**3.4 Strip tilled rice**

In unpuddled strip tilled rice, 4–6 cm wide and up to 6 cm deep tilled zones are made just after a little rain shower and seedlings are transplanted at a spacing of 25 cm × 20 cm which may vary according to soil conditions [24]. In this method, only 16–25% of the surface soil is disturbed and the rest remain conserved as it is which reduces the mechanical impedance on the soil surface and allows efficient use of resources as fertilizers are applied as band placement. Hossain *et al*. [32] reported that the yield and B-C ratio of rice was increased by 9% and 25%, respectively in the *kharif* season and 13% and 23%, respectively in the *rabi* season for strip tillage as compared to conventionally tilled rice. Adhikari *et al*. [33] reported that the rice grain yield under strip tillage without mulch was significantly higher than rice grown under full tillage with mulch.
