dryness. Instead of maintaining the fields consistently inundated, they allow the water to be absorbed or to evaporate until the soil reaches a specific level of dryness (usually when the water level drops below 15 centimeters), before watering again.

System of Rice Intensification (SRI)

Growers are reducing planting density and improving soil aeration, applying controlled irrigation for healthier plants and higher yields with reduced reliance on fertilizers.

Crop Rotation & Cover Crops

After the rice is harvested, intermediate crops (e.g. clover, vetch) are grown that naturally enrich the soil, reduce erosion and limit the need for chemicals. Cultivators apply crop rotation (at least once every three years) to improve the structure and biodiversity of the agricultural ecosystem.

No-Till Farming

Growers avoid the conventional deep tilling that disturbs the soil and may cause the activation of weed seeds that are located deep underground. Light tilling is carried out immediately after harvest, disc tilling before sowing in spring and leveling of the field. Sowing is carried out using special machinery (fertilizer spreaders) that sow the seeds directly onto the submerged field with minimal disturbance. This maintains the structure of the soil and enhances microorganism activity.

No-Till Farming: Pseudo-sowing in Rice

Pseudo-sowing (or false sowing) involves preparing the soil, irrigating where necessary and mechanically eliminating weeds after 10-15 days. It induces seed germination and weed emergence so that they can be destroyed before sowing, which is delayed by a few days. This practice was the subject of a subsidized agri-environmental measure (Action 10.1.7) with the aim of limiting the use of herbicides in rice fields and reducing the risk to biodiversity from the use of pesticides.

Mechanical Weed Control

Growers employ workers to manually remove weeds before sowing, when these are few and localized. It is a time-consuming process but it prevents weeds from reproducing. Alternatively, special cutting machines are used, which are faster but require specialization. This accomplishes chemical-free weed elimination, enhancing the biodiversity of the area.