Dry direct-seeded and broadcast rice: A profitable and climate-smart alternative to puddled transplanted aus rice in Bangladesh

Abstract

Dry direct-seeded rice (DSR) has been identified as a potential crop establishment method to reduce labor, water, and energy use, as well as the carbon footprint and is considered as a climate-smart practice for rice production. However, the economic feasibility and farmers’ adoption of DSR will likely depend on its productivity compared to the dominant practice of puddled transplanted rice (PTR). Tillage and crop management practices, landscape position, and rice cultivars are also likely to influence DSR productivity, profitability, energy use, and global warming potential (GWP). While numerous studies have compared the performance of DSR with PTR, none have evaluated DSR across different landscape positions to identify the most suitable landscape for expansion of DSR.