0304 SRI/SICA New Opportunities for Organic Rice Production

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI/SICA)-- New Opportunities for Organic Rice Production5th Meeting of Organic Agriculture

Havana, Cuba, May 29, 2003

Norman UphoffCornell International Institute for

Food, Agriculture and Development

What Is SICA?SICA is a methodology for getting

• more productive PHENOTYPES from existing GENOTYPES of rice

• by changing the management of Plants, Soil, Water, and Nutrients to

(a) induce greater ROOT growth and

(b) nurture more abundant and diverse SOIL MICROBIAL communities

More tillers and more than 400 grains per panicle

SICA con 87 hijos fértiles(CFA Camilo Cienfuegos)

Variedad Los Palacios 9 (CFA Camilo Cienfuegos)

SICA is ‘too good to be true’? -- changes paradigm of production• GREEN REVOLUTION paradigm:

(a) Change plants’ genetic potential, and(b) Provide external inputs -- nutrients,

biocides, etc. (fossil-fuel intensive)

• SICA changes management practices:(a) To promote root growth, and(b) To increase abundance and diversity

of soil microbial populations

SICA Is “Organic” for Pragmatic Reasons

• Chemical fertilizers increase SICA yields, but compost gives even better results

• Chemical biocides can be used, but SICA plants are generally healthier and able to resist pest and disease damage

• Application of biocides is not economic

• Also, SICA practices build up soil fertility through biological means

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

twice present world average of 3.8 t/ha

• Maximum yields can be twice this -- 15 t/ha or more; occasionally > 20 t/ha

• Water requirement is reduced by 50%

• Factor productivity is increased for land, labor, capital and water

• Costs of production are lowered -- most important to farmers, raise profits

SRI Data from Sri Lanka SRI Usual

• Yields (tons/ha) 8.0 4.2 +88%• Market price (Rs/ton) 1,500 1,300 +15%• Total cash cost (Rs/ha) 18,000 22,000 -18%• Gross returns (Rs/ha) 120,000 58,500

+105%• Net profit (Rs/ha) 102,000 36,500 +180%• Family labor earnings Increased with SRI• Water savings ~ 40-50%

Data from Dr. Janaiah Aldas, formerly economist at IRRI; now at Indira Gandhi Development Studies Institute, Mumbai; based on interviews with 30 SRI farmers in Sri Lanka, October, 2002

PHILIPPINES DATA: AGRICULTURAL TRAININGINSTITUTE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,COTOBATO, SRI Field Day, October 28, 2002

Production Analysis PSB Rc 72H PSB Rc 82 PSB Rc 18Plants/m2 = Hills/m2 16 16 16Panicles/hill 20 25.8 31Grains/panicle 191 155 159Grains/hill 3,825 4,822 4,921Yield/m2 1.16 1.25 1.2Yield (t/ha) 11.6 12.5 12.0

Economic Analysis Pesos/ha Pesos/ha Pesos/haInputs: seeds, org. fertiliz. 3,700 3,320 3,320Other expenses 5,830 5,830 5,830Harvesting, threshing 14,848 16,000 15,360Total Expenses/ha 24,378 25,150 24,510 Income @ 8 P/ha 93,800 100,000 96,000Net Income/ha 68,422 74,850 71,490Rate of Return 280% 298% 292%

SICA IS BEING ADAPTED TO UPLAND PRODUCTION

Results of Trials by Philippine NGO (Broader Initiatives for Negros

Development), w/ Traditional Variety

Spacing Tillers/Hill

PanicleLength

Grains/Panicle

Yield(t/ha)

Net Return(P)

15x40 7.2 30.4 331.2 7.4 2.520x40 9.9 29.4 338.1 7.7 2.925x40 10.2 28.2 315.5 7.4 2.730x40 9.7 29.8 374.9 7.0 2.635x40 11.4 29.2 364.5 6.7 2.4

LESS OR NO NEED FOR:• Changing varieties: best yields from

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

• Chemical fertilizers give a positive yield response with SICA, but best results are obtained with compost

• Agrochemicals – plants more resistant to pests and diseases with SICA use so most farmers find no need to apply

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS• Seeding rate reduced as much as 90%, 5-

10 kg/ha = more yield than 50-100 kg• No lodging because roots and stalks are

stronger• Environmentally friendly production due

to water saving, no/fewer chemicals• More accessible to poor households

because fewer capital requirements, though labor requirements hinder some

• Possible health and gender benefits

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

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

from farmers to become better decision-makers and managers -- this contributes however to human resource development

• SICA requires good water control to get best results, making regular applications of smaller amounts of water -- can gain control with investments & organization?

