How to plan sowing for high yield and high quality this season

Written By Sauce Communications

Using the variety guide to maximise yield and quality potential of your crop

Published: September 2026

To get the most from your crop this season, plan your flush date within the recommended window for your variety.

The timing of panicle initiation (PI), microspore and flowering has a major influence on both yield and grain quality.

The optimal PI window is 1–12 January. Aiming for PI in this window increases the likelihood of key crop stages of microspore, flowering, grain fill and grain dry down occurring during favourable weather conditions.

Too early (PI around Christmas) increases the likelihood of significant heat during these stages, with adverse effects of both yield and quality.

Later than this increases the likelihood of low temperatures during microspore and flowering and a documented yield loss of approximately 100-120kg/day.

Recommended sowing dates (first flush dates for drill sown crops)

Drill sown crops can be manipulated with delaying permanent water. The PI Predictor is a valuable tool that predicts the PI date with different irrigation management scenarios.

Recommended sowing rate

The recommended sowing rate is the same for all sowing methods.

Aim for a consistent plant population of 100–200 plants/m2.

The recommended sowing rate is 130 kg/ha for Matilda, 110 kg/ha for Opus and 100 kg/ha for Koshi, which has a higher lodging potential.

Key takeaways

  • Stay within the recommended sowing window.

  • Sowing early in the window generally provides the best yield and quality outcomes.

  • Sowing outside the recommended window (too early or too late) can compromise both yield and grain quality.

  • If sowing rice later outside the recommended window, (for example after a winter crop), yield potential will be less. Manage the crop accordingly. Do not increase sowing rates or nitrogen rates as this will further delay maturity and yield potential.

Additional links

Sauce Communications
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