Cost effective crop establishment method for increased and sustainable rice production in eastern Gangetic plains of Nepal

Transplanted rice (Oryza sativa L) covers major rice area in South Asia. However, the method is water, labor and energy intensive resulting in higher production cost. The method also aggravates environment due to emission of the greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. Therefore, on-and offstation trials were conducted during 2016 wet season at National Rice Research Program (NRRP), Hardinath, Dhanusha and Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Tarahara, Sunsari in the Eastern Gangetic Plain of Nepal to find and verify the cost effective option for crop establishment in rice. Dry direct seeded rice (DSR) matured nine days earlier than that of transplanted rice (TPR) at on-and off-station and produced more number of bold grains. Planting method did not differ significantly for grain yield at on-farm trials although DSR gave higher grain yield at RARS, Tarahara. Benefit cost ratio was 2.55 in DSR compared to 1.61 in TPR, leading to 1.6 times higher net return in DSR. It happened because of saving in seed, irrigation, tillage and labor by 25.0, 21.3, 58.1 and 67.1%, respectively, in DSR. Thus, DSR seemed to be cost effective method and allowed early/timely sowing of succeeding crop and showed prospects of higher crop production.