Enhancing Organic Rice Yields: Texas Researchers Lead the Way in Ratoon Crop Production

Dr. Tanumoy Bera is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center in Beaumont. In 2022 he was awarded a grant by Southern SARE with a project called, “Development of Sustainable Organic Rice Ratoon Production Systems in the Southern US,” and he has some excellent results so far with more to come. Here is a progress report from Dr. Bera and I think organic rice growers can benefit from his observations.

by Dr. Tanumoy Bera, Rice Researcher

While organic rice consumption in the U.S. has grown substantially in recent years, demand for domestically grown organic rice hasn’t kept pace. Instead, cheaper imports have dominated the market, creating challenges for U.S. producers trying to meet the increasing appetite for organic rice while maintaining profitability. To address these challenges, researchers at Texas A&M AgriLife in Beaumont are focusing on improving organic ratoon rice production—a method that allows rice to be harvested from the regrowth of previously harvested stubble. This technique is especially valuable because it enables a second harvest without the need to replant, which helps farmers reduce costs, increase productivity, and compete with lower-priced imports while still maintaining a viable net income per acre.

This ongoing study, initiated in 2022, aims to evaluate how rice cultivars, crop rotation practices, and nitrogen application rates affect the yield and quality of organic ratoon rice. The team tested two cultivars—Presidio and RiceTec XP753—alongside two management approaches: winter fallow and cover cropping. Their goal is to determine how these factors influence yield, milling quality, nitrogen content, and nitrogen removal in an organic ratoon system.

Early findings have been promising. The hybrid XP753 showed a remarkable performance, increasing the main crop yield by 75% and ratoon yield by 97% compared to Presidio. This is partly due to hybrid varieties like XP753 being bred to combine the best traits from parent plants, resulting in higher yields and greater resilience—key attributes for organic farming.

However, establishing cover crops in southeast Texas has been challenging, mainly due to wet winters and poor drainage in heavy clay soils. Despite these difficulties, cover crops, when successfully established, have provided significant benefits. To enhance nitrogen availability, the researchers utilized organic-approved inputs such as compost and cover crops, finding that an equivalent of 90 pounds of nitrogen per acre was optimal for achieving the greatest yields, with greater rates offering no additional advantage. This insight helps farmers optimize nitrogen inputs using sustainable sources, saving costs while promoting organic practices.

Looking ahead, the research will continue into the 2025 season, aiming to refine these findings and explore their long-term impacts. This work is crucial as demand for organic products continues to rise, providing farmers with improved productivity while supporting sustainable agricultural practices. With initiatives like this, Texas A&M AgriLife is helping pave the way for a more resilient and environmentally friendly future in agriculture.

Other Rice Resources (just click a link!)

• Organic Rice Resources
• Understanding the Three-Line CMS System in Hybrid Rice Breeding
• Texas Organic Rice Production Guidelines
• Water Seeded Rice
• Possible Organic Rice Fungicide for Brown Spot and Narrow Brown Leaf Spot
• LockDown Organic Herbicide for Northern Jointvetch
• Organic Rice Varieties?
• What is the True Cost of Compost (or manure) in 2024?
• Soil Testing, soil results, soil test labs
• Organic Fertilizer – what is it, what are the rules, and where do you buy it?
• Organic Materials/Products Lists
• Organic Weed Control
• Best Cover Crops for Weed Control and Fertility
• Allelopathy – What is it, what has it, and how do we use it?
• Organic Seed May Soon Be Required