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System of Rice Intensification: An water efficient production process

  • May 27, 2022
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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System of Rice Intensification: An water efficient production process

Subject :Agriculture

Section :Technology

Context:

The Punjab government is promoting Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) technique of paddy

Concept:

  • The System of Rice Intensification was first developed in Madagascar in the 1980s and since then, several countries in the world have been practicing it.
  • System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is a methodology for increasing the productivity of irrigated rice by changing the management of plants, soil, water and nutrients particularly by eliciting greater root growth.
  • The System of Rice Intensification involves cultivating rice with as much organic manure as possible, starting with young seedlings planted singly at wider spacing in a square pattern; and with intermittent irrigation that keeps the soil moist but not inundated, and frequent inter cultivation with weeder that actively aerates the soil.

SRI is based on the following principles:

  • Young seedlings between 8-12 days old (2-3 leaf stage) are transplanted to preserve potential for tillering and rooting ability;
  • Careful planting of single seedlings rather than in clumps that are often plunged in the soil; v Wider spacing at 25 cm x 25 cm. in square planting rather than in rows;
  • Use of cono-weeder/ rotary hoe/power weeder to aerate the soil as well as controlling weeds; v Alternate wetting and dry method rather than continuous flooding in the field;
  • Use of organic manure or vermicompost / FYM

Benefits :

It promises to save 15 to 20% ground water, and improves rice productivity, which is almost at a stagnant point now.

  • It gives equal or more produce than the conventional rice cultivation, with less water, less seed and less chemicals, thus reducing investments on external inputs.
  • Unlike DSR, which is suitable only for mid to heavy textured soils, SRI is suitable in all types of soil including less fertile soil as in such soil the number of seedlings can be increased to double.
  • Under SRI 2kg seed is required to grow a nursery for one acre against 5kg seed required in the traditional method.
  • In traditional sowing from the day of transplanting till the crop turns 35-40 days fields are kept under flood-like conditions, but SRI doesn’t require continuous flooding, it needs intermittent irrigation. 
  • Irrigation is given to maintain soil moisture near saturation initially, and water is added to the field when the surface soil develops hairline cracks.
  • It also maintains soil health, lowers input costs by 10-20% as it requires 25% less urea and its root system is quite strong due to young plants’ transplantation which prevents lodging from rain or wind.
  • Also small and marginal farmers can increase their income by spending less and getting more yield. This matures in 5-15 days less time.
  • However, SRI permits greater weed growth because of alternate wetting and drying of fields and for that cono-weeder can be employed.
  • Higher yields – Both grain and straw
  • Reduced duration (by 10 days)
  • Less chaffy grain %
  • Grain weight increased without change in grain size
  • Higher head rice recovery
  • Withstand cyclonic gales
  • Cold tolerance
  • Soil health improves through biological activity

Disadvantages

  • Higher labour costs in the initial years
  • Difficulties in acquiring the necessary skills
  • Not suitable when no irrigation source available
Agriculture System of Rice Intensification: An water efficient production process

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