Rice water depth management at microspore

Rice water depth management at microspore is critical in protecting the developing panicle from cold-induced floret sterility which can lead to large reductions in rice grain yield at harvest. At microspore, air temperatures below 15 to 17°C can damage the developing pollen, leading to floret sterility and yield loss.

Deep water is a very effective management tool for minimising damage caused by low temperatures and can provide up to 8°C increase over air temperature.

Tina Dunn and Brian Dunn, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Primefact 1240, June 2018