Direct Seeded Rice is getting popular in many areas of India . We are giving important practices of land preparation and early crop establishment for benefit of farmers below.

For rice thrips, use Gaucho at 2.5 ml per kg of seed, with 25-30 ml of water per kg for dry seed treatment to protect against sucking pests and enhance vigour. For Bakane/Foot rot and Brown leaf spot, apply Raxil Easy at 10-12.5 ml per 10 kg of seeds. For Stem borer/Leaf folder, use Reatis at 10-12.5 ml per kg of seeds, ensuring a total slurry volume of 32 ml per kg for dry sowing and total slurry volume of 16 ml per kg for wet sowing. Before applying, Please check the product label for proper usage in different crops.

• For Kharif season sowing should be done immediately after the onset of the monsoon during the month of June to July. • For Rabi season sowing is done from November - December.

There are four types of sowing methods in DSR: - A) Wet DSR : Laichopi B) Dry DSR: Sowing with Tractor Drawn Seed Drill (Tar Vattar) C) Dry DSR: Botta D) Dry DSR: Khurra

• The land is ploughed sufficiently, puddle and level the field before sowing • Prior to sowing, level the field once again by incorporating the basal dose of fertilizer (10% N: 100% P2O5: 75% K2O) recommended • Drain out the water from the fields and then broadcast / line sown the seeds uniformly with pregerminated seeds

• Do 2-3 ploughings (Harrowing) for field preparation after harvest of the previous crop • Apply heavy pre-sowing irrigation • Do one light ploughing when the soil reaches field capacity follow up with a planking and laser leveling • Mix 10 kg hybrid seed + 30 kg DAP and sow the seeds with Tractor Drawn Seed Drill at 60-70% soil moisture, similar to wheat. • Seeds get automatically covered after sowing • Optimum germination can be seen in rows after 5-7 days.

The land is ploughed sufficiently during summer to get the good tilth Level the field before the season by removing all the weeds • After the onset of the Monsoon field will be plowed finally and seeds will be sown • Seed is sown through broadcasting/seed drill when soil moisture is 60 – 70 %. • Cover the Seeds by harrowing to avoid bird damage and proper germination.

• Prepare the fields before the onset of the Monsoon. • Seed is sown in dry soil, 15 days before the onset of Monsoons. • Cover the Seeds by harrowing to avoid bird damage and proper germination. • In this method, hybrid cultivars are not recommended.

Apply the crop growth regulator "Ambition" at a rate of 400–500 ml per acre, using 200 liters of water per acre. The first spray should be done at 5% flowering, followed by a second spray 10 days after the first application.

Inter-cultivation is helpful for weed management and also to loosen the soil for better root development. Weeding should be done from the initial tillering to the maximum tillering stage. Weeding is done by 3 methods: a) Hand/ Manual weeding b) By machine: Use manual or machine-operated Cono-Weeder for effective weed control. c) By chemical. Apply recommended weedicides. Immediately after sowing within 24 hours apply Pendimethalin 30% EC followed by Council Activ at 10 to 15 Days after sowing, At 20 to 25 days after sowing spray Adora. Need based application of Ricestar at 35 to 40 days after sowing. It helps in controlling broadleaf, grassy weeds, and managing sedges. For the escaped weeds apply another round of herbicide based on the type of weeds.

Apply Insecticides Bicota, Regent Ultra and Vayego for stem borer, Fame and Vayego for Leaf folder, and Curbix Pro and Tocakis for BPH management. The important fungicides to be used for Rice blast are Acerbo and Nativo, For Sheath blight disease can be effectively managed by Folicur and Buonos . Before applying, Please check the product label for proper usage in different crops.

Symptoms: • Rice: Appearance of rusty-brown spots and discoloration of older leaves beginning 2-3 weeks after transplanting is noticed. Under acute conditions, leaf margins of older leaves dry up. New leaves are smaller in size. Crop maturity is non-uniform and delayed. • If Zinc deficiency symptoms appear go for minimum of 2 foliar sprays of Zinc Sulphate @ 0.5 % solution.

Symptoms: • Interveinal chlorosis in streaks is noticed. Drying of leaves starts from tips and margins. Under severe conditions, leaves become white and die. • If Iron deficiency symptoms appear in the main crop go for foliar spray of Ferrous Sulphate at 1% around 2-3 sprays till the leaves' color turned into normal green.

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