Rice seedlings just after they were planted in June. A single seedling is transplanted at an even spacing of 25cm x25cm and at just 2 weeks after the seed is planted in a seedling bed. This is a few of the basic principles of planting rice in a method called the System of Rice Intensification aka SRI. With SRI you also water the rice and keep the ground moist but not flooded and it also requires more weeding, since it is not flooded and the water can't keep the weeds down.

With this method Farmers around the world are increasing their yields substantially. Scientist are still debating whether it is the actual method or just that the farmers are taking better care of their rice as to the reason for the increase in yield.

This is the same paddy as it is growing. We have two replications of 8 different varieties planted here.

The rice as it is ready to harvest.

Just before harvest.

Me in the partially harvested paddy. We had to harvest each replication of each variety separate and only the inside of each block leaving the guard rows for later, so we can evaluate how well each of the varieties produced.