Ratoon Rice Production Research In 2025
DR. MANOCH KONGCHUM
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
Ratoon rice, or harvesting a second crop from stubble, is a valuable strategy to enhance income and optimize land use in southwest Louisiana. Growers frequently practice ratooning under favorable conditions, especially following early harvests. Many factors in first crop production can positively or negatively affect ratoon crop performance, including harvest date, weed and disease control, stubble management, and soil condition at harvest.
Research indicates that if the main crop is harvested before August 15, conditions are generally suitable for producing a ratoon crop. Ratoon yields typically average about 30 percent of the main crop, with best-case outputs exceeding 20 barrels per acre. Over time, Louisiana yield trends have improved thanks to better cultivars and cultural management practices.
In 2025, multiple trials were conducted at the H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station to investigate various factors influencing ratoon rice yield. One study examined the timing of nitrogen application before flooding the ratoon crop and found that applying nitrogen prior to flooding resulted in yield increases of 6 percent for Titan and 12 percent for RT7421 FP compared to applying nitrogen immediately after harvesting the main crop (Figure 1). This improvement may be due to nitrogen fertilizer being exposed to the atmosphere for a longer period, which reduces nitrogen use efficiency.
Another study evaluated ratoon rice response to nitrogen application rates and found that higher rates produced better yields, with the optimal rate identified at 90 pounds of nitrogen per acre (Figure 2). A third study explored stubble manipulation techniques such as rolling and mowing, which increased ratoon yield but also delayed crop maturity (Figure 3).
Future research will focus on evaluating rice cultivars for ratoon performance, phosphorus and potassium application strategies, and additional stubble management techniques such as using stripper headers or rolling baskets. ∆
DR. MANOCH KONGCHUM
LSUAGCENTER