Rice Production in Upstate Missouri

Rice was produced in Northeast Missouri in Marion and St. Charles counties until the mid- 1970’s (Beck, 2004). A collaborative study was initiated in the spring, 2005 between Ventria BioScience, Premium Ag. Products, and the Greenley Research Center to evaluate the growth, development, and yield potential of different rice varieties in Northeast Missouri. Two additional sites were initiated in Northwest Missouri near Albany and Watson, MO. This summary will discuss the Northeast Missouri locations to date.

Research was conducted at the University of Missouri Greenley Research Center at Novelty in Knox County and the Ross Jones Farm near Bethel in Shelby County on a Putnam silt loam (claypan soil with an impermeable clay layer at the 20 inch depth which may be utilized to maintain the water-table for rice). This soil was selected due to the slowly permeable subsoil and the upland nature of the soil type. A plastic barrier was installed 24 inches deep to prevent lateral flow of water from the plot area.

The fields were disk-harrowed, cultivated, and mulched. Rice was drill-seeded at 80 lbs/acre in 10 in. rows with a two-row hand planter on May 6 at both locations. Plots were maintained weed-free by chemical weed management and hand weeding as needed. Rice varieties included TP309, M202, Cocodrie, M103 Ilpumbyeo, Wells, XP723, CLXL8, Trenase, Ketaiki, Norin 20, Kihara, and Johiku-314. An additional non-treated Cocodrie plot was included to monitor weeds, insects, and the incidence of disease. Command plus Facet was applied preemergence followed by Prowl plus Stam early postemergece and Basagran at a late postemergence timing. Nitrogen was applied preflood followed by two broadcast, sidedress applications of urea at 50 lbs N/a. Growth rates, disease susceptibility, days to 50 and 100% heading, days to maturity, plant height, lodging, and grain yield were determined.

Rice cultivars attained 100% flowering from July 25 to September 16, and full maturity was reached by October 1 to October 5. Seven varieties matured before a killing frost in Northeast Missouri in 2005 (Figure 1). Grain yield of Cocodrie, M202, M103, Wells, XP723, and Trenase was greater than 9,500 lbs/acre at Novelty and Bethel in 2006. Some varieties lodged including M103, Trenase, and M202 at Bethel, and TP309, M103, M202, and XP723 at Novelty. Weed species present in upstate Missouri flooded rice in 2005 included common cocklebur, fall panicum, barnyardgrass, giant foxtail, and common waterhemp. Weed interference reduced rice grain yield 4,680 lbs/acre at Novelty while yield at Bethel was not affected by weed interference since weed population density was low at this location. Weed dry weight was affected by water depth.

A special thanks is extended to Matt Jones, Greg Hessong, Frank Veeman, and Randall Smoot, Sheena Mitchell, Erik McGuire, and Steve Webb for their technical assistance with the project. A special thanks is also extended to Dr. Gene Stevens and Dr. Brian Ottis for their production suggestions, recommendations, and supplying additional seed for the trial.

References:
Beck, B.E. 2004. Rice Production in Missouri: A Brief History and Outlook. [online]. Poplar Bluff, University Outreach and Extension. Available from: http://agebb.missouri.edu/rice/ricehist.htm. Accessed 12 July 2005.

Figure 1. Rice grain yields at Novelty and Bethel in 2005. Stars indicate cultivars that matured prior to a killing frost. The LSD (p=0.05) at Novelty and Bethel was 3,470 and 1,670 lbs/acre, respectively.