Dry seeded rice (DSR) is becoming an attractive option for farmers in the Cauvery Delta Zone (CDZ) due to the elimination of the labor requirement for nursery preparation and maintenance, pulling out and transport of seedlings, and transplanting. Because the soil is not puddled, DSR also has a lower water requirement for crop establishment. Furthermore, the total crop cycle is shorter by 10−15 days because of the absence of transplanting shock. These features of DSR are of major importance for the Cauvery Delta (see below) because of the increasing scarcity of water for irrigation in the area. DSR can be readily adopted by small farmers as well as large farmers, provided that the required machinery is locally available (e.g., through custom hire). Best practice involves using a 2- or 4-wheel tractordrawn drill to seed in rows in dry or slightly moist soil.
0000-0001-7658-8144