Biotech Today

Rice (Oryza sativa) is staple food for more than 50% global population cultivated in different parts of India especially Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala etc. Among the cereals its water and energy requirement especially for lifting groundwater is very detrimental to ground water resources and air quality. Hogh productivity and high production of transplanted paddy has over mined soil fertility, ground water resources, led to land subsidence, mobilized toxic elements into water and deteriorated aquifier water qualities in many regions. Life-cycle analysis of Carbon footprints of the cultivated cereal crops in north India showed wheat as the best and rice as the least option for sustainable resource management and green environment. On an average, 77 % of paddy is transplanted globally, its global warming or climate change potential are 1.5 to 2.00 -fold more than direct seeding. Yield of Dry Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) is observed lesser than, equal to or higher than transplanted globally rice in different agro-ecologies. DSR generally saved water, reduced labour requirements, emissions, Green-house Gases and global warming. Approximately 8 % loss in the yield of the subsequent non-paddy crops under transplanted rice when compared with Direct seeding rice was due to puddling triggered deterioration of soil physical conditions under transplanted rice. In situ and ex situ management of surplus bulky, lose and unbrittle paddy-straw rice in Silica, ash, alkali metals and lignin has potential of challenge. Surplus paddy straw is burnt in villages by farmers that in flic quality of air and health of human beings, livestock and wildlife. Change in biodiversity of herbs, evolution of resistance to pesticides by the weeds and toxicity of herbicides residues is a risk of Direct seeded rice.