General Information About Rice As A Cereal Grain

Rice is a cereal grain that comes in different shapes, sizes, colours, and tastes. For approximately half the population on earth, people consider rice the staple food for their diet. Rice is mostly consumed in Asian countries however is also enjoyed everywhere around the world.

Rice can be found growing in almost all continents however most of the earth’s rice is yielded in eastern to southeastern Asia. The only continent that cannot grow rice is Antarctica due to extremely cold temperatures, little sunlight, little moisture, and bad soil quality.

Most of Australia’s yield of rice is harvested in southern regions of New South Wales between Murrumbidgee and Murray Valleys. Regions in northern Victoria and Queensland also grow rice.

Rice is found to grow the most productively at a latitude of 53° and 40° towards the Arctic Circle. The crop is mainly grown in grassland regions due to the land that provides a lot of space for the growth of crops and livestock. The grassland regions also provide for rice’s most productive temperature for growth which is 20 to 40 degrees Celsius however rice can grow in almost all biomes except for tundra, desert, and polar.

The grassland regions also provide for the abundant masses of sunlight required for the four-month growth period of rice. It is recommended for rice to experience about 175cm to 300cm of annual rainfall. The best type of soil for most rice is the fertile riverine alluvial soil. The soil consists mainly of silt, sand, clay, and gravel. The fertile riverine alluvial soil can hold a lot of water.

Sometimes, growing rice can be harmful to the environment. When growing rice, methane (CH4) can be released into the atmosphere. Methane is a harmful greenhouse gas. Methane is approximately 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2). Growing rice provides at least 1.4% of the earth’s greenhouse gases (2014).

Land terracing is also a possible harmful factor for the environment. Land terracing is a farming technique to prevent rainfall runoff. Land terracing may damage the soil and environment (eg. landslides) if the proper procedure to build is not done properly however if done properly, land terracing may be good for the environment. Land terracing can prevent land degradation and reduce water and soil loss.

As the demand for rice grows, it is estimated that the production and yield of rice will rise up by 25% from what it is today. This would mean approximately 62.5million to 120million tonnes of methane released into the atmosphere compared to the 50million-100million tonnes every year.

The result of too much methane gas being released into the atmosphere is climate change. It is predicted by scientists that is the production of rice and the release of methane gas continues, most coastal areas will be underwater by 2050.

The environment can also affect the amount of yield collected each year. In mild cases, droughts can affect the yield of rice by 17% and 32% in the most severe cases (Refer to Source 2.1). If flooding occurs, it can also be detrimental to the growth of rice. If rice is given more than 5000 liters of water during the 4-month growth period, rice may not be able to grow at optimum productivity.

There are two different farming methods to grow rice: direct seeding and transplanting. Transplanting is the most commonly used for the harvest of rice compared to direct seeding. Direct seeding is the planting of rice seeds at a specific location whereas transplanting is planting semi-grown seedlings. Transplanting also allows the seedlings to be able to grow in a specific form and shape that is considered ‘aesthetic enough for the shelves’. However, during the growth period, direct seeding is more affordable. The farming method depends less on water supplies and resources. This is why direct seeding is mainly used in low-income areas and countries.

To be able to work on a rice farm, you need an education in Rural Operations and Rural Business Management. The lowest ranking on the rice paddies in the Assistant Farmhand. To be able to get the title, one must have acquired a Certificate I in Rural Operations. The highest ranking you can get for the rice paddies is Farm Business Manager. To acquire this title, one must receive an Advanced Diploma in Agriculture or Rural Business Management. TAFE offers courses for these certificates and diplomas. TAFE also provides courses for all the other rankings in between.

An education is required as the Australian rice industry advances in the efficiency of water use throughout the world. Australian rice growers must be able to efficiently grow rice while maintaining appropriate uses of supplies.

The ‘best’ method to harvest and grow rice is through transplanting however transplanting requires more heavy labor.

Ultimately, rice is an internationally utilized crop (that feeds and provides sustenance for a great number of people all around the globe). It is also one of the crops with the highest consumer demands with approximately half of the world relying on the grain as an essential staple food. However, the growth and production of rice can impact and be impacted by various economic, climatic and circumstantial factors.