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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Direct seeding of rice-SS Johl

Direct seeding of rice-SS Johl

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published Published on Feb 26, 2014   modified Modified on Feb 26, 2014
-The Tribune


Punjab: No doubt there is a pressing need to restore the fast deteriorating underground water balance in Punjab and parts of Haryana because of excessive withdrawals of water to meet the irrigation requirements of water-guzzling crops, particularly the rice crop. In Punjab available canal water hardly meets one-fourth of the water requirements of the agriculture sector and three-fourth water requirements are met through the pumping of underground water. In the absence of a matching recharge through rains, floods, seepage from canals etc, the water table is depleting alarmingly year on year. Unfortunately, there is a sort of policy disconnect in the management of water resources of the state, which is the main cause of this alarming situation. On the technology side, however, various innovations have been attempted by agricultural technologists and researchers in the state and elsewhere.

In my Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial Lecture at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in 2003, I made an observation that "although only rice out of major cereal crops grows well in standing water, yet it does not mean that this crop cannot be grown without standing water". I put forth this proposition based on the experience I had gained through my close association with innovating agricultural technocrats of the state Department of Agriculture. This created a lot of interest among researchers on this crop. Initially, the rice crop researchers of Punjab Agricultural University opposed the idea tooth and nail, but later on reconciled and conducted some experiments half-heartedly and even developed some package of practices also for growing the rice crop without standing water. Now the university has been operating an externally funded experiment-cum-extension project through PepsiCo in collaboration with the Columbia University Water Center for the last about four years in the state on water saving in the rice crop through the use of Tensio-meters so that optimal water is applied to the crop. The practice of direct seeding of rice (DSR) has also been included in the project. Being associated with this project, I have tried various water-saving approaches on my own fields also.

First, broadcasting the seed in the field at right moisture and drawing ridges and furrows was tried. This system did save about 40 per cent water; rather harvested rain water by checking the outflow from the field through ridges. Normally water was applied once a week. In case of rain, irrigation could be delayed. Once water was not applied for more than four weeks, yet there was no wilting of the crop. On a random selection, an average per plant-ear yield in this system was 220 grains. It compared very well with 170 grains in the crop planted with the traditional method. Moreover, the grains were bolder from this system. However, the per acre yield turned out to be lower because of the lower plant population. Only 6 kg seed per acre was used. It should have been at least 10 kg per acre. Also the seeds got accumulated at the top portion of the ridges, leaving very wide space between the rows, primarily because deeper furrows with wider furrow-to-furrow space within. Again, it turned out be a difficult-to-operate combine for harvesting because of deep furrows and bolder ridges. Weeds too became a serious problem because no effective post-emergence weedicide was available at that time. Weeds had to be removed manually, which cost almost the same as the cost saved on the transplanting of the crop.

Next year flat seeding with a rice seeder after laser-leveling was tried with a short-duration variety of rice. It succeeded wonderfully and saved more than 30 per cent of irrigation water and removed the drudgery of work. Laser-leveling was itself responsible for a considerable water saving. The yield was also marginally higher by one quintal per acre compared with that in the traditional system. This system saved a lot of labour and costs. It was just like the sowing and harvesting of wheat. The tractor-driven drill could easily seed five to six acres of land in a day. Encouraged by this success, next year four acres were planted through the DSR technique. But early untimely heavy rain after five days of germination destroyed two acres of the crop. Two acres of the crop could be saved by pumping out excess water from the fields. The saved area gave satisfactory results equal to the traditional method. The system saved more than 30 per cent water. At an early stage the crop looked weak, but picked up after one month or so and compensated with stronger tillers. The conspicuous advantage in DSR is that in case of delayed application of water the crop does not wilt because the root system develops deeper in the loose un-puddled soil. The optimum benefit from this system on water saving can accrue only when the crop is seeded after the 10th of June and preferably around 15th June, because soon after the monsoon sets in. But, there is always a danger of early heavy rain that may spoil the whole game. This system is suitable for heavier soils only. The other essentials are a careful laser leveling of the fields, use of specially designed seed drills that ensure uniform shallow seeding. The available seeding drills are light and need improvement. After drawing bunds in the field heavy planking is required for uniform seeding. Control of weeds through a careful application of pre-emergence and post-emergence weedicides is a must. Otherwise, the system would lead to an avoidable failure.

Dr. Gurdev Singh Khush, a world renowned rice breeder, at a meeting with the Chief Minister of Punjab on the sidelines of Agriculture Summit 2014, suggested the adoption of direct seeding of rice in order to save water on the crop. The suggestion is in the right direction, but as yet the system suffers from a few serious trepidations. Therefore, before its adoption on a large scale, it is essential to debug the system to suit various area and time specific situations. This requires a dispassionate evaluation of the experimentations made by various organisations and individuals, including the technocrats of the Department of Agriculture, corporate set-ups, including PepsiCo, and university researchers. The system has considerable potential. Punjab Agricultural University needs to develop and pursue a definitive research project on direct seeding of rice and the state government, if seriously interested in the sustainable use of water resources of the state, must finance this research in a project mode.


The Tribune, 25 January, 2014, http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140225/edit.htm#top


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