Abstract
Rice (Oryza sativaL.) is a major staple food crop that feeds around 60% of the world’s population. It is a major food crop in terms of production, economy and is grown in all ecological zones of Nepal. In Nepal, traditional method of rice cultivation is widely accepted in which 20-25 days old seedlings are transplanted in the puddled field. Looming water scarcity, water-intensive traditional method of rice cultivation, escalating labour costs pressurize the development of alternative which is highly sustainable and profitable. Direct-seeded rice (DSR) offers a very good opportunity that can cope up the global need and reduces the water use to 50%, labour cost to 60% and increases productivity by 5-10%. It involves sowing of pre-germinated seeds into wet soil surface (wet seeding), dry soil surface (dry seeding) and standing water (water seeding). Weeds are the major constraint in direct-seeded rice (DSR) reducing the crop yield upto 90% and sometimes even crop failure. Enhanced nutrient use efficiency and integrated weed management can produce comparable yields to that of transplanted rice (TPR) encouraging many farmers to switch to DSR. Methane gas emission is significantly lower in DSR than in conventionally tilled puddled transplanted rice mitigating the world’s threat of global warming. Blast disease and root-knot nematode (RKN) are other important problems associated with DSR. Based on the evidences collected, the article reviews integrated package of cultivation technologies associated with DSR, advantages, constraints and likeliness of DSR to be the future of rice cultivation in Nepal.Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 6(3): 181-198
Highlights
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the leading staple food crop that feeds around 60% of the world’s population
Saigusa (2005) reported higher N recovery of co-situs application of controlled-release N fertilizers (CRF) with polyolefin-coated ureas of 100-day type (POCU-100) than conventional ammonium sulfate fertilizer applied as basal and topdressed in zero-till direct-seeded rice in Japan
No residual control (Source : Kumar and Ladha, 2011). At this point of time, where globe is facing water scarcity, escalated labour and climate change when rice production is under severe threat, no doubt questions for its alternative are arising
Summary
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the leading staple food crop that feeds around 60% of the world’s population. The fields are puddled and water depth of 5-10 cm is maintained followed by transplantation of 20-25 days old seedlings This method of rice cultivation has detrimental effect in soil, environment and successive crops like wheat, potato e.t.c. This method of rice cultivation has detrimental effect in soil, environment and successive crops like wheat, potato e.t.c It incurs intensive water and labour use and reduces the cost efficiency of the crop. Lower availability of labour and higher costs of rice drudgery can be a limiting factor for rice cultivation if the similar pattern follows on for long run. Higher yield, root dry matter, benefit cost ratio and infiltration rate was recorded in DSR than TPR while comparing productivity and economics of various planting techniques in rice-based cropping systems in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (Gangwar et al, 2008). Irrigated and favorable rainfed lowland in a well-prepared soil (dry or moist) and leveled, followed by one light irrigation
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