Status of mat-type nursery raising techniques for rice cultivation in India - A Review

In a quest for successful mechanical transplanting of rice, an intervention of mat-type nursery raising is a precursor. The status of techniques of mat-type nursery raising for rice has been reviewed and presented in this paper. Findings on suitable field location, nursery field preparation, seed varieties, optimum nursery sowing time, use of media, mat thickness, seed rate, water application and different nursery raising devices and machines are presented as it differs from traditional wash root type nursery raising. Two methodologies in mat-type raising i.e. tray method (off-situ) and open field (in-situ) were reviewed and found that open field method of nursery raising is most commonly practiced in India despite meagre mechanical intervention and higher input requirement in terms of labours. Tray type mat nursery sowing machines could not be popularised in India due to lack of technical knowledge to use it and also due to establishment involving higher initial investment. Need-based research is required for complete mechanization in growing in-situ mat-type nursery through efficient and appropriate machine to save labour and time.