The System of Rice Intensification (SRI):

Opportunity for Food Security and Water Saving in N. Ghana?

NARMSAP III ConferenceTamale, Ghana

December 16-19, 2002

Norman Uphoff,Cornell International Institute for

Food, Agriculture and Development

More tillers and more than 400 grains per panicle

SRI is giving remarkable and promising results

though still “a work in progress” • SRI appears ‘too good to be true’ --

the agronomists’ equivalent of the economists’ $100 bill on the sidewalk

• But there is increasing evidence that this system is ‘for real’

• SRI is being used successfully by – a growing number of farmers in – a growing number of countries (16)

including Sierra Leone and The Gambia

SRI IS A METHODOLOGY rather than a “TECHNOLOGY” -- not a fixed set of techniques

Different paradigm for growing rice that can be explained from the literature

SRI is basically a set of INSIGHTS and PRINCIPLES that get applied

through a set of PRACTICES that farmers are encouraged to

adapt to suit their local conditions

Basic idea of SRI is that RICE PLANTS DO BEST

(A) When their ROOTS can grow large and deep because they have been

• transplanted carefully, and there is• wide spacing between plants; also

(B) When they can grow in SOIL that is:• well aerated with abundant and diverse• soil microbial populations

“Starting Points” for SRI• Transplant young seedlings, 8-15 days

(2 leaves), quickly and very carefully

• Single plants per hill with wide spacing in a square pattern, 25x25 cm or wider

• No continuous flooding of field during the vegetative growth phase (AWD ok)

• Weeding with rotating hoe early (10 DAT) and often (2 to 4 times)

• Application of compost is recommended

These practices produce a different PHENOTYPE

• Profuse TILLERING -- 30 to 50/plant, 80-100 possible, sometimes 100+

• Greater ROOT GROWTH -- 5-6x more resistance (kg/plant) for uprooting

• Larger PANICLES -- 150-250+ grains

• Higher GRAIN WEIGHT -- often 5-10%

• POSITIVE CORRELATION between tillers/plant and grains/panicle

Comparison of highComparison of high--yield rice in tropical and yield rice in tropical and subtropical environments: I: Determinants of subtropical environments: I: Determinants of

grain and dry matter yieldsgrain and dry matter yieldsJ . Ying, S. J . Ying, S. PengPeng, Q. He, H. Yang, C. Yang, , Q. He, H. Yang, C. Yang,

R. M. R. M. VisperasVisperas, K. G. , K. G. Cassman Cassman Field Crops ResearchField Crops Research, 57 (1998), p. 72., 57 (1998), p. 72.

“…a “…a strongstrong compensation mechanism exists compensation mechanism exists between the two yield components between the two yield components [panicle number and panicle size]” with a [panicle number and panicle size]” with a ““strongstrong negative relationship between the negative relationship between the two components…” (emphasis added)two components…” (emphasis added)

OBSERVABLE BENEFITS• Average yields about 8 t/ha --

twice present world average of 3.8 t/ha

• Maximum yields can be twice this -- 15-16 t/ha, with some over 20 t/ha

• WATER REQUIRED about 50% less

• Increased factor productivity from the land, labor, capital and water used

• Lower costs of production -- this is most important for farmers

LESS OR NO NEED FOR:• Changing varieties, though best yields

from high-yielding varieties and hybrids -- traditional varieties produce 4-10 t/ha

• Chemical fertilizers -- these give a very positive yield response with SRI, but best results are obtained with compost

• Agrochemicals – plants more resistant to pests and diseases with SRI methods

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS• Seeding rate reduced as much as 90%,

5-10 kg/ha gives more than 50-100 kg

• No lodging because of stronger roots

• Environmentally friendly production due to water saving, no/fewer chemicals

• More accessible to poor households because few capital requirements

DISADVANTAGES / COSTS• SRI is more labor-intensive, at least

initially -- but can become labor-saving• SRI requires greater knowledge/skill

from farmers to become better decision-makers and managers -- but this contri-butes to human resource development

