Pre-Seeded Mulch Technology for Direct Seeding in Wet Land Rice

Direct seeding in rice is a popular practice that saves cost of crop establishment. However, weeds pose a serious challenge to crop growth and yield in direct seeded rice. To ensure uniform crop stand and manage weed growth, a novel method of use of Pre- seeded mulch has been developed. Pre-seeded mulch developed from organic waste materials have a residence time of 60 days in soil. Paddy seeds fixed in these sheets, when laid in the field got 95% seed germination. Weed control efficiency in terms of weed count and weed dry matter, of the technology is significantly higher than the hand weeding. Rice yield and yield attributes were also high for the pre- seeded mulch technology compared to wet seeding and transplanting.