2. 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Direct Seeding of Rice Assignment title

3.  Introduction  Concept and definition  Methods of direct seeding  Mechanization  Weed control  Advantages of DSR  Comparison and contrast with conventional method

4.  PakRice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa (Asian rice) or Oryza glaberrima (African rice)seedmonocotOryza sativaOryza glaberrima  Staple food  Third-highest worldwide production

5.  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. Cambodia  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)

6.  Sowing seeds directly in the soil where they are to grow, rather than transplanting seedlings.

7.  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.

8.  Direct seeding of rice is not a new idea  Most famously, beginning in the 1950s  Fukuoka’s method.

9.  Wet seeding  Dry seeding

10.  Involves sowing of pre germinated seeds on puddle wet soil either by drilling or broadcasting and then gradually flooding the land.

11.  Seeds are drilled or broadcasted into dry soil and then covered with soil.

12.  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.

13. 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Broadcasting of seed An innovative mechanical broadcast of seeds on to puddled, drained soil by using knapsack mounted motorized blower

14.  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.

15.  Echinochloa crusgalli,  Cyperus iria,  C. difformis,  Paspalum distichum,  Eclipta prostrata,  Trianthema portulacastrum.

16.  A new generation of weedicides appeared on the market, allowing for a very effective suppression of weeds without standing water.

17. 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)

18.  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.

19.  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.”

20.  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

21.  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.

22.  Water losses are high(surface evaporation and percolation)  Rice consumes 21% fresh water in Pakistan  Shortage of labour  More expensive

23.  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.

24.  Highest DSR cultivation in Peninsular Malaysia  Thailand and Vietnam are fast adopting  Indonesia and the Philippines are also following this method

26. Direct seeding methodTransplanting method  Grassy weeds are more associated  Needs more fertilizer  Additional split dose of fertilizer is useful  Inter plant spacing is not quite uniform  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

27. Direct seeding methodTransplanting 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