Plants

rice

Oryza sativa L.

Family: Poaceae · Genus: Oryza

Asian rice

Placenta I High Mulch biomass

World's most-cultivated annual cereal. The Bosque de Niebla Guidebook (Consortium Design 2019) places rice as a typical Placenta I species in the high stratum, alongside lettuce and brassicas. In Brazilian agroforestry it's grown in the initial phase along tree strips, on uplands or floodplains.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage: Placenta I
Ecological role: Pioneer
Primary stratum: High
Strata: High, Medium
Biomass class: Mulch biomass

Environment

Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: High
Drought tolerance: Low
Waterlogging tolerance: High
Soil pH range: 6.5–7

Morphology

Mature height: 0.8–1.5 m
Root system: Fibrous
Root depth: Shallow
Growth rate: Very fast
Lifespan: ≤ 1 year
Time to first harvest: 4 months

Biomes & climate

Amazon Suitable
Atlantic Forest Suitable
Cerrado Suitable

Köppen classes

Tropical savanna with dry winter (Aw) Suitable
Tropical monsoon (Am) Suitable
Subtropical with dry winter (Cwa) Suitable

Where it fits in a guild

Rice takes the High stratum in the Placenta I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

Design my guild

Free account — and the catalog stays open, no sign-up needed.

🪴 Cultivation

Grows best in loose, well-drained, organic-rich soils near neutral pH (6.5–7). Lowland (flooded/irrigated) varieties are grown in standing water (~200 mm/month); upland varieties need ~750 mm over 3–4 months. Optimal day temperature 20–30 °C with nights above 15 °C.