The main purpose of puddling is to: (MPSC Mains Pepar-1, 2012)

✅Explanation: Puddling serves multiple purposes in rice cultivation:
-Reduces leaching of water: By creating a hardpan at the bottom of the field, puddling minimizes water percolation, conserving it for the crop.
-Kills weeds: The flooding and churning action during puddling helps suppress weed growth.
-Facilitates transplanting: The softened soil after puddling makes it easier to transplant rice seedlings.