EFFECT OF SOWING TECHNIQUES ON GROWTH, YIELD, AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF FINE RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.) UNDER THE ARID CONDITIONS OF DERA ISMAIL KHAN, PAKISTAN

Direct-seeded rice (DSR) has emerged as a resource-efficient alternative to conventional puddled transplanted rice (PTR), particularly in arid regions where irrigation water and agricultural labor are increasingly constrained. This study evaluated the effects of DSR and PTR on the growth, yield, water-use efficiency, soil properties, and economic performance of fine rice (Oryza sativa L.) under the arid conditions of Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. A field experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with four replications. Growth attributes, yield components, grain yield, irrigation-water requirement, water productivity, post-harvest soil indicators, and economic returns were assessed. Direct-seeded rice consistently outperformed PTR in vegetative and reproductive traits. At flowering, DSR produced taller plants, greater tiller density, and a higher leaf area index. Panicle length, filled grains per panicle, and 1000-grain weight were also improved under DSR. Grain yield increased from 4.63 t ha⁻¹ under PTR to 5.21 t ha⁻¹ under DSR, representing a 12.5% improvement. Moreover, DSR reduced irrigation-water use by 29.5%, from 13,200 to 9,300 m³ ha⁻¹, while increasing water productivity by 59.7%, from 0.351 to 0.560 kg m⁻³. Economic analysis showed that DSR reduced production costs and increased net returns from PKR 172,050 to PKR 258,850 ha⁻¹, with the benefit–cost ratio improving from 1.78 to 2.41. Modest improvements in post-harvest soil chemical properties were also observed under DSR. These findings demonstrate that direct seeding is a productive, water-efficient, and economically viable establishment method for sustainable fine-rice cultivation in arid environments.