Indian farmers can grow a newly-released rice variety, DRR Dhan 90 (IET 29581), with just half the amount of fertiliser they have been using, according to researchers. A short-bold grain type rice, the variety can yield 4.6 tonnes per hectare at 50 per cent of the nitrogenous fertiliser urea, and 4 tonnes per hectare without urea. It can be grown in a span of 125-130 days, and can moderately withstand leaf blast, neck bast, plant hoppers, sheath rot and whorl maggots.

This is a part of All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on rice. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has a network of research centres that work on rice, maize, pulses, vegetables, and climate with an aim to develop region-specific varieties, and practices.

The DRR Dhan 90 has been developed by the scientists at Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad. The purpose of AICRP is to evaluate the breeding material across  different locations, collect germplasms (a reserve of genetic diversity), and augment the productivity of specific crops. The AICRP is also tasked with developing rice varieties that can withstand climate change.

Scientists from the Indian Institute of Rice Research (ICAR-IIRR) told Hot Rock that in 2011-12 there was an initiative by ICAR to develop varieties that use nitrogen efficiently for climate-resilient agriculture.

The ICAR launched National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) in order to address vulnerabilities in crops, livestock and fisheries arising out of climate change. The goal was to develop varieties that have high heat tolerance, bear heat stress, resist pests and use nitrogen efficiently.

One of the foremost problems in Indian agriculture is the indiscriminate use of urea. India’s fertiliser imports are set to reach $18 billion in the current fiscal year on account of increased demand of urea and DAP, and a dip in domestic production.

India’s fertiliser subsidy is projected to escalate to ₹1.95 lakh crore in 2026, driven by an 8 per cent rise in urea consumption and record-high imports.

Urea gives off nitrous oxide that is 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. Excessive use of urea had its origin in the 1960s. Prior to that, farmers had landraces; they mostly used natural fertilisers and the crops were tall, which made them vulnerable to wind and rain. Yields increased with the introduction of dwarf and fertiliser-responsive rice varieties in the green revolution.

Agriculture scientists told Hot Rock it was a misconception that more fertiliser meant more yields. They said that crops can take in only a certain amount of urea/fertiliser, and that the excess is “just lost to the environment”.

Excessive use of urea and other fertilisers led to more input costs; at the same time, it contaminated soil, water and ecosystems. Climate-wise, its impacts are phenomenal: by releasing more potent gases like nitrous oxide and methane it has indirectly contributed to warming.

The work scientists do at IIRR addresses many issues, including climate change, at the level of seeds. Scientists said they evaluate whether the released varieties have nitrogen-use efficiency. After identifying them, they cross them with the most popular variety and try to combine the best of the both varieties.

In the case of DRR Dhan 90, scientists took BPT5204—Samba Mahsuri, a popular rice variety known for its fine grains and aroma—and Varadhan, known for nitrogen-use efficiency—and crossed them. The best plants among the progeny were continuously selected for eight to ten generations for the superior yield under low nitrogen inputs. Out of the best plants, one or two were further selected and nominated to AICRP Rice for multilocation evaluation.

Then these seeds were sent for trials to several locations which included funded and voluntary centres. The centres cultivated the nominated seeds as per standard procedures and sent the data to AICRP. The performance of each nomination was presented in Annual Rice Group meetings. Proceedings of the meeting are also published as a report. The promoted seeds were again sent for advance varietal trials (AVT1). The process was repeated for a third year as AVT2. In parallel, the nominations were checked for their tolerance to diseases and pests and grain quality.

The scientists at IIRR said the best performing seeds over three years are then submitted as a “varietal proposal”. A varietal identification committee (VIC) constituted by ICAR then scrutinises each proposal and the varietals that make the cut are recommended for release in the market.

The Central Seed Committee (CSC) and its Sub-Committee on Crop Standards, Notification & Release of Varieties (CSN&RV), is the official body responsible for evaluating, recommending, and authorising new crop varieties for cultivation and seed production at the national level. After the final approval, the selected varieties are notified in the Gazette.

While breeding and selection take up a lot of effort and time, ensuring the farmers adopt the variety is a whole another task.

Hooked on the use of excessive urea, farmers relish the look of green fields which is considered a marker for healthy crops. That comes from nitrogen: pump more nitrogen, crops turns greener. Farmers are also reluctant to change varieties, they often prefer to stick with what works for them. The attitude is a function of farming being a high-risk enterprise, subject to uncontrollable variables like climate and rainfall. To switch over to an unknown variety, even if it claims to halve urea use and reduce costs, is a hardsell. The ICAR has an outreach service for this.

For a good, efficient variety like DRR Dhan 90 to flourish in the field, the road is long and hard.