Rice, a frequent guest at this table and one of the indispensable staple foods in our daily lives, is little known about how it grows. Now, let's unravel the mystery of rice together and witness the amazing journey from seed to food.
Seed selection is a crucial step before planting rice. High-quality seeds are like hope for the future and the foundation of a good harvest. Farmers carefully select the most suitable varieties according to the local soil, climate and other conditions. Once the seeds have been chosen, it is time to sow the seeds. In the right season, farmers are looking forward to sowing their seeds in the moist fields. This stage of work is crucial, as the germination of seeds will have a direct impact on subsequent growth and yield.
After sowing, the paddy begins to enter the bud stage. At this stage, the paddy absorbs the water from the field and breaks through the soil, gradually growing tender green seedlings. This period is one of the key stages of rice growth, and farmers need to carry out timely field management, such as irrigation, weeding, fertilization, etc., to ensure the normal growth of seedlings.
Over time, the paddy enters the tillering stage. At this stage, rice begins to shift from vegetative growth to reproductive growth. At this time, the root system of the rice is more developed, the stalks are gradually thickened, and the leaves become more dense and green. In order to adapt to the growth needs at this stage, farmers need to apply fertilizer at the right time to meet the nutrients required by the rice.
After entering the jointing and booting stage, the growth rate of rice was significantly accelerated. At this stage, the ears begin to form gradually, and the stalks of the rice become thicker. At this time, farmers need to strengthen water management in the field and maintain appropriate soil moisture to promote the normal development of rice ears.
With the arrival of summer, the paddy has entered the heading and flowering period. At this stage, the ears of rice are gradually drawn from the rice plant, and at the same time pale yellow flowers bloom. This is one of the most critical stages in the rice growth process, and farmers need to keep a close eye on weather changes to avoid damage to the ears caused by extreme weather. At this time, it is also the high incidence period of rice blast and other diseases, and farmers need to strengthen disease prevention and control work to ensure the normal growth of rice ears.
After a period of growth, the ears of rice gradually mature, and the rice also changes from pale yellow to golden yellow. At this time, the farmers will seize the opportunity to harvest. During the harvesting process, it is not only necessary to ensure the integrity of the paddy, but also to choose the right harvesting time to ensure the quality and yield of the paddy. After harvesting, the rice still needs to go through processes such as drying and hulling before it can become rice for our daily consumption. Drying is to remove excess water and prevent the rice from becoming moldy and spoiling; Hulling is the process of removing the husk of the rice to obtain brown rice. Brown rice also needs to be further processed to become polished rice, and this process mainly includes milling, polishing and other processes. Eventually, the milled rice is packaged into bags and sold in the market.
Looking back on the growth process of rice, from seed selection to harvesting to processing, every link embodies the hard work and wisdom of farmers. It is their meticulous care and continuous efforts that allow us to enjoy this delicious rice. Let us cherish every grain of rice and be grateful for the hard work of farmers. At the same time, it is also necessary to pay attention to the rice growth process, understand agricultural knowledge, and support sustainable agricultural development.