Caring for spring rice during the tillering and heading stages.

During the spring planting season, the prolonged period of severe cold weather caused difficulties. However, starting from March onwards, the weather became relatively favorable, with light rain and drizzle interspersed with warm sunny days, creating conditions for the rice plants to grow and develop well. Currently, most of the rice fields have entered the tillering and heading stages.

The 4 sao (approximately 0.4 hectares) of rice belonging to Ms. Luu Thi Xuan's family in Cay Tho village, Duc Ninh commune (Ham Yen district) is thriving. According to Ms. Xuan, the rice is in the tillering and girdling stage and is expected to flower at the end of April. Compared to last year's spring crop, the beginning of the season was difficult due to prolonged severe cold weather affecting the rooting and greening of the young rice plants.

From March until now, the weather has been relatively favorable, with sufficient irrigation water. In particular, the two "golden" rains at the end of March and beginning of April have helped the rice plants sprout noticeably. Ms. Xuan shared that the rice plants are currently in the tillering stage (forming and nurturing panicles) and need additional nutrients. Based on her experience as an agricultural worker, she applies a combination of three fertilizers: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. According to Ms. Xuan, this combined fertilization ensures stronger panicles and healthier plants, reducing lodging during the heavy rains and strong winds at the end of April and May.

Residents of Oang village, Dao Vien commune (Yen Son district) are spraying pesticides to prevent rice blast disease in their spring rice crop.

Farmers in various localities throughout the province are also actively inspecting their fields, focusing on care and eagerly awaiting the spring rice crop. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Long, from Oang village, Phu Thinh commune (Yen Son district), shared that the rice is in the heading stage and is very sensitive to weather conditions as well as pests and diseases. To protect the spring rice crop, Mr. Long regularly inspects his fields, closely monitoring the growth and development of the rice plants, and promptly addressing any detected pests or diseases. According to Mr. Long, the spring rice is developing very well, but there are scattered signs of rice blast disease on some rice plants and leaves. To prevent the risk of disease spread, Mr. Long proactively uses specific pesticides and sprays them for prevention.

Comrade Nguyen Thanh Long, Deputy Head of the Provincial Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, stated: Through field inspections, the main spring rice crop is currently in the tillering and heading stage, while the late rice crop is in the final rapid tillering and heading stage. This is a crucial and necessary time for caring for and fertilizing the rice plants to promote heading, as fertilizing at this time ensures sufficient nutrients are supplied from the beginning to both the main tillers and the smaller tillers during the panicle differentiation and development process. Furthermore, topdressing during heading largely determines rice yield because this is the period that determines the number of grains per panicle.

To ensure a bountiful harvest, the Provincial Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection has issued a directive instructing specialized departments to closely coordinate with local authorities to guide farmers in focusing on weeding rice, maintaining sufficient and stable water levels in the fields; and applying fertilizer to promote panicle initiation with 2-3 kg of potassium and about 0.5-1 kg of urea per sao (approximately 1000 square meters). If the rice grows and develops poorly, farmers should add about 0.5-1 kg of nitrogen.

Besides fertilizing, farmers should pay attention to clearing weeds from the field edges to limit the sheltering of pests that can harm rice crops. The changing weather, with overcast skies and fewer hours of sunshine, creates an ideal environment for pests and diseases such as bacterial leaf blight, thrips, leaf rollers, stem borers, and brown planthoppers to develop and cause damage. Field surveys by the Sub-Department have shown that pests such as rice stem flies, small leaf rollers, stem borers, brown planthoppers and white-backed planthoppers, blast disease, and bacterial blight have appeared sporadically, with some areas showing high densities of 3-5 insects/ ^m² and disease outbreaks of 3-5%/ ^m² .

Regarding rice blast and brown spot diseases, localized outbreaks of 10-20% disease/m2 have appeared in Ham Yen and Yen Son districts. Rice blast is the most dangerous disease for rice plants during the heading stage; if control measures are not implemented immediately, it will spread rapidly and seriously affect rice yield and production.

To control rice blast disease, the Provincial Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection recommends that farmers closely monitor the disease's development on rice plants and immediately spray with pesticides such as: Lúa vàng 20 WP, Trizole 20WP, Nativo750 WG... For other pests such as thrips, leaf rollers, stem borers, and brown planthoppers, farmers should use some of the following pesticides: Regent 800WG, Actara 25WG, Padan 95SP, and Oturs 5SC... The use of plant protection products must comply with the instructions on the packaging and ensure appropriate withdrawal periods to avoid waste and protect the environment.

At this time, farmers need to regularly visit their fields, closely monitor the growth and development of the rice plants; follow the recommendations of the professional sector, and effectively care for and control pests and diseases to ensure a successful spring crop.

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