Thailand History Guide » Ricefields http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:14:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 Rice Harvesting http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/rice-harvesting/ http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/rice-harvesting/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:03:01 +0000 thailandhistoryguide http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/?p=467 The harvesting of a paddy crop marks Ihe end of a long period of hard labor and no time is lost in cutting the ripened golden stalks lest wild animals or inclement weather threaten to destroy the season’s efforts. Rice sialks are harvesled using a sharp sickle; the curter lays the stalks tenderly on the [...]]]> The harvesting of a paddy crop marks Ihe end of a long period of hard labor and no time is lost in cutting the ripened golden stalks lest wild animals or inclement weather threaten to destroy the season’s efforts. Rice sialks are harvesled using a sharp sickle; the curter lays the stalks tenderly on the ground in his wake. Later these will be collecled and stacked, prior to lhreshing.

Rice harvesting

Rice harvesting

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]]> http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/rice-harvesting/feed/ 0 Ripening http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/ripening/ http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/ripening/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:00:08 +0000 thailandhistoryguide http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/?p=464 Through careful management of the water level, the plants flourish, grain heads develop and swell as the sun ripens the swaying stalks. This stage of growth is the least demanding in terms of labor input, but there are always water levels to be controlled, dykes to be repaired and nursery beds to be tended elsewhere [...]]]> Through careful management of the water level, the plants flourish, grain heads develop and swell as the sun ripens the swaying stalks. This stage of growth is the least demanding in terms of labor input, but there are always water levels to be controlled, dykes to be repaired and nursery beds to be tended elsewhere in the riceficlds.

Ripening

Ripening

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]]> http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/ripening/feed/ 0 Transplanting the seedlings http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/transplanting-the-seedlings/ http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/transplanting-the-seedlings/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:57:48 +0000 thailandhistoryguide http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/?p=461 Once the ricefield has been flooded and suitably prepared, bunches of bright green seedlings are transplanted from the tiny nursery beds where they were raised. This work is done entirely by hand, people laboring all day to set out row upon row of tender young plants. The softened mud base facilitates the planting process and [...]]]> Once the ricefield has been flooded and suitably prepared, bunches of bright green seedlings are transplanted from the tiny nursery beds where they were raised. This work is done entirely by hand, people laboring all day to set out row upon row of tender young plants. The softened mud base facilitates the planting process and seedlings quickly take root in this habitat.

Transplanting the Seedlings

Transplanting the Seedlings

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]]> http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/transplanting-the-seedlings/feed/ 0 Preparing The Land http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/preparing-the-land/ http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/preparing-the-land/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:53:42 +0000 thailandhistoryguide http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/?p=458 The farmer and the water buffalo drag a heavy plow to loosen up the water-logged soil, and their trampling actions also help to redistribute the valuable nutrients stored in the soil. Prior to planting, a heavy log is pulled across the muddy base to prepare a firm bed for the young seedlings.

Preparing the Land

Related [...]]]> The farmer and the water buffalo drag a heavy plow to loosen up the water-logged soil, and their trampling actions also help to redistribute the valuable nutrients stored in the soil. Prior to planting, a heavy log is pulled across the muddy base to prepare a firm bed for the young seedlings.

Preparing the Land

Preparing the Land

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]]> http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/preparing-the-land/feed/ 0 Pests in the ricefields http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/pests-in-the-ricefields/ http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/pests-in-the-ricefields/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:47:48 +0000 thailandhistoryguide http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/?p=455 The ricefield mouse and rat are common inhabitants of all ricefields and open grasslands, feeding on fallen grain, seeds and insects. The rat may also feed on rice plants and may be a pest in granaries where the dry grain is stored.

Pests in the ricefields

Related PostsComb DuckEgrets and HeronsBird of the RicefieldsLife at the [...]]]> The ricefield mouse and rat are common inhabitants of all ricefields and open grasslands, feeding on fallen grain, seeds and insects. The rat may also feed on rice plants and may be a pest in granaries where the dry grain is stored.

Pests in the ricefields

Pests in the ricefields

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]]> http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/pests-in-the-ricefields/feed/ 0 Harvesting the rice and threshing http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/harvesting-the-rice-and-threshing/ http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/harvesting-the-rice-and-threshing/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:43:13 +0000 thailandhistoryguide http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/?p=449 The long stalks of ripe corn are harvested and then beaten over a drum to dislodge the grains from the chaff. Winnowing sifts off any remaining waste while the plump rice grains are dried in the sun before being stored.

Rice Harvesting

Related PostsRice HarvestingRipeningTransplanting the seedlingsPreparing The LandPests in the ricefields]]> The long stalks of ripe corn are harvested and then beaten over a drum to dislodge the grains from the chaff. Winnowing sifts off any remaining waste while the plump rice grains are dried in the sun before being stored.

Rice Harvesting

Rice Harvesting

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]]> http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/harvesting-the-rice-and-threshing/feed/ 0 Comb Duck http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/comb-duck/ http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/comb-duck/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:40:54 +0000 thailandhistoryguide http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/?p=446 The comb duck is a frequent visitor to ricefields and it nests on the edges of wooded marshland. It Oies with broad wing beats.

Comb Duck

Related PostsEgrets and HeronsBird of the RicefieldsPests in the ricefieldsLife at the water’s edgeBeast of Burden]]> The comb duck is a frequent visitor to ricefields and it nests on the edges of wooded marshland. It Oies with broad wing beats.