• SRI requires good water control to get best results, making regular applications of smaller amounts of water -- this can be obtained through investments

SRI is COUNTERINTUITIVE• LESS BECOMES MORE -- by utilizing

the potentials and dynamics of biology• Smaller, younger seedlings will give

larger, more productive mature plants• Fewer plants per hill and per m2 can give

more yield • Half the water can give higher yield• Fewer or no external inputs are

associated with greater outputNew phenotypes from existing genotypes

Plant Physical Structure and Light Intensity Distribution

at Heading Stage (CNRRI Research: Tao et al. 2002)

These results more often come from farms than experiment stations

• SRI is the due entirely to the work of Fr. Henri de Laulanié, S.J. (1920-1995), trained in agriculture at INA (1937-1939)

• He lived and worked with farmers in Madagascar, 1961-1995, SRI from 1983

• SRI now being promoted by NGO named Association Tefy Saina, working with CIIFAD since 1994

• This is an innovation of civil society

Spread beyond Madagascar

• Nanjing Agric. University, China - 1999

• Agency for Agricultural Research and Development, Indonesia - 1999-2000

• Philippines, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, etc.

• China Hybrid Rice Center - 2000-2001

• International conference, Sanya, China, April 2001 -- 15 countries represented

Reports from Sanya ConferenceCOUNTRY No. of Data

Sets/Trials(No. of farmers)

Ave. SRIYield (t/ha)

ComparisonYield (t/ha)

Max. SRIYields (t/ha)

Bangladesh 4 On-farm (261)6 On-station

6.35.25-7.5

4.94.4-5.0

7.15.6-9.5

Cambodia 3 On-farm (427) 4.83.4-6.0

2.72.0-4.0

12.910.0-14.0

China 7 On-station w/hybrid varieties

12.49.7-15.8

10.910-11.8

13.510.5-17.5

Cuba 2 On-farm 9.158.8-9.5

6.25.8-6.6

NR

Gambia 1 On-farm (10)1 On-station

7.16.8-7.4

2.32.0-2.5

8.88.3-9.4

Indonesia 2 On-Farm5 On-station

7.46.2-8.4

5.04.1-6.7

9.07.0-10.3

Madagascar 11 On-farm(3,025)

3 On-station

7.24.2-10.35

2.61.5-3.6

13.95.6-21.0

Philippines 4 On-farm(47)

1 On-station

6.04.95-7.6

3.02.0-3.6

7.47.3-7.6

Sierra Leone 1 On-farm(160)

5.34.9-7.4

2.51.9-3.2

7.4

Sri Lanka 6 On-farm(275)

2 On-station

7.87.6-13.0

3.62.7-4.2

14.311.4-17.0

Results Keep Coming In• West Timor, Indonesia: June 2002• Yield with farmer methods -- 4.4 t/ha• Yield with SRI methods -- 11.6 t/ha

• Lampung, Indonesia -- 3 to 8 t/ha• Pucallpa, Peru (jungle): Oct 2002• Traditional yields -- 2 t/ha• SRI yields -- 8 t/ha -- plus a• Ratoon crop -- 70% of first crop (5.5 t/ha)

Analysis of SRI in Sri LankaStandard SRI _Δ_

• Yields (tons/ha) 4 8 +88%

• Market price (Rs/ton) 1,300 1,500 +15%

• Total cash cost (Rs/ha) 22,000 18,000 -18%

• Gross returns (Rs/ha) 58,500 120,000 +74%

• Net profit (Rs/ha) 36,500 102,000 +180%

• Family labor earnings Increased with use of SRI

• WATER SAVINGS 40-50%compared to usual

Data from Dr. Janaiah Aldas, formerly economist at IRRI, now at Indira Gandhi Development Studies Institute, Mumbai, based on visit to Sri Lanka and interviews with SRI farmers, October, 2002

Key Insight: Rice is not an aquatic plant

Standard view in the literature is that:• “Rice thrives on land that is water-saturated or

even submerged during part or all of its growth cycle.” (p. 43)

