Adoption position of direct seeded rice technique by farmers of Ferozepur district

A detailed survey was conducted in Ferozepur district (Punjab) and data was collected from randomly selected 90 farmers. Results showed that 28.6 per cent farmers had adopted most suitable short duration variety PR-126 in direct seeded rice technique. Almost half of the farmers (54.7%) have adopted recommended time of sowing of direct seeded rice technique. Farmers used recommended seed rate of 21.8 kg ha^-1 for sowing of rice in direct seeded rice technique technology. All of the farmers used 4.6 per cent higher urea (340 kg ha^-1) than recommended dose. Farmers had applied lower dose of DAP (62.5 kg ha^-1) and SSP (125.0 kg ha^-1) than recommended dose. 20.8 kg ha^-1 zinc sulphate was applied which was 48 per cent lower than recommended dose. Wrong method of ferrous sulphate application was adopted by 7.2 per cent farmers. Statistically similar grain yield 78.4 and 79.2 q ha^-1 was obtained under DSR and puddle transplanted rice establishment methods. Direct seeded rice reduced cost of cultivation by 21.9 per cent as compared to conventional puddle transplanted rice. Direct seeded rice technique recorded 5.1 per cent higher net return than conventional puddle transplanted rice. Higher benefit-cost ratio was obtained with DSR technology.