In Sri Lanka, rice is dry seeded in about 17% of the total annual rice area and wet seeded in 60%. The hydrology of the ecosystem and the soil type are the critical factors underlying establishment method. A bimodal rainfall seasonality greatly influences choice of variety (duration) and method of establishment. Dry seeded rice culture is common in the drought-prone rainfed lands of the dry and intermediate zones. Wet seeded rice culture is practiced in favorable rainfed lands, submergence-prone rainfed lands, and irrigated areas. Dry and wet seeding practices differ primarily in land preparation and crop establishment methods. At later stages, both crops are maintained under wetland conditions. Any deviation in the monsoonal rains affects dry seeded rice cultivation, resulting in drought stress at early or later growth stages. In submergence-prone lands, it may result in crop failure due to excess water. Land preparation for dry seeded rice does not permit good weed management. Uncertainty of water availability decreases farmers' use of fertilizer and reduces fertilizer efficiency in dry seeded rice. Traditional culture practices for direct seeded rice reflect how farmers have historically addressed their problems in rice farming.

From land preparation to crop and water management, the traditional practices followed by the rice farmers of Sri Lanka are unique. They have evolved over many years and have survived through several generations. Most of the traditional practices are scientific and meaningful (Jayawardena and Watabe 1984). This paper analyzes direct seeding practices in Sri Lanka and their significance to rice production, and discusses problems associated with these practices. It also focuses on the research needed on direct seeded rice culture, in view of its intensity and importance to the rice economy of the country.