System of Rice Intensification Research: a Review

SRI International Network and Resources Center (SRI-Rice) College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University,

Ithaca New York

1993-2013

Presentation at the International Rice Congress, Bangkok, Thailand, Oct 31, 2014

Erika Styger, PhD

System of Rice Intensification

A. Early and healthy plant establishment

C. Build fertile soils rich in organic matter and soil biota

D. Mange water carefully, avoid flooding &water stress

Soil preparation

Seed treatment/pre-germination

Raised bed nursery

Transplanting:

• At 2 leave stage, 8-12 days old

- or -

Direct seeding:

• Precision seeding (at 1 or 2 plants/hill)

Reduce plant density

1 plant/hill

- and -

Increase spacing between plants (25cm x 25cm or more), planted in a grid

Mechanical weeding

Fertilize with organic matter and add chemical fertilizer if needed:

• Manure/compost • Cover crop / green

manure • Crop residues

Incorporate OM

or combine SRI with Conservation Agriculture

Land preparation:

Leveling, bunding, application or organic matter Non flooded

conditions during the vegetative period

Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) – or - Bunding, additional irrigation or drainage

Principles

SRI Practices

Indicative and to adapt

Methodology

Conceptual Framework

B. Minimize competition between plants

(Styger and Jenkins, 2014)

Spread and Adoption of SRI More than 10 million farmers benefit from SRI methods in 54 countries (end of 2013)

SRI-Rice (2014)

SRI Research Review

• How SRI research has evolved • What has been researched • Who has carried out the research • What were the findings

Methodology

• 624 Journal Articles • All articles key-worded (32 kw) • All references available at http://sri.cals.cornell.edu/ (Refworks, Mendeley)

Number of articles by year and by country group

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

93 99 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

All others India China

Number of papers

India > China

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

93 99 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Number of papers

All other countries China Cumulative Total

Cumulative number of SRI articles from 1993-2013 by year and by country groups

576

244

332

020406080

100120140160180

93 9920

0120

0220

0320

0420

0520

0620

0720

0820

0920

1020

1120

1220

13

All others

India

161

171

273 journals, with 72 Chinese journals (26%)

Number of SRI journal articles published per country

*no circles for India and China

14

3

21

1

2

2

1

3

2

2

5 2

244*

13

7

1

6 3

171*

16

12 8

(by the end of 2013)

3 2 4

4 2

9

4

3

3

(N=576 Articles)

Evolution of SRI Research

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

93 99 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Number of papers

All other countries

China

Cumulative Total

1st SRI paper De Laulanié

> 10 articles on Madagascar & Reviews: SRI theory (USA, NL), few research articles

SRI conference Sanya, China

Controversy: “SRI non scientific, anecdotal, benefits exaggerated” 4 first authors, 6 papers

China’s research minimally considered outside of China Rapid increase in publications

for all other countries especially after 2011 Diversification of publications: 36 countries by end of 2013

Cumulative number of SRI articles

Number of countries with reported SRI trials and published journal articles (from 1993-2013)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1993 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Number of countries

Country Trials

Journal publications

32

54

5 Years

7 Years

Institutions where SRI research was undertaken and published

BLUE: Research Centers RED: Universities

India China

BLUE: Universities and research institutes RED: Local agricultural extension YELLOW: Government departments of agriculture GREEN: Companies

By Christine Ly, SRI-Rice, 2014

By Zhoucen Feng, SRI-Rice, 2013

Maps available at sririce.org

Types of research articles

Comparison Trials (335 papers)

Trials with SRI as BMP (121 papers)

Reviews (81 papers)

Others (87 papers)

(N=624 papers)

SRI: young, single seedling/hill, wider/adjusted spacing, cono-weeding, AWD, organic matter & chemical fertilization Conventional : several older seedlings/hill, higher plant density, hand weeding/ herbicides, continuous flooding, chemical fertilization

Comparison Trials: most common practices for the 2 Systems

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

Social impact and genderPest and diseases

Soil biotaAdoption

Weed managementRoot studies

Organic matter managementReview

Plant establishmentSeedling ageVariety trials

Economic evaluationMorphology and Physiology

Nutrient managementPlant density

Water management

Main SRI Research Topics

(N = 624 papers)

Number of papers

25% of N

13% of N

Findings: Tendencies and Trends I - in relation to SRI:

• Water management - 168 papers – Improved water productivity – Reduction of irrigation water use (20-50%) – In combination with increased yields

• Nutrient management 155 papers – Optimum treatments include organic and inorganic

fertilization – Improved nutrient use efficiency

• Age of seedlings: 88 papers – Testing transplanting from 6d to >30d – Highest yields with 10-14d old seedlings; – Confirms theory to plant before 4th phyllochron

Findings: Tendencies and Trends II

• Economic evaluation 129 papers – Production costs and labor: higher/equal/lower – Net return and benefit/cost ratio: most often higher

• Adoption Studies 52 papers – Quality of training and technical follow up – Importance of rice crop and opportunity costs – Market access and policy support – Social organization of labor and water management

• Morphology and Physiology: 132 papers; 86 from China (2004-2008); 26 from India (2009-2013)

– Wider canopy angle and higher leaf area index – Higher light interception, chlorophyll content, photosynthesis rate – Delayed leaf and root senescence

• Root studies: 57 papers (70% since 2010) – Higher root biomass, volume and root length density – Higher soil microbial activity

longer grain filling period and higher yields

Thakur, et al. 2014

Findings: Tendencies and Trends III

Findings: Tendencies and Trends IV • Greenhouse gas emissions (10 papers of which

7 papers in 2013 and 2014) – Methane reduction (6 papers): all reduced by 10-

64% – Nitrous oxide (2 papers): increase 22.5%, reduced

12.5% – Global warming potential: (4 papers): all reduced by

21-73%

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

neg equal pos

9 % (15p) 14% (23p) 77% (134p)

Yield effect for SRI System in Comparison Trials

N= 162 papers

Number of papers

Conclusions • > 600 journal articles on SRI largely confirm

what can be empirically observed in farmers’ fields of >50 countries – More efficient phenotype – Increased grain productivity – Reduced seed, water, agro-chemical use

• In most countries, SRI was first introduced at farmers’ level – research publications lag several years behind farmer field results

• Most research undertaken by National Institutions

Recommendations I

Research foci Deepen topical analysis

– E.g. water, weed, nutrient management – Optimize physiological processes to produce more

effective phenotypes – Strengthen synergies between plant, soil and soil

biota – Influence genetic expression for reaching plant’s

genetic potential through management approaches

Recommendations II Broaden to Farming Systems Level

– Apply a broader farming systems and landscape analysis

– Integrate socio-economic and socio-cultural research with technical research

– Integrate other agro-ecological approaches Conservation Agriculture, Agroforestry, IPM with SRI

Apply New Research Models – Include farmers actively in research to identify

optimal agronomic practices

Thank You!

www.sririce.org eds8@cornell.edu