DSR ( Direct Seeding of Rice)

DSR (Direct Seeding of Rice) is a new seeding technique for paddy growers to save water and maintaining underground water recharging process.

DSR (Direct Seeding of Rice) to save water and how it will contribute in maintaining underground water recharging process

Agriculture experts, universities and (KVK) Krishi vigyan kendra are jointly making efforts to increase the area under DSR (Direct Seedling of Rice) across our Northern rice producing regions. The farmers, who seeded rice crops directly using DSR technique, faced several issues and many of them again returned to the puddling method to transplant paddy.

Taking it as a challenge, this year (2021) agriculture experts came up with “tar wattar” (high moisture condition) technique to address the issue of seed germination.

Experts requested to prefer Seed drill machine with press wheel attachment which sow rice and spray pre emergence herbicide simultaneously. This seed drilling machine is helpful in solving the problems such as Krand formation, conserve soil moisture for a longer period and enhances efficiency of applied herbicide. If this machine is not available, use the conventional rice seed drills fitted with an inclined plate metering mechanism and spray herbicide immediately after sowing. You may also install press wheels to any existing rice drill. The experts suggest placing seed at 3 to 4 cm for good seeds germination.

Last year (2020) witnessed an increase in the area under DSR due to shortage of labour after covid outbreak. The experts claimed that when some farmers sow the paddy using DSR for first time they may face problems such as germination, weeds and low yield. Some of them switch back to puddling method but those repeat for a few years, they become experts to address the problems with their first-hand experience.

The puddling technique should be replaced with direct sowing as it needs a lot of water. It affects the water recharging process and hardens the soil, which further leads to aeration to roots of plants. This is agenda to motivate maximum farmers for DSR to save the water and ecology system.