Overview Rice is produced in the tropical and subtropical portions of all continents. The world production of rice places it slightly behind wheat and ahead of corn in planted acreage. The U. S. is the largest exporter of rice, not because of our production, but because other countries consume nearly all they produce to feed their populations. Rice is unique among the cereals in being able to grow in flooded conditions. The rice plant is able to transport oxygen to the submerged roots from the leaves where oxygen is released during photosynthesis.
Rice does best in temperate regions that have low summer rainfall with high light intensity.
Unlike corn, sorghum, and millet, rice is a C-3 cereal. This means that increased light intensity has the potential to increase yield. Rice is seeded in beds and transplanted in much of the world. This means the rice seedlings are 30-40 days old before they are transplanted. In areas where the growing season is longer, by transplanting, two crops of rice can be planted back to back because of the growing season gained using the transplant.