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RICE RATOONING - IRRI books - International Rice Research Institute

RICE RATOONING - IRRI books - International Rice Research Institute

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248 <strong>RICE</strong> <strong>RATOONING</strong>Should the season be long enough for two successive main crops, thenratooning becomes considerably less attractive. Usually the yield per day per area ofa ratoon crop is far less than that of a main crop (2).Saving on inputsRatooning often means getting something for nothing. Another crop is possiblewithout additional inputs (land preparation, fertilizer, etc), an important considerationin almost all situations. Ratooning has been considered for use with hybrid rice(10) to gain more benefits from the extra inputs associated with its seed production.Avoiding natural hazardsNatural hazards, such as drought or flood, can make ratooning attractive. Olderplants often tolerate such stresses better than young plants. One approach toweather-related stress is to redesign the cropping calendar, moving the conventionalrice crop up to before the main season, and ratooning during the main season. Thisprocedure has been proposed for deep water rice (5). Other examples are cold spellavoidance in Swaziland (14) and India (6).In this type of main crop/ratoon crop pattern, the calendar is radicallychanged.Other usesRatooning is used by rice scientists for other purposes, many of which are not relatedto cropping. Ratooning is used as a breeding method for conventional rice, ingrowing F 1 generations in more than one successive season (27), in collecting ricegermplasm from farmers’ fields as stem cuttings while the crop is still vegetative (24and current author), and in using ratooning ability as an indicator of lodgingresistance and spikelet fertility (18, 20).CHARACTERIZATION OF <strong>RATOONING</strong> ABILITYFor agronomists and breeders, characterization of the ratooning phenomenon isvery important. Breeders are especially interested in ratooning aspects that areamenable to selection.COMPONENTS OF <strong>RATOONING</strong> ABILITYRatooning is a complex phenomenon. It is possible to distinguish six groups offactors that contribute to a successful ratoon crop.Vegetative budsGenotypic. Varietal differences in tendency to produce basal or upper nodal axialtillers (23, 31).Environmental. Water management before and after cutting, cutting height ofthe stubble (31).

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