WHAT ABOUT "SALTING" MY RICE?

Sodium chlorate is commonly used to desiccate green foliage and weeds present in rice fields to increase harvest efficiency. The general guidelines are to apply sodium chlorate at 3 to 6 pounds a.i. per acre when rice grain is near 25 percent moisture and harvest within 3 to 7 days after application. Although sodium chlorate is typically used to dessicate the vegetation, grain moisture is also reduced. Research suggests that when used properly sodium chlorate does not reduce head rice yield. However, application of sodium chlorate at 6 pounds a.i. per acre significantly reduced grain moisture by 2 to 5 percent within four days after application. Head rice yields may decline if grain moisture drops below 15 percent before the grain is harvested. Thus, sodium chlorate should be applied to rice that is between 18 and 25 percent moisture with timely harvest following application. Use of sodium chlorate on seed production fields is sometimes needed. Research has shown that sodium chlorate does not influence germination of the resulting seed.

Desiccation of rice foliage is noticeable within 36 hours after application, especially when temperatures are high. The photo above was taken less than 48 hours after application.  The treated plots are very apparent and dessication was very effective. Sodium chlorate may reduce head rice and grain yield if applied too early, before grain fill is complete. Do not apply to rice when the moisture is above 25%. Growers should exercise caution when considering sodium chlorate application to fields with uneven maturity to avoid yield and quality losses.