Direct seeded rice (DSR) is a practice of

sowing Sowing is the process of planting seeds. An area that has had seeds planted in it will be described as a sowed or sown area. Plants which are usually sown Among the major field crops, oats, wheat, and rye are sown, grasses and legumes are ...

paddy which involves planting

rice Rice is a cereal grain and in its Domestication, domesticated form is the staple food of over half of the world's population, particularly in Asia and Africa. Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice)—or, much l ...

seeds directly into the field, instead of the traditional method of growing

seedling A seedling is a young sporophyte developing out of a plant embryo from a seed. Seedling development starts with germination of the seed. A typical young seedling consists of three main parts: the radicle (embryonic root), the hypocotyl (embry ...

s in nurseries and then transplanting them into the fields. This method significantly reduces the demand for labor, one of the major costs associated with rice farming. By eliminating the need for

transplanting In agriculture and gardening, transplanting or replanting is the technique of moving a plant from one location to another. Most often this takes the form of starting a plant from seed in optimal conditions, such as in a greenhouse or protected n ...

, farmers can cut down on labor costs and effectively manage the workforce during peak periods. It also provides flexibility in timing the planting, helping farmers to adapt to changing climate conditions. Moreover, DSR offers water efficiency. Traditional rice farming involves flooding fields, which is water-intensive and often unsustainable. Direct seeding of rice, on the other hand, requires less water during the establishment period, making it an attractive solution in regions experiencing

water scarcity Water scarcity (closely related to water stress or water crisis) is the lack of fresh water resources to meet the standard water demand. There are two types of water scarcity. One is ''physical.'' The other is ''economic water scarcity''. Physic ...

. Reduced water usage in DSR systems can help lower

methane emissions Increasing methane emissions are a major contributor to the rising concentration of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere, and are responsible for up to one-third of near-term global heating. During 2019, about 60% (360 million tons) of methane r ...

, a potent

greenhouse gas Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are the gases in the atmosphere that raise the surface temperature of planets such as the Earth. Unlike other gases, greenhouse gases absorb the radiations that a planet emits, resulting in the greenhouse effect. T ...

significantly produced in flooded rice paddies.

Challenges

One of the most significant hurdles is

weed control Weed control is a type of pest control, which attempts to stop or reduce growth of weeds, especially noxious weeds, with the aim of reducing their competition with desired flora and fauna including domesticated plants and livestock, and in natu ...

. In flooded paddies, water serves as a natural barrier to weed growth. However, in DSR systems, weeds can grow alongside rice, reducing yield. Thus, effective weed management strategies are critical for the successful application of DSR. Another concern is the need for precision in seed placement. Unlike transplanting, where seedlings are carefully placed in fields, direct seeding requires accurate equipment to ensure optimal

plant density Plant density is the number of individual plants present per unit of ground area. It is most easily interpreted in the case of monospecific stands, where all plants belong to the same species and have germinated at the same time. However, it coul ...

and uniform growth. Technological advancements, such as laser-assisted land leveling and drill seeders, are paving the way for overcoming these challenges, making DSR an increasingly feasible option for farmers.

References

{{reflist Rice production