Rice (Oryza sativa), the staple foo

Rice (Oryza sativa), the staple food of more than half of the population of the world, is an important target to provide food security
and livelihoods for millions. Imminent water crisis, water-demanding nature of traditionally cultivated rice and climbing labour costs
ramble the search for alternative management methods to increase water productivity, system sustainability and profitability. Direct
seeded rice (DSR) technique is becoming popular nowadays because of its low-input demanding nature. It offers a very exciting
opportunity to improve water and environmental sustainability. It involves sowing pre-germinated seeds into a puddled soil surface
(wet seeding), standing water (water seeding) or dry seeding into a prepared seedbed (dry seeding). The development of short
duration, early-maturing cultivars and efficient nutrient management techniques along with increased adoption of integrated weed
management methods have encouraged many farmers to switch from transplanted to DSR culture. This technology is highly
mechanized in some developed nations like U.S, Europe and Australia. This shift should substantially reduce crop water
requirements and emission of greenhouse gases. The reduced emission of these gases helps in climate change adaptation and
mitigation, enhanced nutrient relations, organic matter turnovers, carbon sequestration and also provides the opportunity of crop
intensification. However, weed and nematode infestation are major problems, which can cause large yield losses in DSR. Other
associated problems with DSR are increased incidences of blast disease crop lodging impaired kernel quality, increased panicle
sterility and stagnant yields across the years. Based on the existing evidence, the present paper reviews the integrated package of
technologies for DSR, potential advantages and problems associated with DSR, and suggest likely future patterns of changes in rice
cultivation.