USA
February 15, 2018

As Southern rice farmers prepare to plant the first Provisia™ Rice System variety – PVL01 from Horizon Ag – they can benefit from work done in 2017 to better understand the new variety and best management practices.

Dr. Sunny Bottoms, Horizon Ag Senior Technical Service Representative, speaking at the 21st Annual National Conservation Systems Cotton and Rice Conference in Memphis, Tennessee, said last year’s key learnings have resulted in recommendations farmers can use to get the most out of the variety and the Provisia Rice System this season.

“The Provisia Rice System is a tool to extend the life of the Clearfield® Production System for rice, not replace it,” said Dr. Bottoms, adding that the Provisia Rice System is “badly needed” to control the resistant weedy rice complex that has built up in many fields. In particular, weedy rice has become a significant problem in areas where some farmers have not followed good stewardship practices like crop rotation with Clearfield rice.  

“We need to get back to following proper stewardship,” said Dr. Bottoms. A stewardship program of the Provisia Rice System and the Clearfield Production System for rice and soybeans on a three-year rotation helps ensure sustainable management of resistant rice types and annual grasses.

“This may involve convincing a landlord who wants rice after rice after rice that a year of soybeans will help them maintain their land and prevent it from being completely taken over by weedy rice,” said Dr. Bottoms. Farmers should consult their trusted advisers if they’ve used continuous Clearfield rice on zero-grade ground and/or flooded the field during the winter.

Horizon Ag Provisia rice variety PVL01 is available for planting in 2018 and is expected to be popular on acres where moderate to severe weedy rice infestations are taking a toll on yields and quality. The Provisia Rice System will help bring these severely infested fields back into production.

“Planting PVL01 can make a real difference where yields and quality are being hurt because of competition with weedy rice,” said Dr. Bottoms. “You are going to get a higher yield and clean up those acres with it.”

The Provisia Rice System also is a valuable tool for acres not yet impacted by the weedy rice complex as it offers another rotation option with a different mode of action. 

Farmers planting Provisia rice this year will find that it has excellent vigor and tillering ability, allowing them to plant in the earliest part of the planting window and reach an optimum plant density with less seed planted per acre. Plants will be noticeably pale in color. Dr. Bottoms said the variety does require more nitrogen; however, the higher rate will not change the plants’ coloring, and there is nothing wrong with the rice.

The current recommendation for nitrogen is 150-180 pounds per acre based on soil type and environment. “We recommend that 180 pounds be the ceiling,” she said. “We don’t recommend using over 180 pounds.” 

Dr. Bottoms noted that the variety is very tolerant to Provisia herbicide from BASF.  Farmers are urged to always follow label recommendations when making herbicide applications.

Tests in 2017 indicated that PVL01 performs best when planted early during the recommended planting window for rice, maximizing its yield potential. Dr. Bottoms recommends a seeding rate of 55–70 pounds per acre, with the higher rate only needed for early planting on rough ground. “In most situations, 55 pounds per acre will be plenty,” she said.

PVL01 is similar to CL151 in that it is susceptible to blast and should be managed accordingly, including use of a timely fungicide application.

Website: http://www.horizonseed.com

Published: February 15, 2018