Productivity and Quality of Direct Seeded Rice under Different Types of Mulches and Planting Patterns: A Review

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the staple food of more than half of world population and is one of the leading cereal crops being grown in many regions of world. As this crop requires standing water from transplanting to harvesting, thus cultivation of this crop is facing problems due to water shortages, particularly in Asia. Aerobic rice technique involves by direct seeding of rice in the field by skipping the practice of nursery raising as in conventional flooded rice cultivation system, is gaining ground with passage of time. The technique of direct seeded rice not only saves water but labor as well. The yield of direct seeded rice can be increased to many folds by optimizing plating pattern which is the most important agronomic practice. Different types of mulches including organic and plastic are vital in increasing the growth and yield of aerobic rice as these mulches conserve water and reduce weeds infestation which is the most critical problem in the direct seeded rice fields.