Direct
Seeding of
Rice
Assignment title
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Introduction
Concept and definition
Methods of direct seeding
Mechanization
Weed control
Advantages of DSR
Comparison and contrast with conventional
method
 PakRice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza
sativa (Asian rice) or Oryza glaberrima (African
rice)
 Staple food
 Third-highest worldwide production
 Between 1961 and 2002, per capita
consumption of rice increased by 40%.
 Rice is the most important crop in Asia. In
Cambodia, for example, 90% of the total
agricultural area is used for rice production.
 U.S. rice consumption has risen sharply over the
past 25 years(used in beer production, one in
five are eating white or brown rice)
 Sowing seeds directly in the soil where they are
to grow, rather than transplanting seedlings.
 In rice direct seeding, rice seed is sown and
sprouted directly into the field, eliminating the
laborious process of planting seedlings by hand
and greatly reducing the crop’s water
requirements.
 Direct seeding of rice is not a new idea
 Most famously, beginning in the 1950s
 Fukuoka’s method.
 Wet seeding
 Dry seeding
 Involves sowing of pre germinated seeds on
puddle wet soil either by drilling or broadcasting
and then gradually flooding the land.
 Seeds are drilled or broadcasted into dry soil
and then covered with soil.
 Mechanization has been adopted to quite an
extent in case of direct seeding also.
 The seeds could be dispersed or drilled
mechanically instead of broadcasting manually.
Broadcasting of
seed
An innovative
mechanical broadcast of
seeds on to puddled,
drained soil by using
knapsack mounted
motorized blower
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Benefits of transplanting method
History of rice plants
Deficiency of modern rice varieties
Weeds become dominant due to upper factors
and these are the major source of yield losses in
rice crop.
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Echinochloa crusgalli,
Cyperus iria,
C. difformis,
Paspalum distichum,
Eclipta prostrata,
Trianthema portulacastrum.
 A new generation of weedicides appeared on
the market, allowing for a very effective
suppression of weeds without standing water.
Some weedicides:
 Pendimethalin 750 g a.i/ha
 Ethoxysulfuron at 18 g a.i/ha and
 2,4-D (ester) at 500 g a.i/ha are effective by
controlling broad leaf weeds and sedges
 2,4-D (ester) at 18 g a.i/ha (least expensive but
effective for controlling broad leaf weeds)
 Pre- and post-emergence herbicides along with
one hand weeding(effective and economical)
 Sidhu says that we don’t know if there will be
negative consequences from the weedicides
used on direct-seeded fields. But given the
emerging concern in Punjab and elsewhere over
rising rates of cancer and ecological damage, it
would seem to be an issue to take seriously.
 Retired professor SS Johl, a long time luminary
in the world of Punjab agricultural research,
believes that it is possible to use direct-seeded
cultivation without application of weedicides—if
one has the labor.
 He points out that with direct seeding of rice, the
labor saved upfront on transplanting can be
applied later to weeding. “If you have the labor,”
he says, “you should not apply weedicide.”
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Cost –effective way of establishing rice crop
Crop weeds are controlled
Grain yield is similar to conventional method
Crop matures faster
Less labour and water requirement
 The most promising option for the future is to
adopt direct sowing of rice in place of
transplanting, reducing its dependence on
labour and water, and for farmers to become
familiar with the correct use of herbicides.
 Water losses are high(surface evaporation and
percolation)
 Rice consumes 21% fresh water in Pakistan
 Shortage of labour
 More expensive
 In the end though, it was field experience from a
number of progressive farmers in Punjab who
had taken up direct seeding on their own that
spurred the University to begin a new round of
experiments.
 The farmers claimed that they were successfully
using direct seeding to grow rice, with no
negative impact on yield.
 Highest DSR cultivation in Peninsular Malaysia
 Thailand and Vietnam are fast adopting
 Indonesia and the Philippines are also following
this method
Direct seeding method
Transplanting method
 Grassy weeds are more
associated
 Weedy rice like red rice in
addition to sedges and
broad-leaved weeds
 Less fertilizer demand
 Additional split dose of
fertilizer does not provide
benefit
 Inter plant spacing is very
regular
 Needs more fertilizer
 Additional split dose of
fertilizer is useful
 Inter plant spacing is not
quite uniform
Direct seeding method
Transplanting method
 Bacterial diseases are
more frequent
 Insect-pest and rodent
damage is minute
 It does not have such
type of diseases
 Insect-pest and rodent
damage is more