‘Starting Points’ for SICA• 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

• Use of compost is recommended/optional

These get adapted to local situations

SICA practices will produce a different RICE PHENOTYPE:

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

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

• PANICLES larger -- 150-250+ grains• GRAIN WEIGHT often higher --5-10%• POSITIVE CORRELATION between

tillers/plant and grains/panicle

Plant Physical Structure and Light Intensity Distribution

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

SICA goes against LOGICLESS CAN PRODUCE MORE -- by utilizingthe potentials and dynamics of biology• Smaller, younger seedlings will give larger,

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

higher yield with other SICA practices• Half as much water produces more rice• Fewer or no external inputs are needed to

produce greater outputGet new plant types from existing genomes

These results have come more often from farms than experiment stations

• But increasing number of scientists working on SRI/SICA -- in China, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Madagascar, Cuba, etc.

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

• He lived and worked with farmers in Madagascar (1961-1995), SRI (1983-84)

• SRI/SICA is promoted by Malagasy NGO, Association Tefy Saina, assisted by CIIFAD

Spread beyond Madagascar

• Nanjing Agricultural University - 1999• Agency for Agricultural Research and

Development, Indonesia - 1999-2000• Philippines, Cambodia, Sri Lanka,

Bangladesh, Sierra Leone, Cuba, etc.• International conference, Sanya, China,

April 2001 -- 15 countries reported on experience with SRI (proceedings available on the web or CD-ROM)

Average Yields Impressive:Certain Cases Hard to Explain

Indonesia -- West Timor (ADRA) • Yield with current methods -- 4.4 t/ha• Yield with SRI methods -- 11.7 t/haPeru -- Pucallpa, jungle area• Previous yields -- 2 t/ha, with more labor• SRI yield -- 8 t/ha, with less labor + ratoon crop 5.5 t/ha = 70% of first cropBenin -- controlled trial: 1.6 vs. 7.5 t/ha

HOW ARE THESE RESULTS ACHIEVED?

(1) Importance of ROOTS

• Relatively little scientific research

• Under continuous flooding, 3/4 of rice roots remain in top 6-10 cm of soil

• Under continuous flooding, roots form air pockets (aerenchyma) to survive, but the plants cannot thrive

• Under continuous flooding, 3/4 of roots degenerate by time of flowering, start of reproductive phase (Kar et al., 1974)

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 Conventional Rice Measured by Oxygenation Ability

Research at Nanjing Agricultural University,Wuxianggeng 9 variety (Wang et al. 2002)

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(2) Importance of SOIL MICROBIAL PROCESSES

• Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF)

• Phosphorus Solubilization

• Mycorrhizal Fungal Associations -- Increasing Root Access to Nutrients

• Possible Contribution of Rhizobia

• Protozoa ‘Grazing’ of Bacteria

• Effects of Increased Root Exudation

AZOSPIRILLUM POPULATIONS, TILLERING AND RICE YIELDS ASSOCIATED WITH DIFFERENT CULTIVATION PRACTICES

AND NUTRIENT AMENDMENTSResults of trials at the Centre for Diffusion of Agricultural Intensification,

Beforona, Madagascar, 2000 (Raobelison, 2000)

Azospirillum in theCLAY SOIL (better) Rhizosphere

(103/ml)Roots

(103/mg)Tillers/plant

Yield(t/ha)

Traditional cultivation,no amendments

25 65 17 1.8

SRI cultivation, withno amendments

25 1,100 45 6.1

SRI cultivation, withNPK amendments

25 450 68 9.0

SRI cultivation, withcompost amendments

25 1,400 78 10.5

LOAM SOIL (poorer)SRI cultivation, withno amendments

25 75 32 2.1

SRI cultivation, withcompost amendments

25 2,000 47 6.6

Benefits from Rhizobia in rice being documented

• Studied in Egypt where rice and clover grown in rotation, for many centuries

• These endophytic bacteria induce more efficient acquisition of N, P, K, Mg, Ca and Zn in rice (Yanni et al. 2001)

