Paddy and the price of water

Subject : Environment

Section: Agriculture

Concept :

Direct seeding of rice, instead of transplanting and flooding of fields, cuts down the massive water consumption of paddy

Direct Seeded Rice (DSR)

Direct Seeded Rice(DSR), also known as the ‘broadcasting seed technique,’ is a water-saving method of sowing paddy.
In this method, seeds are directly drilled into the fields. In contrast to the traditional water-intensive method of transplanting rice seedlings from a nursery to waterlogged fields, this method saves groundwater.
There is no nursery preparation or transplantation involved in this method.
Farmers have to only level their land and give one pre-sowing irrigation.

What are the Advantages of DSR?

Require Less Number of Labours:
- DSR can solve labour shortage problems because like the traditional method it does not require a paddy nursery and transplantation of 30 days old paddy nursery into the main puddled field.
Avenues for Groundwater:
- It offers avenues for ground water recharge as it prevents the development of hard crust just beneath the plough layer due to puddled transplanting.
- It matures 7-10 days earlier than the puddle transplanted crop, therefore giving more time for management of paddy straw.
Increase in Yield:
- According to the results from research trials and farmers’ field survey, after this technique the yield is one to two quintals per acre higher than puddled transplanted rice.
However, DSR also faces some challenges that limit its wide-scale adoption, such as:
- Higher seed rates and risk of poor or non-uniform crop establishment.
- Seeds exposed to birds and pests.
- Weed management and higher risk of lodging.
- Lack of suitable varieties and machinery for different agro-climatic conditions.
- Lack of awareness and knowledge among farmers and extension workers.

Different methods of paddy cultivation

Broadcasting method

This is the simplest and oldest method of paddy cultivation, where seeds are sown by hand over the prepared fields. This method is suitable for dry and less fertile areas, where labour is scarce and irrigation is limited.
The advantages of this method are low cost, easy operation and less seed requirement.
The disadvantages are low yield, poor quality, high weed infestation and difficulty in harvesting.

Drilling method

This is a modified version of the broadcasting method, where seeds are sown in rows using a drill machine or a plough. This method is also suitable for dry and less fertile areas, where irrigation is limited.
The advantages of this method are better seed distribution, higher germination rate, and easier weeding and harvesting.
The disadvantages are higher cost, more labour requirements and more seed requirements.

Transplantation method

This is the most popular and widely used method of paddy cultivation, where seedlings are raised in a nursery and then transplanted into the fields. This method is suitable for fertile and well-irrigated areas, where labour is abundant and rainfall is high.
The advantages of this method are high yield, high quality, better weed control and pest management.
The disadvantages are high cost, high labour requirement and high water requirement.