Rice Direct Seeding and Weed Management in Asia

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) crop occupies a pivotal position in Pakistan's agriculture not only due to the area under its cultivation, but as an export commodity and food security item. At present, more than one third of the human population depends on rice crop for their daily sustenance. Throughout the world, 530 million tons of paddy rice production at an average yield of 3.5 t ha-1 is harvested from 150 million hectares annually. Water scarcity is a main constraint to agricultural productivity in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Water shortage has endangered the sustainability of irrigated rice ecosystem. By considering above mentioned scenario, there is an increasing demand to change policies regarding rice production by substituting and complementing the traditional rice farming techniques with available most up-to-date technologies. Direct seeding of rice could be only attractive alternative of transplanting. It has some favorable position for farmers as the direct seeded crop generally flowers earlier leading to reduction in crop duration. This book has detailed experimental based discussion on direct seeding and management of major problems like weeds.