• Rhizobia increase yield and total protein quantity/ha, by producing auxins and other plant-growth promoting hormones -- however, no BNF demonstrated

Factorial Trials Evaluating 6 Factors

• Variety: HYV (2798) vs. local (riz rouge) or Soil quality: better (clay) vs. poorer (loam)

• Water mgmt: aerated vs. saturated soil

• Seedling age: 8 days vs. 16 or 20 days

• Plants per hill: 1/hill vs. 3/hill

• Fertilization: compost vs. NPK vs. none

• Spacing: 25x25cm vs. 30x30cm (NS diff.)

6 replications: 2.5x2.5m plots (N=288, 240)

Effects of SRI vs. Conventional PracticesComparing Varietal and Soil Differences

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SRI

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Local-ClayLocal-LoamHYV -SandLocal-Sand

(3) Importance of Transplanting YOUNG SEEDLINGS

• Significant effect of transplanting 8-12 day seedlings

• Want to avoid any trauma to rice plant -- to maintain maximum growth trajectory

• DIRECT SEEDING is an option -- however, needs to be evaluated

Effect of Young Seedlings@ Anjomakely Better Soil Poorer Soil

SS/20/3/NPK 3.00 2.04

SS/ 8 /3/NPK 7.16 3.89

SS/ 8 /1/NPK 8.13 4.36

AS/ 8 /3/NPK 8.15 4.44

AS/ 8 /3/Comp 6.86 3.61

SS/ 8 /1/Comp 7.70 4.07

AS/ 8 /1/NPK 8.77 5.00

AS/ 8 /1/Comp 10.35 6.39

(4) Importance of Enhancing SOIL ORGANIC MATTER

Through combination of• Compost, mulching, etc. and• Increased root exudation• Monocropping reduces diversity• Shows value of CROP ROTATION --

as highest SICA yields are from rice grown in rotation w/ potatoes

SRI Confirms the Strategy of Organic Farming

• Rather than focus efforts on “feeding the plants,”

• Farmers should “feed the soil” and let the soil feed the plants

• Emphasis on symbiosis between plants and soil microorganisms

SICA Opens Opportunities for Organic Rice Production• Lower costs of production --

no premium price is needed

• Environmental benefits -- less water required, no agrochemicals

• Human health benefits -- for producers and consumers

• May be extended to other crops?

Thank You for Opportunityto Share this With You

• More information can be obtained from SRI/SICA web site:– http://ciifad.cornell.edu/sri/

• Or from Association Tefy Saina:– [email protected]

• Or from me:– [email protected]

Soil microbial activity is critical for plant nutrition

and SRI performance

“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)

Bacteria, funguses, protozoa, amoeba, actinomycetes, etc.

• Decompose organic matter, making nutrients available

• Acquire nutrients that are unavailable to plant roots

• Improve soil structure and health (water retention, pathogen control)

Biological Nitrogen Fixation• Microorganisms -- particularly bacteria,

both aerobic and anaerobic -- can fix nitrogen (N) from air into forms available to plant roots

• Research has shown that when aerobic soil and anaerobic soil are mixed, rather than having only aerobic soil or only anaerobic soil, BNF increases greatly (Magdoff and Bouldin, 1970)

Biological Nitrogen Fixation• BNF can occur with all gramineae species,

including rice (Döbereiner 1987, and others) • In flooded paddies, BNF is limited to

anaerobic processes; SRI provides aerobic conditions as well; BNF must be occurring for the higher yields observed; not enough N measured in the soil

• The use of chemical fertilizers inhibits the production by roots and microbes of nitrogenase, the enzyme needed for BNF (van Berkum and Sloger 1983)

This helps to solve puzzle

• Why were many Madagascar farmers putting their compost for SRI on their contra-saison crop -- not on rice crop?

