Course-2

Scientific Cultivation of Paddy using SRI method

एसआरआई विधि का उपयोग करके धान की वैज्ञानिक खेती

زراعة الأرز العلمية باستخدام طريقة SRI

Culture scientifique du paddy en utilisant la méthode SRI

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is a farming methodology aimed at increasing the yield of rice produced in farming. It is a low-water, labor-intensive method that uses younger seedlings singly spaced and typically hand weeded with special tools. The SRI method is environmentally-friendly.

The system of Rice Intensification (SRI) is a special method of rice cultivation originally developed at Madagascar in 1983. SRI is a combination of several practices that include changes in nursery management, time of transplanting and management of water, nutrients and weeds. SRI methods help increase yields by over 30%, while using 40% less water than conventional methods. SRI practices and concepts have also been successfully adapted to upland rice and to other crops such as wheat, finger millet, and sugarcane. Soil and seedling preparation Soil with good drainage and enough organic matter should be used. The size of the rice nursery bed in the SRI method varies according to the seedling requirement. Raising seedlings in egg boxes filled with vermicompost or organic manure is advantageous. Wet beds on land can be used with the addition of organic manure. Sowing Seed Rate: 2 Kg/acre seeds are used to raise the seedlings. Seed rate can vary for Short duration, Medium duration and Long-duration rice cultivars. Sowing Time: Seed sowing should be done before first July. Water Management Minimum water during the Germination stage. The soil surface should be kept moist enough to allow seed germination. Seedbeds are irrigated every 3 days. Water management practices depend on the soil type, labor availability. System of Rice Intensification (SRI) saves up to 40 % water and gives 10 to 15 % higher yield than other conventional methods of transplanting. SRI is initially labour intensive • Needs 50% more man-days for transplanting and weeding. • Mobilises labour to work for profit. • It offers an alternative to the resource poor, who put in their family labour. • Once the right skills are learnt and implemented, the labour costs will be lesser. SRI encourages rice plant to grow healthy with • Large root volume • Profuse and strong tillers – Maximum tillering (30 tillers/plant can be easily achieved; 50 tillers per plant are quite attainable) occurs concurrently with panicle initiation. Under excellent management even 100 fertile tillers per plant or even more can be achieved due to early transplanting and absence of die back of roots. • Non lodging • Big panicles • More and well filled grain panicles and higher grain weight • Resists insects because it allows rice to absorb soil nutrients naturally Source: WASSAN-CSA-WWF Manual on SRI SRI method of paddy cultivation is used on hilly or high ground. It uses cow dung or organic manure.

System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is special method of rice cultivation originally developed at Madagascar in 1983. SRI is a combination of several practices that includes changes in nursery management, time of transplanting and management of water, nutrients and weeds. SRI emphasizes certain changes in agronomic practices from conventional rice cultivation.

Soil and seed bed preparation

Soil with good drainage and enough organic matter should be used for bed preparation. Size of rice nursery bed in SRI method varies according to seedling requirement Raising seedlings in egg boxes filled with vermi-compost or organic manure is advantageous. Wet beds on land can be used with addition of organic manure

Sowing on seed beds

Seed Rate: 2 Kg / acre seeds are used to raise the seedlings. Seed rate can vary for Short duration, Medium duration and Long duration rice cultivars. Sowing Time: Seed sowing should be done before first July.

Water Management

Minimum water during the Germination stage. Soil surface should be kept moist enough to allow seed germination.

Seed beds are irrigated every 3 days. Water management practices depend on the soil type, labor availability.

System of Rice Intensification (SRI) saves up to 40 % water and gives 10 to 15 % higher yield than other conventional method of transplanting.

Nutrient Management

Soil nutrient should be supplied preferably with FYM or compost made from biomass. Value added bio-compost such as vermi-compost gives additional advantages. Small quantity of Chemical fertilizer can be used for better results. Use of mixed chemical fertilizer NPK (46-46-50) is recommended.

Weed Management

Practice hand weeding in SRI nursery 7 days after sowing. Avoid use of herbicides and Mechanical weeding.

Pest and Disease Management

Integrated pest management (IPM) in SRI method is practiced to avoid investment on plant protection chemicals. Synthetic pesticides are used only when the incidence of pest or disease is very severe.

Advantages

SRI method of rice cultivation increases grain yield with the same level of inputs and capital.

Reduce water, seed, and chemical fertilizer inputs make it more profitable than conventional methods of rice cultivation.

Initially it require significantly more labor mainly for preparing land and weeding operation.

Course-2

Scientific Cultivation of Paddy using SRI method

एसआरआई विधि का उपयोग करके धान की वैज्ञानिक खेती

زراعة الأرز العلمية باستخدام طريقة SRI

Culture scientifique du paddy en utilisant la méthode SRI

SRI method of paddy cultivation is used on hilly or high ground. It uses cow dung or organic manure.

System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is special method of rice cultivation originally developed at Madagascar in 1983. SRI is a combination of several practices that includes changes in nursery management, time of transplanting and management of water, nutrients and weeds. SRI emphasizes certain changes in agronomic practices from conventional rice cultivation.

Soil and seed bed preparation

Soil with good drainage and enough organic matter should be used for bed preparation. Size of rice nursery bed in SRI method varies according to seedling requirement Raising seedlings in egg boxes filled with vermi-compost or organic manure is advantageous. Wet beds on land can be used with addition of organic manure

Sowing on seed beds

Seed Rate: 2 Kg / acre seeds are used to raise the seedlings. Seed rate can vary for Short duration, Medium duration and Long duration rice cultivars. Sowing Time: Seed sowing should be done before first July.

Water Management

Minimum water during the Germination stage. Soil surface should be kept moist enough to allow seed germination.

Seed beds are irrigated every 3 days. Water management practices depend on the soil type, labor availability. System of Rice Intensification (SRI) saves up to 40 % water and gives 10 to 15 % higher yield than other conventional method of transplanting.

Nutrient Management

Soil nutrient should be supplied preferably with FYM or compost made from biomass. Value added bio-compost such as vermi-compost gives additional advantages. Small quantity of Chemical fertilizer can be used for better results. Use of mixed chemical fertilizer NPK (46-46-50) is recommended.

Weed Management

Practice hand weeding in SRI nursery 7 days after sowing. Avoid use of herbicides and Mechanical weeding.

Pest and Disease Management

Integrated pest management (IPM) in SRI method is practiced to avoid investment on plant protection chemicals. Synthetic pesticides are used only when the incidence of pest or disease is very severe.

Advantages

SRI method of rice cultivation increases grain yield with the same level of inputs and capital.

Reduce water, seed, and chemical fertilizer inputs make it more profitable than conventional methods of rice cultivation.

Initially it require significantly more labor mainly for preparing land and weeding operation.