History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c24.s3.t4.4

v1.c24.s3.t4.4

We do not have an undisputed reference to the method of sowing rice by transplantation before c. 500 B.C. The terms ropaṇa and ropeti occurring in early Pali literature refers to transplantation. In the Aṅguttara Nikāya (I. 239-40) the expression bījani patitthapeti is explained as meaning ‘plants seedling’, patiṭṭhapeti being the forerunner of the present terms bīṭhauni current for this practice in parts of north Bihar and biya (from bīja) signifying seedlings for planting. In the Jain text Nāyādhammakahāo (vii.68, p.85) there is a reference to five paddy grains being sown on a well prepared bed and the seedlings being transplanted twice or thrice.