# Best weather to spray rice

> The weather window for spraying rice — Delta T, humidity, wind, inversion and rain — plus flooded fields, water protection, aerial work and Custom settings.

- Canonical URL: https://pulvecast.com/crops/rice
- Language: en
- Last updated: 2026-09-19
- Path: Home › Spraying weather by crop › Best weather to spray rice
- Site guide for agents: https://pulvecast.com/llms.txt

Rice is often grown in flooded fields, which shapes almost every spraying decision: machinery access is limited, aerial and drone application is common, and the product is being applied over or next to water.

## The weather window

- **Delta T:** 2–8 °C. The air over flooded fields is often humid, so low Delta T and dew are common in the morning. See [Delta T](https://pulvecast.com/guides/delta-t).
- **Humidity:** high humidity is normal; the concern is wet foliage and near-saturated, calm air. See [humidity and dew point](https://pulvecast.com/guides/humidity-and-dew-point).
- **Wind:** a light, steady breeze within the label's range, blowing away from sensitive areas. See [wind speed for spraying](https://pulvecast.com/guides/wind-speed-for-spraying).
- **Inversion:** flat, wet, low-lying fields are prone to inversions on calm, clear nights. See [thermal inversion](https://pulvecast.com/guides/thermal-inversion).
- **Rain:** rain can wash product into the floodwater and out through drains. See [rain and spraying](https://pulvecast.com/guides/rain-and-spraying).

## Crop-specific considerations

**Water.** Many products are toxic to fish and aquatic organisms. Labels for rice may specify how the field's water is to be managed around the application — for example, holding water in the field for a period — and buffers from canals, rivers and ponds. Follow them closely, and do not spray before heavy rain that could cause overflow.

**Aerial and drone application.** Because ground equipment is limited in flooded fields, many rice applications are made by aircraft or spray drones. Release height and wind at flight height matter more than for boom sprayers. See [drone spraying weather](https://pulvecast.com/guides/drone-spraying-weather) and [agricultural drone rules by country](https://pulvecast.com/spray-drone-rules).

**Neighbouring fields.** Rice is often grown in large contiguous areas, and herbicides used on one field can harm neighbouring crops at other stages, or other crops nearby.

## Typical applications

Herbicides, fungicides and insecticides, timed to the crop's growth stage and the water management described on the label.

## Setting it up in PulveCast

There is no rice preset, so use **Custom**. It starts from Delta T 2–8 °C, humidity 55–95 % and a Medium droplet class. Conservative starting points:

- Keep Delta T at 2–8 °C.
- Set the droplet class to what your nozzles or drone produce, or leave it on automatic.
- Lower the maximum wind from the 25 km/h default towards 15 km/h (about 9 mph) — the upper end of the band PulveCast's help describes as ideal — or to the label's limit if lower. For drones, pick your [drone model](https://pulvecast.com/drones).
- Keep the thermal inversion threshold at the 1.5 °C default.
- Lower the precipitation probability limit from 50 % if the product needs a long rain-free period.

## Other crops

- [Best weather to spray soybeans](https://pulvecast.com/crops/soybean)
- [Best weather to spray corn (maize)](https://pulvecast.com/crops/corn)
- [Best weather to spray sugarcane](https://pulvecast.com/crops/sugarcane)
- [Best weather to spray cotton](https://pulvecast.com/crops/cotton)
- [Best weather to spray wheat](https://pulvecast.com/crops/wheat)
- [Best weather to spray coffee](https://pulvecast.com/crops/coffee)
- [Best weather to spray citrus](https://pulvecast.com/crops/citrus)
- [Best weather to spray vineyards](https://pulvecast.com/crops/vineyards)
- [Best weather to spray potatoes](https://pulvecast.com/crops/potatoes)
- [Best weather to spray pastures](https://pulvecast.com/crops/pastures)

## Frequently asked questions

### Is it safe to spray rice by drone?

Drones are widely used on rice where regulations allow. Follow the label and local aviation and pesticide rules, keep to the manufacturer's height and swath, and check wind and inversion before each flight.

### How do I protect water when spraying rice?

Follow the label's water management and buffer instructions, do not spray before heavy rain that could cause overflow, and avoid drift towards canals, rivers and ponds.

## Check the spray window before you go to the field

PulveCast gives a green, yellow or red verdict for every hour from Delta T, humidity, wind, gusts, drift risk and thermal inversion. Free on Android and iOS, no account needed.

- Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pulvecast.app
- App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/pulvecast/id6779816829