Energy use efficiency of direct seeding of rice in Punjab
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Date
2022
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The present study was undertaken to examine and compare the resource and energy use pattern between the direct seeded rice (DSR) and conventional puddled transplanted rice (PTR) in Sri Mukatsar district of Punjab. Primary data were collected from 120 farmers (80 DSR adopters and 40 non adopters) selected using multi-stage random sampling technique through personal interview method during the agricultural year 2021-22. The input use for DSR showed an increasing trend with the farm size except for animal labour and non-significant (NS) differences existed among the different farm categories. Similarly, output for DSR had a rising trend with the farm size. In terms of energy use, NS differences were observed among farm categories for all input energies except human labour. Both input and output energy in DSR were lesser on DSR farms (21708.61 and 87431 MJ/acre) as compared to PTR farms (24816.79 and 88451 MJ/acre) but the net energy gain for DSR (65722.57 MJ/acre) was higher than the PTR (63634.26 MJ/acre). Chemical fertilizers were the dominant source of energy contributing about 41 to 42 per cent of the total input energy (with maximum share being from nitrogenous fertilisers) in DSR and PTR respectively. Electricity consumption for irrigation use also consumed a noteworthy share of 33 to 35 per cent share for DSR and PTR respectively followed by diesel fuel (11-10%). Plant protection chemical (PPC) contributed to as high as about 4 per cent of energy use in DSR as compared to only 2 per cent share in PTR. Higher EUE of 4.03 was observed in DSR than PTR (3.56). Marginal farm category was relatively more energy efficient (4.1) as compared to small (4.07) and large farms (3.92). High energy intensity of 8.86 MJ/kg with a low energy productivity index of 0.11 kg/MJ for PTR in comparison to DSR indicated that there is room for improving energy productivity of rice crop in the traditional PTR. The TVC was significantly lower by about 16 per cent in DSR (Rs 23344.06 per acre) than PTR (Rs 27677.33 per acre) and the major share belonged to human labour i.e about 23 per cent for DSR and about 33 per cent for PTR. Machine labour followed by electricity used for irrigation accounted for about 20 per cent and 18 per cent share respectively share in TVC for both the methods. The money spent on PPC was higher by about 7 per cent in DSR (16.9%) than PTR (9.88%) and the share of seed cost was observed to be almost double for DSR (2.92%) than the PTR (1.43%).DSR method generated significant savings in the physical terms in use of machine (12.63%), fertilizers (15.06%) and irrigation water (15.90 %) in comparison to PTR. In value terms, DSR reduced the cost of human labour, machine labour, fertilizers, electricity for irrigation by 40.53, 15.10, 7.63, 15.90 per cent resp. over the PTR though it enhanced the cost of seed and PPC by 72.67 and 44.29 per cent. With marginally lower yield in DSR (2769 kg per acre) than PTR (2801.3 kg per acre), the net ROVC were higher by about 13 per cent in DSR (Rs 31482.14 per acre) than PTR (Rs 27788.41 per acre) because of lower VC in DSR. The cost in production of one kg grain using DSR was found to be lower (Rs 8.43 per kg) by about 15 per cent than in PTR (Rs 9.88 per kg). Results of binomial regression analysis indicated that among 7 statistically significant factors affecting adoption of the DSR, one per cent rise in the availability of direct seeding implements, extension contacts and DSR trainings increased the adoption level by 33, 23 and 20 per cent respectively while with increase in age it declined by 2 per cent. High transplanting cost for human labour, expert advice and non availability of required implement were the major hurdles in adopting DSR by the adopters while easily available of labour for transplanting paddy, lack of technical knowledge, diffidence in adopting DSR and non-availability of required implements were the major reasons of non adoption. Study suggested the need to generate more awareness of recommended DSR production practices; capacity building by educating/training; timely availability of required farm implements on custom hiring basis; auxiliary research and development efforts for large scale adoption of the DSR
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Gurpreet Singh (2022). Energy use efficiency of direct seeding of rice in Punjab (Unpublished M.Sc. thesis). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.