Comb Duck

Comb Duck

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]]> http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/comb-duck/feed/ 0 Egrets and Herons http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/egrets-and-herons/ http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/egrets-and-herons/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:39:15 +0000 thailandhistoryguide http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/?p=442 The rich aquatic and terrestrial life of the ricefields attracts large numbers of herons and egrets in all seasons. Although egrets and herons usually feed alone, they often roost together, which probably assists in detecting predators.

Herons

Egret

Related PostsComb DuckBird of the RicefieldsPests in the ricefieldsLife at the water’s edgeBeast of Burden]]> The rich aquatic and terrestrial life of the ricefields attracts large numbers of herons and egrets in all seasons. Although egrets and herons usually feed alone, they often roost together, which probably assists in detecting predators.

Herons

Herons

Egret

Egret

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]]> http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/egrets-and-herons/feed/ 0 Bright Green Seedlings http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/bright-green-seedlings/ http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/bright-green-seedlings/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:33:28 +0000 thailandhistoryguide http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/?p=440 The bright green seedlings clustered in ricefields prior to transplanting and the sundrenched fields of rice that await haNcsting are familiar sights in Thailand.

Ricefields

Related PostsRice HarvestingRipeningTransplanting the seedlingsPreparing The LandPests in the ricefields]]> The bright green seedlings clustered in ricefields prior to transplanting and the sundrenched
fields of rice that await haNcsting are familiar sights in Thailand.

Ricefields

Ricefields

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]]> http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/bright-green-seedlings/feed/ 0 Bird of the Ricefields http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/bird-of-the-ricefields/ http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/bird-of-the-ricefields/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:30:49 +0000 thailandhistoryguide http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/?p=437 The ricefields provide a rich feeding haven for a variety of birds. Some of the most common of these are the munias, a group of small, seed-eating birds that feed on ripening rice. These, in turn, attract aerial predators such as the black-shouldered kite and marsh harrier, which may also feed on amphibians such as [...]]]> The ricefields provide a rich feeding haven for a variety of birds. Some of the most common of these are the munias, a group of small, seed-eating birds that feed on ripening rice. These, in turn, attract aerial predators such as the black-shouldered kite and marsh harrier, which may also feed on amphibians such as frogs.

Birds of the Ricefields

Birds of the Ricefields

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]]> http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/bird-of-the-ricefields/feed/ 0 Papaya Trees http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/papaya-trees/ http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/papaya-trees/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:26:18 +0000 thailandhistoryguide http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/?p=432 AU available land is cultivated. Papaya and banana trees are frequently planted on the verges of the ricefields.

Papaya Tree

Related PostsRice HarvestingRipeningTransplanting the seedlingsPreparing The LandPests in the ricefields]]> AU available land is cultivated. Papaya and banana trees are frequently planted on the verges of the ricefields.

Papaya Tree

Papaya Tree

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]]> http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/papaya-trees/feed/ 0 Life at the water’s edge http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/life-at-the-waters-edge/ http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/life-at-the-waters-edge/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:24:40 +0000 thailandhistoryguide http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/?p=427 The ricefield provides an ideal habitat for reptiles, fish and amphibians. Many of the fields are deliberately stocked with carp and catfish, which feed on decaying plants, algae and insect larvae. Frogs also help control the level of harmful insects, thereby eliminating the use of costly and often destructive pesticides.

Eel

Fish

Frogs

Related PostsPests in [...]]]> The ricefield provides an ideal habitat for reptiles, fish and amphibians. Many of the fields are deliberately stocked with carp and catfish, which feed on decaying plants, algae and insect larvae. Frogs also help control the level of harmful insects, thereby eliminating the use of costly and often destructive pesticides.

Eel

Eel

Fish

Fish

Frogs

Frogs

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]]> http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/life-at-the-waters-edge/feed/ 0 Beast of Burden http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/beast-of-burden/ http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/beast-of-burden/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:18:13 +0000 thailandhistoryguide http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/?p=424 Although mechanical means of plowing ricefields are now available, most farmers still prefer traditional means of cultivation involving the use of the water buffalo as a general beast of burden. Known locally as the ”Asian tractor”‘, the water buffalo is also an important source of milk and meat for many people. Its hide is used in clothing and [...]]]> Although mechanical means of plowing ricefields are now available, most farmers still prefer
traditional means of cultivation involving the use of the water buffalo as a general beast of
burden. Known locally as the ”Asian tractor”‘, the water buffalo is also an important source of
milk and meat for many people. Its hide is used in clothing and its dung is collected as a fertilizer or as a source of fuel for burning.

Beast of Burden

Beast of Burden

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]]> http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/beast-of-burden/feed/ 0 Ricefields http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/ricefields/ http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/ricefields/#comments Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:08:52 +0000 thailandhistoryguide http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/?p=421 An extraordinary amount of human energy is invested in producing the rice crop throughout the year. Rice plays an important role in the daily lives of the people, providing the staple diet for the Thai population as well as being a major export crop. Many cultural rituals are closely tied to the cultivation of rice [...]]]> An extraordinary amount of human energy is invested in producing the rice crop throughout the year. Rice plays an important role in the daily lives of the people, providing the staple diet for the Thai population as well as being a major export crop. Many cultural rituals are closely tied to the cultivation of rice and complex calculations are made to predict forthcoming rainfall patterns and the bounty of future crops. Little has changed in the ric;efields of Thailand over the centuries and, in addition to providing an important wildlife refuge for a large number of species, they also remain a source of great spiritual and intellectual inspiration.

Ricefields

Ricefields

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