Innovations in Crop Management: Evaluating Line Sowing, Direct-Seeded Rice and SRI for Paddy Productivity in Chhattisgarh

Abstract

This study evaluates three innovative crop management techniques - Line Sowing, Direct-Seeded Rice (DSR), and System of Rice Intensification (SRI) - for enhancing paddy productivity in Chhattisgarh state, India. A comparative analysis was conducted across 150 farmers over two cropping seasons (2009-2011) to assess yield performance, water use efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and farmer adoption rates. Results indicate that SRI method achieved the highest grain yield (6.2 t/ha) compared to Line Sowing (5.1 t/ha) and DSR (4.8 t/ha), representing 21.6% and 29.2% yield increases respectively. Water use efficiency was significantly improved in SRI (1.24 kg/m³) and DSR (1.18 kg/m³) compared to traditional methods (0.89 kg/m³). Economic analysis revealed that despite higher initial labor costs, SRI provided the best net return (₹34,250/ha) followed by Line Sowing (₹28,100/ha) and DSR (₹26,800/ha). However, adoption rates were highest for Line Sowing (68%) due to lower technical complexity, followed by DSR (45%) and SRI (32%). The study demonstrates that while SRI offers superior productivity and profitability, successful implementation requires adequate training and extension support. These findings provide crucial insights for policy makers and agricultural extension services in promoting sustainable intensification of rice production in Chhattisgarh's diverse agro-climatic zones.