In a relentless effort to conserve water, Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), led a team of experts to Govindgarh village on the Raikot-Barnala road to observe the impressive performance of ‘tar-wattar Direct Seeded Rice’ (DSR) in farmers’ fields. This innovative method, developed by PAU, involves directly drilling rice seeds into a tar-wattar field and delaying the first irrigation for three weeks after sowing.
“The method has gained popularity among farmers due to its wide soil adaptability, reduced weed problems, and significant water savings,” said Dr Gosal while inspecting the 25-acre rice field managed by farmer brothers S. Lakhwinder Singh and S. Sukhvir Singh. The crop exhibited excellent establishment without any post-sowing irrigation, he observed. Dr Gosal praised the farmers for their commitment to conserving natural resources and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. He urged more farmers to adopt water-saving technologies like ‘tar-wattar DSR’ to help preserve vital natural resources.
The farmers, who adopted the ‘tar-wattar DSR’ technology during the COVID-19 pandemic, shared their positive experiences with the PAU team. They highlighted that applying the first irrigation three weeks after sowing saved substantial water, promoted deeper root growth, and resulted in a healthier, weed-free crop. They reported achieving 1.0 to 1.5 quintal per acre higher yields compared to traditional puddled transplanted rice. Encouraged by their success over the past 3-4 years, other local farmers have also started adopting this water-saving technology. However, the farmers emphasized the importance of regular crop monitoring during the first month for the best results.
The PAU team accompanying Dr Gosal included Dr AS Dhatt, Director of Research; Dr MS Bhullar, Director of Extension Education; Dr GS Manes, Additional Director of Research; Dr Manjit Singh, Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology; and Dr JS Gill, Agronomist. The team meticulously observed the successful implementation of ‘tar-wattar DSR’ and commended the farmers’ efforts in pioneering this beneficial method.
Read more: https://www.pau.edu/index.php?_act=manageEvent&DO=viewEventDetail&dataE=datae&intID=9168
