Drip-cum-plastic mulch technology for high yield, cost-effectiveness, and water productivity in sustainable rice production

Rice is the world's most important staple food, feeding billions of people every day. In many parts of Asia, particularly in India, it is the backbone of the economy and the primary source of calories for rural families. For generations, farmers have grown rice by flooding their fields with water, a method known as puddled transplanted rice. While this technique works, it is incredibly thirsty, often requiring thousands of liters of water to produce just one kilogram of grain. In regions where the water table is dropping rapidly, this traditional approach is becoming unsustainable. Scientists and farmers are now searching for ways to grow more rice using significantly less water, a challenge that sits at the intersection of food security and environmental survival.

To address this crisis, researchers at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi set out to test a new combination of farming techniques. They focused on a specific type of rice called Basmati, which is highly valued for its aroma and export quality. The team wanted to see if they could improve the growth of this rice by changing three things at once: how the water is delivered, how the seeds are planted, and whether the soil is covered. Instead of flooding the fields, they tested drip irrigation, which delivers water slowly and directly to the roots through tubes. They also tested planting the seeds on raised mounds of soil, known as raised beds, rather than on flat ground. Finally, they experimented with covering the soil with a thin layer of plastic film to keep moisture in and stop weeds from growing. The goal was to find a system that would not only save water but also produce a better harvest and make more money for the farmers.

The researchers conducted their experiment over two growing seasons in 2024 and 2025. They set up a large field divided into many small plots, each receiving a different combination of the three techniques. Some plots received water through the drip system, while others were flooded like traditional fields. Some were planted on flat ground, while others were planted on raised beds. Some plots were covered with plastic mulch, and others were left bare. By comparing the results across all these variations, the team could isolate exactly which methods worked best together.

The results were clear and consistent across both years. The plots that combined all three modern techniques—drip irrigation, raised beds, and plastic mulch—outperformed every other method. These plants grew taller and developed larger leaves, creating a denser canopy that captured more sunlight. Their root systems were also stronger, with more dry matter accumulating underground, which allowed the plants to drink and eat nutrients more efficiently. Because the plants were healthier and less stressed, they produced more grain. The treatment that used drip irrigation on raised beds with plastic mulch yielded the highest amount of rice, producing 5.4 tons per hectare in 2024 and 4.9 tons in 2025. In contrast, the traditional method of surface irrigation on flat ground without mulch produced less than half that amount.

Beyond just the weight of the grain, the quality of the harvest improved as well. The plants in the best treatment produced longer seed heads with more grains on each one. They also absorbed more nutrients from the soil, taking up higher amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are essential for plant growth. This efficient use of resources meant that the water used to grow the rice was far more productive. The team calculated that for every cubic meter of water applied, the best treatment produced over two kilograms of grain, whereas the traditional method produced less than a quarter of a kilogram.

The economic benefits were just as significant as the biological ones. Because the high-tech treatment produced so much more grain, the farmers earned substantially higher profits. The net return for the best treatment was nearly 120,000 rupees per hectare in 2024, compared to a mere 5,000 rupees for the least productive method. The ratio of money earned to money spent was also much higher, indicating that the investment in the new technology paid off handsomely. The study concluded that this integrated approach is not only a way to save water but also a viable business strategy for farmers facing water scarcity.

This research offers a concrete path forward for sustainable rice farming in water-stressed regions. By combining precise water delivery, better soil structure, and moisture conservation, farmers can grow more food with fewer resources. The findings suggest that shifting away from traditional flooding toward these integrated systems can help secure the food supply while protecting the groundwater that communities rely on. For Basmati rice, and potentially other crops in similar climates, this combination of drip irrigation, raised beds, and plastic mulch represents a powerful tool for the future of agriculture.