1. Land Preparation: Building a Healthy Foundation
Step 1: Soil Testing
- Why? Assess soil pH, nutrients, and carbon content.
- How? Use Soil Health Cards or private labs.
- Outcome: Targeted fertilizer/lime application (e.g., lime if pH < 5.5).
Step 2: Laser Land Leveling
Ensures uniform water spread; cuts water use by 20–25%. Cost: ₹1,000–1,500/acre.
Step 3: Green Manuring
Grow dhaincha or sunn hemp for 45–60 days, then plow into soil to enrich nitrogen.
2. Seed Selection & Treatment
Step 4: Choose Climate-Resilient Varieties
- Drought: Sahbhagi Dhan
- Floods: CR Dhan 801
- Organic: Kalanamak, Govind Bhog
Step 5: Seed Treatment
Bio-Priming: Azospirillum (20 g/kg seeds, soak for 12 hours)
Neem Oil: 5 ml/L water to deter pests
3. Planting: SRI vs. DSR Methods
Option A: System of Rice Intensification (SRI)
- Nursery: Use 8–12 day old seedlings
- Spacing: 25x25 cm, single plant/hill
- AWD: Flood → dry till cracks → re-flood (30–40% water savings)
Option B: Direct-Seeded Rice (DSR)
- Dry/Wet DSR: Drill or sow pre-germinated seeds
- Seed Rate: 8–10 kg/acre
- Weeds: Use Pendimethalin or straw mulch
4. Nutrient Management
- Basal Dose: 5T compost + 2T vermicompost OR half NPK + half organic
- Top Dressing: Neem-coated urea (30–40 kg/acre)
- Biofertilizer: Azotobacter spray at panicle stage
- In Situ: Grow Azolla for 30–40 kg N/acre
5. Pest & Disease Control (IPM)
- Cultural: Trap crops (marigold, sesame), BPH-resistant rice
- Biological: Trichogramma (4 cards/acre), neem oil, Beauveria
- Mechanical: Solar light traps (1/acre)
6. Water Conservation Techniques
- Drip/Sprinkler: For upland rice
- Solar Pumps: PM-KUSUM scheme (60% subsidy)
- Farm Ponds: 20×20×3 m for storing monsoon runoff
7. Harvesting & Post-Harvest
- Harvest: At 20–25% grain moisture
- Happy Seeder: Direct wheat sowing in rice residue
- Straw Composting: Add Trichoderma for faster breakdown
8. Crop Rotation & Diversification
- Pulses: Moong or masoor post-rice to fix nitrogen
- Integrated Farming: Rice-fish culture in waterlogged areas (₹30,000/acre income)
Case Study: ZBNF in Andhra Pradesh
- Seed: Bijamrita coating
- Soil: Jeevamrita every 15 days
- Mulch: Straw/leaves for moisture retention
- Intercrop: Pigeon pea or sesame for pest control
"Yield rose to 4.2 tons/hectare; costs dropped from ₹15,000 to ₹4,500/acre"
Tools & Government Schemes
- Tools: Cono-weeders, seed drills, solar pumps
- Subsidies: PKVY, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana
Conclusion
Sustainable rice farming blends traditional wisdom with modern science. With SRI/DSR, organic practices, and tech like SoilGPT, farmers can achieve up to 30% higher profits while protecting our environment.
Sustainable rice isn’t just a crop—it’s a commitment to future generations. 🌾