Precision Farming Techniques for Sustainable Rice Production – A Review

Authors: A Ramya; D.Sarath Kumar; A. Upendra Rao; S. Govinda Rao; B. Rajendra Kumar; K. Hemalatha
Precision Farming Techniques for Sustainable Rice Production – A Review
DOI
10.25125/ijoear-may-2026-16
DIN
IJOEAR-MAY-2026-16
Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the primary staple food for a large proportion of the global population, particularly in Asia, where it accounts for nearly 90% of global rice production and consumption. In India, rice has been cultivated on about 46 million hectares. However, productivity and resource-use efficiency remain sub-optimal due to conventional practices characterised by excessive use of fertilisers, water, pesticides and labour, resulting in increased production costs and environmental degradation. Nitrogen use efficiency in rice rarely exceeds 30–40% under blanket fertiliser recommendations, leading to significant nutrient losses and pollution. Precision farming-based site-specific management offers a sustainable alternative by integrating data-driven tools for nutrient, water, weed and crop management. Site-specific nutrient management using tools such as Leaf Colour Chart, SPAD meter, Green Seeker, Nutrient Expert and Rice Crop Manager synchronises nutrient supply with crop demand, reducing nitrogen use by 15–30% while improving grain yield by 10–25%. Precision water management practices, including alternate wetting and drying, sensor-based irrigation and micro irrigation systems, achieve 20–40% savings in irrigation water without yield penalties, while improving water productivity and reducing methane emissions. Precision weed and disease management using sensors, remote sensing and uncrewed aerial vehicles enables early detection and site-specific interventions, resulting in 40–45% reductions in pesticide use with stable yields. Precision mechanisation technologies, such as laser land levelling, mechanised establishment, and autonomous harvesting, further enhance crop uniformity and operational efficiency. Despite adoption constraints related to cost, technical complexity, awareness, and fragmented landholdings, this review highlights precision farming as a sustainable pathway to enhance the productivity, profitability, and environmental sustainability of rice-based systems.

Keywords
Micro-irrigation Site-specific nutrient management LCC SSNM Productivity.
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Introduction

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a vital food crop worldwide and a staple for more than half of the global population, with Asia as the dominant rice-consuming region. It supplies nearly one-fifth of the global dietary energy and plays an indispensable role in food security, livelihood support and poverty reduction, particularly among small and marginal farming communities (FAO, 2020; Sun et al., 2022). Asia accounts for nearly 90% of global rice production and consumption. At present, India is the world's largest rice producer, cultivating approximately 47 million hectares and producing nearly 158.5 million tonnes of paddy annually, with an average productivity of about 2.9 t ha⁻¹ (GOI, 2023; FAO, 2023). Despite this vast cultivation area, rice yields in several regions remain well below attainable levels due to inefficient resource use, climate-related stresses and escalating input costs. Consequently, achieving sustainable rice production has emerged as a significant global concern.

Traditional rice cultivation systems are predominantly based on continuous flooding, uniform fertiliser schedules, blanket pesticide applications and intensive reliance on manual labour. Such practices have led to inefficient utilization of water, nutrients and energy, resulting in environmental degradation and increased production costs. Flooded rice cultivation requires enormous volumes of water, often ranging from 3000 to 5000 litres to produce one kilogram of grain, which accelerates groundwater depletion and intensifies competition among agricultural, industrial, and domestic water users (IRRI, 2001; Kumar & Ladha, 2011). In addition, poor irrigation management contributes to 40–50% of nonproductive water losses through runoff and percolation, while prolonged flooding enhances methane emissions, raising concerns about the environmental sustainability of rice ecosystems (Belder et al., 2005; Wu et al., 2022).

Efficient nutrient management, particularly nitrogen (N), remains a critical factor influencing rice productivity. Nitrogen is the most limiting nutrient in rice cultivation and is essential for photosynthesis, vegetative growth, tiller formation and grain development (Yoshida et al., 2006; Djaman et al., 2018). However, nitrogen use efficiency in rice systems is typically low, seldom exceeding 30–40%, owing to significant losses through volatilisation, leaching, runoff, and denitrification (Cassman et al., 1998; Nachimuthu et al., 2007). The widespread adoption of blanket fertiliser recommendations fails to address field-level variability in soil fertility and crop demand, often leading to excessive fertiliser use, increased production costs, lodging, pest outbreaks and environmental pollution (Rahman et al., 2007; Djaman et al., 2018). These limitations highlight the importance of adopting need-based and site-specific nutrient management strategies.

In recent years, precision nutrient management tools such as the Leaf Colour Chart (LCC), SPAD chlorophyll meter, Green Seeker and Site-Specific Nutrient Management (SSNM) approaches have gained considerable attention. LCC and SPAD offer rapid, non-destructive and cost-effective methods for monitoring crop nitrogen status under field conditions, enabling better synchronisation between nitrogen supply and crop demand (Peng et al., 1993; Ghosh et al., 2016). Decision-support tools such as Nutrient Expert and Rice Crop Manager (RCM), based on SSNM principles, provide field-specific fertiliser recommendations that have been shown to improve nitrogen use efficiency by 20–30%, enhance grain yield and reduce nutrient losses and greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional farmer practices (Gupta et al., 2016; Banayo et al., 2018).

Conclusion

Precision farming offers a sustainable pathway to enhance rice productivity while addressing challenges of water scarcity, low nutrient-use efficiency, labour shortages and environmental degradation. Technologies such as LCC, SPAD, Green Seeker, SSNM tools, AWD irrigation, laser land levelling, UAV-based spraying and robotics enable site-specific, data-driven management of water, nutrients and crop health. These approaches improve yield, resource-use efficiency, profitability and environmental sustainability compared with conventional blanket practices. Although constraints such as high initial costs and technical limitations exist, supportive policies, capacity building and digital infrastructure can accelerate adoption. Overall, precision agriculture represents a transformative strategy for resilient and climate-smart rice production systems.

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