Design and Construction of Floating Seedbed for Rice Seedling Growth in Flood Prone Lowland Areas

Abstract

Frequent flooding and land scarcity pose significant challenges to rice seedling production in flood-prone regions. This study investigates floating seedbeds as a climate-resilient solution, evaluating three compositions: water hyacinth only (T1), water hyacinth, soil (T2), and soil only (T3). Seedling growth was assessed based on height, root depth, stem thickness, and stem size. The results indicate that T2 (water hyacinth and soil) achieved the best overall growth, producing the tallest seedlings (35.76 cm), largest stem size (10.16 cm), and optimal root depth (5.04 cm). T1 supported strong root elongation and thicker stems, while T3 had the lowest growth performance due to limited buoyancy and nutrient distribution. These findings demonstrate that integrating soil with water hyacinth enhances nutrient retention and structural stability, optimizing seedling development. Floating seedbeds provide a sustainable, low-cost alternative for rice production in flood-prone areas. Future research should focus on scaling up implementation and evaluating long-term viability to strengthen food security and climate adaptation strategies.