System of Rice Intensification

System of Rice Intensification: Pabinhi Farmers’ Experience Rene Jaranilla, Dionito Eñano and Gerry Garingalao

Guimaras FactsLocated southeast of Panay island & northwest of Negros island in Western VisayasTopography generally gently sloping to rolling, with land elevation from 0-300m above sea levelDry season: Nov. to AprilWet season: May to Oct.

Population: 141,450Major agricultural products: palay (rice), coconut, mango, cashew, vegetables, citrus, camote, corn, cassava, legumes, livestock, poultry, and fishMajor industries: mining & quarrying, lime production, fruit processing, and tourism.

System of Rice IntensificationObjective: Increase rice production withouthaving to make any significant new

investment

Transplant very young seedlings (with 2 leaves)Plant individual seedlings, one by one spaciously, not in clumpsWeed the rice early and repeatedly (if possible with rotary weeder)Minimum use of water, and letting soil dry our periodically during first months

Key principles

NurseryPre-transplantTransplantWeedingWater management

S.R.I Basics: How and Why

Nursery

Pre-Germination Practices Soak seeds for 12-24 hrs in

water 35-40 degrees Celsius Second day -- place in a warm

place

Garden-Type Nursery Spread out sowing in nursery

over several days, to insure that very young seedlings are available during the whole transplanting period

Small and close to the farm (10 sq. m = 1000 sq. m)

Keep nursery soil moist, never floodedCover nursery with mulch during the first daysWater in morning and evening, never in full sun

Pre-transplant

Seedling should have just 2 leaves with the seed sac still attachedKeep seedling together with seed and some soil around its rootsUproot a few seedlings at a time, transporting right away to the field and plant seedlings no more than ½ hour laterThe less trauma, the better for the plant

Transplant

Transplant single seedlings -- not in clumps

Transplanting several seedlings in a clump makes the plants compete with each other for nourishment and light

Transplant the seedlings within 30 minutes after uprooting, transport in small batches -- not all at once

Level and muddy the field

Not liquid but sticky, with no standing waterField should be well-leveled so that water can reach all the plantsStart puddling and nursery at the same time

Transplant

Transplant Transplant in squares

40X40 cm, 30X30 cm, or 25X25 cmGive space so roots can spread

Do not set in too deeplyPlant extra seedlings along perimeter to replace damaged onesDo not push it in like this

but slip it into the mud like this

WeedingMechanical rotary weeder or rotating hoe is best so oxygenate and aerate soil while weeds are removedWeed field 2-3x before the panicles developFirst weeding will be done 10 days after transplanting (replace any damaged plants)Weed again every 15 days thereafter

Water Management Minimum water useWhen transplanting, just apply enough water to make mud stickyAs stalks grow, allow field to try during tillering — do NOT worry about cracks developing

Lightly flood field until milky phase of grain development (1-2 cm)Keep field flooded only after panicles begin to develop

Himal-us (Guimaras) Rice Production System

An Adaptation of SRI: A Case Documentation of Dionito Eñano

Farmer Profile: Dionito Eñano

56 years oldGeneral manager of the Mabini Limers and Farmers Multipurpose CooperativeFather of 12 childrenPractices nature farming

Had health complications and was recommended to adopt an organic-based dietThis influenced him to convert to organic agricultureLack of academic degree was not a setback for him to learn, adopt, adapt and innovate technologiesOwn observations and lessons learned from experience were key factors

Farm Profile6,800 sq. m of landSubdivided parcel of land into 28 smaller plots (kahon)

Done to make the management of farm easierWorks on farm 5-7 AM before breakfast and 5-6 PM before dinner

Staggered plantingWeekly planting, weekly harvest

Gmelina trees surround perimeter of fieldsHas vegetables growing along canal and walkways

Conversion Process

Horizontal not vertical approachIncorporate ash and charcoal from local lime factoryIncorporate peanut shells and coffee hulls from the farmCollect/buy carabao and cow manurePlow rice straw into the soil

Nursery

Container lids and basins are used as seed trays

Only 6-8 of seeds per hectare are used for planting

Pre-transplant

7 day-old seedlings, or at two-leaf stageAs needed, hires 2 workers for ½ day workWeekly planting, thus weekly harvest

Transplant

Spacing, 30 cm X 30 cm

Members of HUBON in action

Pest Management

• Ducks eat insects (mostly mollusks)

• Hand weeding and hand picking of snails

• Gmelina trees and citronella leaves are used to repel insects

• Weeding is done in less than ½ hour using the rotary weeder (considers this as a leisure time activity, as exercise)

Water Management

• Water field one day before weeding

• Use minimum water to allow oxygenation of plant roots

A look at the farm

A beautiful rice field……………...

