Transplanting into non-puddled soils with a small-scale mechanical transplanter reduced fuel, labour and irrigation water requirements for rice (Oryza sativa L.) establishment and increased yield

All non-puddled tillage treatments gave similar or significantly higher yield of rice compared to puddling. On the clay loam soil, strip tillage and zero tillage gave significantly higher yields (5.4-5.6 t/ha) than bed tillage and puddling (5.1-5.2 t/ha). On the loam, yields with strip tillage (5.1 t/ha) and bed tillage (4.9 t/ha) were similar, and yield with strip tillage was significantly higher than that of zero tillage and puddling (4.7-4.8 t/ha). Operating the mechanical rice transplanter in non-puddled soil reduced labour and fuel costs and irrigation water input for rice establishment. Crop production was profitable with mechanized transplanting into all tillage treatments at both sites in both seasons, with gross margin ranging from US$273 to US$582/ha, and BCR from 1.3 to 1.7. Strip tillage and zero tillage were more profitable than puddling at Gazipur, while strip tillage was also the most profitable treatment at Kushtia. Mechanized transplanting into non-puddled soil is thus a promising option for smallholder wetland rice farmers in Asia.