Because rice is water and nutrient loving crop, it is best cultivated in a location and land that is fairly fertile and nearly level, minimizing the number of water retaining barriers or levees. Some slopes are also required to facilitate adequate drainage. It is also important that the land be fertile to reduce fertilizer requirement. Rice is grown in four major ecologies, this are irrigated ecology, rain-lowland, rain-fed upland and flood prone ecology. 

Important things to note 

1. Avoid drought prone areas. 

2. Avoid land with very deep ditches 

3. Choose gentle slopping land for easy drainage 

4. Fairly flat land for ease of water distribution 

5. Select naturally fertile bandwidth moderate organic matter 

6. Avoid highly iron-toxic soils 

7. Choose fertile land with good water retention capacity containing clay and organic matter. 

8. Heavy soils or valleys and Fadama are preferred.