Spring weather conditions set the pace of field operations and influenced the start of the new rice-growing season.
This year as well, seeding was carried out using dry-seeding technique, the method routinely practiced at Riserva, with the exceptions of the water-seeding in 2024 and the mixed-seeding method in 2025. The alternating pattern of rainfall and sunny days that characterized March and April created favorable conditions for regular and uniform germination.
“Unlike particularly dry springs, the alternation between rain and sun keeps the soil at an ideal moisture level for rice germination,” explains Dino Massignani, Director of Riserva San Massimo. “On the other hand, when temperatures are high and the soil tends to dry out — especially in lighter, sandier soils — the crop can come under stress, making it necessary to intervene with supplemental irrigation.“
In early June, the paddy flooding phase began, an equally critical stage in which weather patterns continue to play a key role. Moderate precipitation is beneficial, as it promotes soil permeability, helps reduce heat stress in the plants, and contributes to temperature regulation. The timing of rainfall is also decisive: when the seedling has already emerged, water input supports the development of the young plant; on the contrary, if the seed has not germinated yet, prolonged waterlogging can impede emergence, preventing the seedling from developing properly and breaking the surface.
For this reason, water management requires constant monitoring and continuous assessment of field conditions: each intervention is calibrated by observing plant status, temperatures, and weather forecasts, with the goal of supporting the rice crop through the earliest and most delicate stages of its vegetative cycle.
