Irrigation scheduling in direct seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.)-A review

Rice establishment can be done by many methods such as direct seeding of rice, transplanting, SRI (System of rice intensification) etc. For saving both water and labour, direct seeding is the most promising approach. There is possibility of reducing water requirement of direct seeded rice without affecting the grain yield in comparison to the continuous submergence. Depending upon the amount and distribution of rains as well as toposequence of the land, the DSR may be subjected to varying degree of moisture stress at different growth stages. The stress experienced at different growth stages may lead to decrease in plant height, panicle number, panicle length, test weight, number of tillers, total dry matter whereas non-puddled conditions result in the non-formation of hard pan at 15–20 cm soil layer which may restrict the root growth. Direct seeding rice culture showed irrigation water saving to the tune of 9–57%.