CSA Xpert

Rice crop is grown in 70 % of the cropped area in all the three types of ecosystem, viz. upland, medium land, and lowland in all agro-ecological zones of Odisha.

• The upland ecosystem comprises about 15.7% of the rice area and 10.8% of total rice production in the state. Major limitations associated with upland ecosystems are inherent poor soil fertility, severe weed competition, coarse-textured soil with poor water holding capacity, intermittent drought, and imbalance fertilization, limiting the average yield of this ecosystem to about 1 t/ha.
• The medium land ecosystem covers about 40% of the total rice area in the state.  This ecosystem is highly suitable for intensive cultivation. Though this system is considered as less problematic still the occurrence of various insect pests and disease (brown planthopper, white-backed planthopper, stem borer, gall midge, sheath rot, and bacterial leaf blight) causes significant yield loss.
•  Lowland ecosystem constitutes 35% of the rice area of the state covering mainly in the coastal region. Considerable yield loss occurs due to bacterial leaf blight, sheath blight, sheath rot, stem borer, and brown plant hopper and leaf folder.