Weed Management in a Novel Water Saving Technology (Direct Seeded Rice) in the Tungabhadra Command Area of Karnataka State

Dry seeded rice (DSR) is becoming an attractive option for farmers in the Tungabhadra command area where farmers invariably experience water shortage even in kharif season. This attribute is due to 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 1015 days because of the absence of transplanting shock. These features of DSR are of major importance for the Tungabhadra command area, especially the tail end areas the water reaches here late resulting in increasing scarcity of water for irrigation in the area. DSR is readily adopted by some small farmers as well as large farmers in Raichur district, as the required machinery is locally available (e. g. , through custom hire). The DSR may be adopted by rest of the farmers of the Raichur district also. Best practice involves using a 2- or 4-wheel tractor-drawn drill to seed in rows in dry or slightly moist soil.