• Both crops reportedly gave better yield• This makes no sense if LEACHING and

VOLATILIZATION are big problems, or if nutrients are ‘used up’ by plants

• It makes sense, however, for BNF

OPTIMUM RATES OF N FERTILIZER APPLICATION

Duration Early Medium Late100-110 days 111-120 days 121-135 days

Varieties 60 60 60Optimum NApplication 150-200 150 100Yield (t/ha) 5.36 5.64 5.76

From: J. K. Ladha, G. J. D. Kirk, J. Bennett, S. Peng, C. K.Reddy, P. M. Reddy and U. Singh (1998). Opportunities forincreased nitrogen-use efficiency from improved lowlandgermplasm. Field Crops Research, 56, 41-71.

Phosphorus Solubilization• Aerobic bacteria can acquire phosphorus

from unflooded soil for their own use• When the soil is flooded, these bacteria die

(lyse) due to osmotic pressure and release their contents into the soil solution

• When the soil dries again, surviving bacteria begin their growth again

• This cycle of wetting and drying increases the supply of P, and maybe other nutrients, that become available to plants

Microbiological ‘Weathering’ of Soil?

• Turner & Haygarth (2001) found that soluble P can increase by 185-1,900% by microbiological ‘mining’ of the soil

• They speculate this process operates increase also supply of other nutrients

• Under ‘natural’ conditions, ‘depletion’ of soil is rare occurrence -- due to microbiological processes

Mycorrhizal Associations• Mycorrhizal funguses ‘infect’ plant roots• They send out hyphae (filaments/threads)

in all directions and expand the volume of soil from which the plant can extract nutrients by 10-100 times

• Mycorrhizae are very good at harvesting P -- increased efficiency by as much as 60x

• Mycorrhizae cannot grow in anaerobic soil conditions, so cannot benefit irrigated rice

Benefits from Rhizobia in rice now being explored

• Studied where rice and clover grown in rotation in Egypt, for many centuries

• These endophytic bacteria induce more efficient acquisition of N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Zn, etc. in rice (Yanni et al. 2001)

• Rhizobia increase yield and total protein quantity/ha, by producing auxins and other plant-growth promoting hormones -- however, no BNF demonstrated

PROTOZOA• These are said by microbiologists to

‘graze’ on the bacteria living on the roots of plants

• Because they require lower C/N ratio, they excrete unneeded N on roots

• Increased root exudation will support larger bacterial populations -- and also larger protozoan populations?

• Plants can ‘produce’ N in this way

Root Exudation Is Crucial• Plant stems & roots are ‘two-way’ streets

• 30-60% of the energy (sugars, proteins) made in the canopy is sent to the roots (Pinton et al., 2000)

• 20-40% of this energy supply is exuded by the roots into the soil -- feeding the bacteria, funguses, etc. in the root zone

• Root cells also die and provide energy to microbes through rhizodeposition

• Plants gain more than they lose from this

Soil Microbiology• Knowledge is increasing in this area

• Little investment previously (<10%)

• My discussion can be considered as ‘speculative’ -- not scientifically proven, but based on what is known in literature

• It is hard to suggest an explanation for the large variation in SRI results without referring to factors and dynamics in the realm of soil microbiology

SRI offers an intensified agronomic system for:

• Plant management -- young seedlings, careful transplanting, wide spacing

• Soil and water management -- leveling, ‘minimum of water’ for soil aeration

• Nutrient management -- increase SOM

• Microorganism management -- result of the above, promoted by root exudation

SRI Raises More Questionsthan we have answers for

• We think many answers will be found in the growth and functioning of ROOTS, which grow better from

• YOUNG SEEDLINGS, with• WIDE SPACING, and in• AERATED SOIL

• Answers will also be found in

SOIL MICROBIAL DYNAMICS -- in the abundance & diversity of soil microbes (bacteria, fungi)

Microbes grow better in: • SOIL not continuously flooded,• with more soil organic matter

Microbes benefit from exudation increased by more root growth

THANK YOUMore information is available

on the SRI WEB PAGE:

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

including Sanya conference proceedings,

available on CD ROM discs

E-MAIL ADDRESSES:

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

Effects of Nutrient Amendments: NPK vs. Compost (yield in t/ha)

HYV vs. Local Variety@ Morondava, 2000Sandy soils (sable roux)

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Compostwith Local

SS/16/ 3SS/16/ 1SS/ 8 / 3SS/ 8 / 1AS/16/ 3AS/16/ 1AS/ 8 / 3AS/ 8 / 1