A Review on Direct Seeded Rice: A Sustainable Approach to Paddy Cultivation

Abstract-Agriculture is crucial for the Indian economy. Rice is a staple crop to more than half of world population. Conventional transplanted rice production faces issues like lowering water tables, lower productivity, methane emissions, soil health deterioration, and labour scarcity. Puddling, a crucial step in wetland rice production, can improve transplanting and weed management but can also cause soil conditions that are unfavourable for post-rice crops. Puddled transplanted rice is energy-intensive and contributes to climate change by emitting methane and nitrous oxide. Direct seeded rice (DSR) technologies can minimize environmental impact and increase productivity. DSR was introduced in 2009-10 to address labour constraints, rising labour prices, and a diminishing groundwater table in Punjab. With agricultural water requirements expected to increase by 20% by 2050, DSR requires about 50% less water under Indian conditions. This review article studies the condition of current rice production practices, the major constrains and DSR, its advantages along with agronomy as substitute of current TPR method.