Using salt water to treat rice seeds before planting Whether you use direct seeding or transplanting, rice seeds should be soaked in salt water before germinating. This method helps ensure a high germination rate and clean seeds that are free of pests and diseases. Steps to using the salt water method 1. Mixing the salt water: Pour 10 gallons (about 38 liters) of clean water into a large container and add 5 screws (about 8 kg) of table salt (household salt). Stir until the salt is completely dissolved. To check whether the salt water is of the standard concentration, drop a fresh chicken/duck egg or a piece of rice into the water. If the egg or piece of rice floats to the surface, the salt water is of the correct concentration. 2. Seed selection: Put 8 bags (about 16 kg or as needed) of rice seeds into the prepared salt water and stir well. The wet, damaged, or slightly wrinkled rice grains will float to the surface of the water. Use a sieve or strainer to remove the floating seeds. You can do this step by step until you have all the seeds you need for your planting area. 3. Washing and soaking: Remove the good seeds that have settled at the bottom of the container and rinse them with clean water three times to remove all the salt from the rice grains. After washing, soak the seeds in clean water for 36 hours (1 and a half days). Change the water every 12 hours. 4. Germination stage: After soaking for 36 hours, remove the seeds and place them on a bamboo mat or tray to germinate. To maintain moisture, cover the bottom with a damp burlap or banana leaf. Then, sow the soaked rice seeds evenly, about 1 inch (or 6 inches) thick. Cover the seeds tightly with a damp burlap or banana leaf. Water every 12 hours to maintain good moisture. Depending on the ambient temperature and the moisture in the seeds, small rice sprouts (shaped like a bird's beak) will emerge in about 36 hours. This is the best stage to sow the seeds in a nursery or directly in the field. Benefits Almost all rice seeds germinate well, resulting in a high and even germination rate. Rice seedlings grow evenly and healthily. Eliminates eggs, insects and other fungi that attach to rice seeds, preventing disease outbreaks during germination. The seedlings that emerge are highly resistant and resistant to damage from rice borer larvae (red worms). 📲 Download Mekong Farm today: https://onelink.to/mekongfarm 📱 Available on Google Play & App Store #mekongfarmapp #Mekongfarm #agriculture #smartaxiata