• “Most varieties maintain better growth and produce higher grain yields when grown in flooded soil than when grown in unflooded soil.” (pp. 297-298) (emphases added)

S. K. DeDatta, The Principles and Practices of Rice Production, J. W. Wiley, NY, 1981.

AbstractAbstractNature and growth pattern of rice root systemNature and growth pattern of rice root systemunder submerged and unsaturated conditionsunder submerged and unsaturated conditionsS. S. KarKar, S. B. , S. B. VaradeVarade, T. K. , T. K. SubramanyamSubramanyam, and B. P. , and B. P. GhildyalGhildyal,,

I l I l RisoRiso (Italy), 1974, 23:2, 173-179 (Italy), 1974, 23:2, 173-179

Plants of the rice cultivar Plants of the rice cultivar TaichungTaichung (Native) were grown in pots of (Native) were grown in pots ofsandy loam under 2 water regimes in an attempt to identify criticalsandy loam under 2 water regimes in an attempt to identify criticalroot-growth phases. Observations on root number, length, volume,root-growth phases. Observations on root number, length, volume,and dry weight were made at the early and dry weight were made at the early tilleringtillering, active , active tilleringtillering,,maximum maximum tilleringtillering, and reproductive stages., and reproductive stages.

Rice root degeneration,Rice root degeneration, normally unique to submerged conditionsnormally unique to submerged conditions,,increased with advance in plant growth. At stage of flowering,increased with advance in plant growth. At stage of flowering,78%78% had degeneratedhad degenerated. . During the first phase under flooding, andDuring the first phase under flooding, and

throughout the growth period throughout the growth period under unsaturated conditions,under unsaturated conditions,roots rarely degeneratedroots rarely degenerated. (emphasis added). (emphasis added)

Root cross-sections ofRoot cross-sections ofupland (left) and irrigated (right) varietiesupland (left) and irrigated (right) varieties

ORSTOM researchORSTOM research ((PuardPuard et al. 1989) et al. 1989)

Dry Matter Distribution of Roots in SRI and Conventionally-Grown Plants at

Heading Stage (CNRRI research: Tao et al. 2002)

Root dry weight (g)

Root Activity in SRI and Conventionally-Grown Rice

(Nanjing Agr. Univ. research: Wang et al. 2002)(Wuxianggeng 9 variety)

0

100

200

300

400

500

N-n n-2 Heading Maturity

Development stage

Ox

yg

en

ati

on

ab

ilit

y o

f α -

NA

(ug

/h.g

DW

)

W

S

Importance of Root Growth

• Supports more vigorous tiller growth and then more grain filling

• Makes rice plants better able to withstand effects of drought and disease

• Root growth and performance is result of both chemical nutrient and physical factors, but also of microbiological processes in the soil

Paths for Increased Grain Yield in Relation to N Uptake, using QUEFTS

Analytical Model (Barison, 2002)

N Internal Efficiency

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

0 100 200 300

N uptake (kg/ha)

Gra

in y

ield

(kg/

ha)

SRI grain yield(kg/ha)

Conv. grain yield(kg/ha)

The contributions of soil microbial activity need to

be taken more seriously

“The microbial flora causes a large number of biochemical changes in the soil that largely determine the fertility of the soil.” (DeDatta, 1981, p. 60, emphasis added)

SRI Raises More Questions than It Gives ANSWERS

• This is a PRACTICE-LED innovation• Scientists have a challenge/opportunity

to develop and “retrofit” explanations• By raising factor productivities and by

reducing the need for irrigation water and agrochemicals, SRI should benefit particularly poor households and the environment -- explore opportunities

• Water saving is becoming more crucial

THANK YOUMore information is available

on the SRI WEB PAGE:

http://ciifad.cornell.edu/sri/

including Sanya conference proceedings

E-MAIL ADDRESSES:

ciifad@cornell.edu

tefysaina@simicro.mg

ntu1@cornell.edu