Recommendations:Incorporate N-fixing trees like Sebania rostrata and Gliricidia sepiumIntroduce Azolla fernsModify fallowing techniques- integrate green manure

Plant rice varieties of similar maturityTake leadership a step further, as perhaps the farm can become a learning centre or a demonstration farm

Is it worth it?A Comparative Analysis

Total Production Cost in Pesos Per Hectare

Inputs Chemical Organic

Tractor/land preparation

1,350 2,100

Seeds 900 30

Transplanting 1,500 630

Weeding 2,200 630

Pest managemt 0

Fertilization 1,440 (8 sacks)

480

Irrigation cost 2,520 840

Threshing and hauling

2,400 2,800

TOTAL 12,310 7,510

Comparative Analysis of Chemical and Organic Farming

General Information

Chemical Methods

Organic Methods

No. of years farming

19 5

Farm size 6,800 sq. m 6,800 sq. m

Varieties used IR64, IR36 M8-1, Ka Luis, AG5, Malido, Pilit Pula

Maturity period 105 ~110 days

Yield/ha (palay) 1.8 T/ha 4.1 T/ha

Gross Income P 9,000 (30 cav)

17,400 (58 c)

Total production cost

P 12,310 P 7,510

Net Income (P 3,310) P 9,890

Kahon chartPlot

NumberTotal Area (m2)

Variety Date Planted

Date Harveste

d

Actual or Gross Yield (kg)

Gross Yield

(cavans)

1 206.37 M8-1 4/19/02 8/6/02 84 2

2 180.25 M8-1 4/19/02 8/6/02 84 2

3 184 Ka Luis 4/27/02 8/16/02 105 2.5

4 182 Ka Luis 4/27/02 8/16/02 105 2.5

5 162.37 Ka Luis 4/27/02 8/16/02 105 2.5

6 294 AG 5 6/7/02 9/28/02 105 2.5

7 236.25 AG 5 7/6/02 9/30/02 105 2.5

8 236.25 AG 5 5/26/02 9/14/02 105 2.5

9 294 AG 5 6/2/02 9/21/02 105 2.5

10 168 Ka Luis 5/11/02 8/29/02 105 2.5

11 135 AG 5 5/26/02 9/14/02 63 1.5

12 168 Ka Luis 5/11/02 8/3/02 84 2

Plot Number

Total Area (m2)

Variety Date Planted

Date Harveste

d

Actual or Gross Yield (kg)

Gross Yield

(cavans)

13 135 Malido 5/19/02 9/7/02 63 1.5

14 280 Ka Luis 5/5/02 8/24/02 63 1.5

15 420 Malido 5/19/02 9/7/02 63 1.5

16 193.83 AG 5 5/26/02 9/14/02 84 2

17 250 Pilit Pula 5/26/02 9/14/02 84 2

18 270 Pilit Pula 5/26/02 9/14/02 63 1.5

19 168 Pilit Pula 6/16/02 10/5/02 84 2

20 210 Pilit Pula 6/16/02 10/5/02 105 2.5

21 294 Pilit Pula 6/9/02 9/28/02 105 2.5

22 273 AG 5 6/9/02 9/28/02 105 2.5

23 252 AG 5 6/9/02 9/28/02 105 2.5

Plot Number

Total Area (m2)

Variety Date Planted

Date Harveste

d

Actual or Gross Yield (kg)

Gross Yield

(cavans)

24 147.17 Pilit Pula 6/9/02 9/28/02 84 2

25 109.09 Pilit Pula 6/9/02 8/29/02 105 2.5

26 145.32 Pilit Pula 4/10/02 7/30/02 84 2

27 206.37 Pilit Pula 5/26/02 9/14/02 42 1

28 140.19 Pilit Pula -- -- 42 1

Total 5,840.76

2,436 58

Natural Law of Parsimony: a qualitative maximum out of quantitative minimum

LESS = MORE

Minimum no. of days after germination

Maximum of vitality and of stalks

Minimum use of water

Maximum of root oxygenation

Minimum no. of weeds

Maximum nourishment for rice

Minimum no. of seeds

Maximum of light and vital space

Questions??????