Vincent Berg

Dave Forrest wrote:
In addition to varieties already mentioned, you can of course call up Ben Falk and ask him what varieties he plants,

I have sent an email to Ben Falk two days ago.
Asked him what rice he is cultivating...
I hope he is responding.

John Weiland wrote:One source in the U.S. (in addition to Seed Savers Exchange) for a northern adapted rice: http://www.fedcoseeds.com/seeds/?item=4312

Thanks John

In this part of the country (Where I live) whe have sea-clay-soil. (Free translation)
On sea-clay-soils large scale farming. Sea-clay-soil is in fact very rich in nutrients, holds water for a
long time and delivers high yields!

Crops (Eligible for crop rotation) and which were cultivated here in the past: (And still are cultivated.)
Barley (mainly grown on sandy soil.)
Oats
Wheat
Rye
Spelled
Various legumes

I'm still looking for what varieties they used here in the past.
Older species are more resistant to diseases. The yield is lower, but yield stability is also a plus.
Eons ago, the also used white clover like fukuoka does.

Italy's Po Valley has been growing rice for centuries.
Their climate is not that much different than SW Holland.

Wheat bread baking characteristics are not so good here.
French wheat is much better suited for the baking of bread.
Paris (France) = 48 degrees north = (51-48= 3x111Km=333Km/+200Miles south from here.) 200 Miles is a big difference!

Po Valley in Italy is 45 degrees north. Thats + 666Km/400 miles. (At the same height as the South of France.)
Lots of grape orchard, with grapes with a sugar contend higher than in the Netherlands will ever be possible.

In the Netherlands we go on vacation direction France / Italy because of the nice weather. And that's not for nothing:
Here the wind direction determines the weather. On the one hand sea, and on the other hand land ensures
that the weather is extremely hit and miss.

R Ranson:

How far north are you Vincent?

I'm about 51 degrees north.

located at latitude 43 degrees north
He's growing it at about 49 (and a couple of miles) degrees north

I hope it is 49 degrees north. (Still it is about 140 Miles.)

What I've read in "Natural way of farming" what would confirm that it is possible:
Factors affecting photosynthesis: carbon dioxide, stomata closure, water uptake, water
temperature, sunlight.

Factors affecting respiration: sugar, oxygen, strength of wind, nutrients, humidity.

One way of raising rice production that immediately comes to mind here is to
maximize starch production by increasing photosynthesis while at the same time holding
starch consumption down to a minimum in order to leave as much unconsumed starch as
possible in the heads of rice.

Conditions favorable for high photosynthetic activity are lots of sunlight, high
temperatures, and good water and nutrient uptake by the roots. Under such conditions, the
leaf stomata remain open and much carbon dioxide is absorbed, resulting in active
photosynthesis and maximum starch synthesis.

There is a catch to this, unfortunately. The same conditions that favor photosynthesis
also promote respiration. Starch production may be high, but so is starch consumption,
and hence these conditions do not result in maximum starch storage. On the other hand, a
low starch production does not necessarily mean that yields will be low. In fact, if starch
consumption is low enough, the amount of stored starch may even be higher—meaning
higher yields—than under more vigorous photosynthetic activity.

How often have farmers and scientists tried techniques that maximize starch pro-
duction only to find the result to be large rice plants that lodge under the slightest breeze?
A much easier and more certain path to high yields would be to hold down respiration
and grow smaller plants that consume less starch. The combinations of production factors
and elements that can occur in nature are limitless and may lead to any number of
different yields.

Various pathways are possible in Fig. 2.13. For example, when there is abundant
sunlight and temperatures are high—around 40°C (I04°F), as in Course 1, root rot tends
to occur, reducing root vitality. This weakens water uptake, causing the plant to close its
stomata to prevent excessive loss of water. As a result, less carbon dioxide is absorbed
and photosynthesis slows down, but because respiration continues unabated, starch
consumption remains high, resulting in a low yield.

In Course 2, temperatures are lower—perhaps 30°C (86°F), and better suited to the
variety of rice. Nutrient and water absorption are good, so photosynthetic activity is high
and remains in balance with respiration. This combination of factors gives the highest
yield.

In Course 3, low temperatures prevail and the other conditions are fair but hardly
ideal. Yet, because good root activity supplies the plant with ample nutrients, a normal
yield is maintained.

This is just a tiny sampling of the possibilities, and I have made only crude guesses at
the effects several factors on each course might have on the final yield. But in the real
world yields are not determined as simply as this. An infinite number of paths exist, and
each of the many elements and conditions during cultivation change, often on a daily
basis, over the entire growing season.


I'm starting to get the idea that it should be possible. A second point of attention:
If the conditions are not optimal. Then there exists the chance that the rice plant will be more
vulnerable to diseases? Again, a good root development will provide a strong and resistant plant?

The bottom line is that you choose the right variety to grow.
Then the question is: Which variety is the best choice? And how do I get it?

Thanks for the many responses. You have've given me food for thought. I have to think about it. Just a quick response so far:

Are you looking for a replacement for the rice in the kitchen? Or just an edible crop that can replace the rice in the planting rotation?

I'm searching for an edible crop that can replace the rice in the planting rotation.

Have you made a decision on one of your crops yet?

No I did not. I am still wondering:
1- Can I grow rice in this region? As far as I know rice is not grown here. (But I love rice.)
2- I want good quality, but also high yield. I want to use as little space as possible for my livelihood.
(I want to use less than 2.1 hectare / 5 acre. [Ecological footprint])
A good substitute for rice might proposes me to use less space, and maybe gives me a better harvest security? (I'm in doubt.)

I have two main problems: 1, our wet/dry seasons are very different than Fukuoka had, and 2, I'm much further north and some crops are sensitive to day length.

This is what I've found on the internet today. Someone who wants to grow rice in the United Kingdom:
http://sustainablesmallholding.org/growing-rice-in-the-uk/
He states:

The obvious reason for not growing rice in the UK is our climate, but my reading reduced that down to two specific limiting factors:

The relatively short frost free growing season.
Sterility due to low temperatures at flowering.

Here refers to a variety named: "Hayayuki".

Hello,

I'm reading the book:
The Natural Way of Farming: The Theory and Practice of Green Philosophy (Masanobu Fukuoka)

Mr. Fukuoka does not plow or apply chemical fertilizers or prepared compost, or spray pesticides or other
chemicals. He practice what he calls "do nothing farming". He is harvesting each year close to 1300 pounds
of winter grain and 1300 pounds of rice per quarter acre. You have probably heard of.

My problem is that the climate where I live is not suitable for growing rice? (At least, I think so.)
Climate where I live:
https://weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine,Vlissingen,Netherlands

So I'm looking for a good substitute for rice. Can I replace rice with corn? (Corn in rotation with winter grain?)
Or is there a better crop to grow in rotation with winter grain?

Thanks,