The SRI methodology first developed with irrigated rice in Madagascar has shown to be effective across different rice cropping systems as well as other crops, such as wheat and sugarcane. Thanks to the phenotypic changes that occur, plant productivity increases. As a climate-smart agricultural approach, SRI helps farmers to adapt to climate change by reducing crop water requirements; in addition to helping mitigate climate change by reducing methane emissions that accompany permanently flooded conventional fields. ` EARLY AND CAREFUL TRANSPLANTING Transplanting occurs at the two-leaf stage, about 8-12 days OPEN CANOPY Lacking competition for sunlight early on, SRI plants grow out, with a broader canopy (33˚) than conventional rice 1 ONLY 1 SEEDLING PER HILL Each plant is given space for roots and shoots to grow MANY TILLERS Early planting and wide spac- ing favors tiller development, producing 100% more tillers per hill than conventional rice, 1 as seen in the picture below of a single SRI plant TALLER, THICKER TILLERS Thanks to robust root systems, plants grow taller (24%) and tillers thicker (38%) 1 WIDE SPACING Plants are transplanted in a grid pattern, with 25cmx25cm or more between plants DEEP, EXPANSIVE ROOT STRUCTURE Plants grow deeper looking for more wa- ter and nutrients, resulting in roots dou- ble the weight per hill 1 ALTERNATE WETTING AND DRYING Aerobic soils promote plant and soil microbial health ENRICH SOILS WITH ORGANIC MATTER to improve plant nutrition and soil structure MECHANICAL WEEDING AND I.P.M. Weeds are incorporated and soil is aerated TRANSPLANTING OF OLDER SEEDLINGS Plants are taken out of the nursery at 25-45 days NARROW CANOPY High planting density causes plants to reach straight for the sun, resulting in a narrower canopy angle (18˚) 1 MULTIPLE SEEDLINGS PER HILL 3-5 seedlings/hill or more, increasing intra- specific competition FEW TILLERS Late transplanting and tranplanting results in fewer tillers per hill than with SRI THINNER TILLERS Smaller, weaker plants result in shorter growth and thinner tillers CLOSE HILL SPACING Reduces weed competition, but increases intraspecific competition SMALL, SHALLOW ROOT SYSTEMS With anaerobic soil conditions and densely planted older seedlings, roots don’t grow well, staying shallow and small, characterized by a high die-back and turn over rate CONTINUOUS FLOODING Minimizes weed growth, but adversly affects soil health and rice plant growth CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS Chemical fertilizers address immediate plant needs, but not long term soil health HERBICIDE AND HAND WEEDING Can be dangerous to farmers and water supply, and can harm soil health The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) vs. Conventional Practices The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations The SRI International Network and Resources Center at Cornell University Irrigated rice produced with SRI and conventional methods Phenotypic changes caused by SRI SRI Methods: With a focus on optimiz- ing plant and soil health, SRI manages to produce higher yields with fewer inputs. Seed use is reduced by 80-95%, water use by 30-50% (or more!), chemi- cal input use by 30-50% (up to 100% for organic SRI). Conventional Methods: Conventional irrigated rice practices sacrifice soil and plant health in order to suppress weed growth, achieved through permanent flooding SRI Methods: Rice plants have a high level of plasticity in developing plant phenotypes - an ability that is present in all rice varieties. SRI methods sup- port a more full expression of plants’ genetic growth potential, whether for local or professionally bred varieties, al- lowing farmers to improve rice produc- tion with the variety of their choice. Conventional Methods: Planting old seedlings closely spaced with con- stant flooding forces plants to assume a shape and growth pattern that masks their true potential for growth. Conv. SRI Conv. SRI SRI Conv. SRI Conv. Thakur, A.K et al (2011) Effects for rice plant morphology and physiology of water and associated mgt practices of SRI and their implications for crop performance, PAWE 9:13-24 Contact: Erika Styger (SRI-Rice, Cornell University), [email protected]; Amir Kassam (FAO), [email protected]; Josef Kienzle (FAO), [email protected] www.sririce.org - www.fao.org/ag/ca Conv. SRI Poster 2 - SRI/Conv.indd 1 10/30/13 11:20 AM