Alternative Management Methods and Impacts with the System of

Rice Intensification (SRI) in Responding to Climate Change

EffectsPanel on Climate Change and Rice Agriculture

3rd International Rice Congress, Hanoi, November 9, 2010

Norman UphoffCIIFAD, Cornell University

Rice producers face diverse and adverse consequences from climate

change:• Droughts, storm damage, cold snaps, hot spells, etc. are likely to become more frequent and more severe in future

• Pest and disease problems also are likely to increase with climate change

Alternative/complementary strategies:• Breeding strategies (G): breed in resistance

• Management strategies (E): alter phenotype

System of Rice Intensification (SRI) represents a management strategy

–developed in Madagascar 25 years

ago• It modifies the way that rice plants, soil, water and nutrients are managed

• Results in rice phenotypes that are more resistant to abiotic and biotic stresses through biological processes that promote:

• Larger, deeper, less-senescent root systems

• More abundant, diverse & active soil biota

CUBA: Farmer showing two rice plants of same

age (52 d) and same variety (VN 2084), i.e.

both are same genotype, get different phenotype

IRAN: SRI roots and

normal (flooded)

roots: note differences in color as well as size

Comparison picture sent

by Haraz Technology Research Center, Amol,

Mazandaran

Total bacteria Total diazotrophs

TNAU research on microbial populations in rhizosphere soil for rice crop under different management at active tillering, panicle

initiation and flowering stages [units are √ transformed values of population g-1 of dry soil]

SRI = yellow; conventional = red

Phosphobacteria \ Azotobacter

Dehydrogenase activity (μg TPF) Urease activity (μg NH4-N))

TNAU research on microbial activities in rhizosphere soil in rice crop under different management at active tillering, panicle initiation and

flowering stages [units = √ transformed values of units g-1 of dry soil in 24 h]

SRI = yellow; conventional = red

Acid phosphate activity (μg p-Nitrophenol) \

Nitrogenase activity (nano mol C2H4)

Treatments Total microbes

(x105)

Azotobacter(x103)

Azospirillum(x103)

PSM(x104)

Conventional (T0) 2.3a 1.9a 0.9a 3.3a

Inorganic SRI (T1) 2.7a 2.2a 1.7ab 4.0a

Organic SRI (T2) 3.8b 3.7b 2.8bc 5.9b

Inorg. SRI + BF (T3) 4.8c 4..4b 3.3c 6.4bCFU = colony forming units PSM = Phosphate-solubilizing microbes BF = Bio-organic fertilizerValues with the different letters in a column are significantly different by LSD at the 0.05 level.Treatments: T0 = 20x20 cm spacing, 30 day seedlings, 6 seedlings/hill, 5 cm flooding depth of water, fertilized with inorganic NPK (250 kg urea, 200 kg SP-18, 100 kg KCl ha -1); T1, T2, T3 = All 30x30 cm spacing, 6-10 day seedlings, 1 seedling/hill, moist soil or intermittent irrigation, with different fertilization: T1 = same inorganic NPK as T0; T2 = 5 t ha-1 of organic fertilizer (compost); T3 = Inorganic NPK as in T0 + 300 kg ha-1 bioorganic fertilizer.

IPB research on total microbes and numbers of beneficial soil microbes (CFU g-1) under

conventional and SRI rice cultivation methods, Tanjung Sari, Bogor district, Indonesia, Feb-Aug

2009 (Iswandi et al., 2009)

SRI Involves Only Changes in Practices1. Transplant young seedlings to preserve their growth

potential - but DIRECT SEEDING is now an option2. Avoid trauma to the roots - transplant quickly and

shallow, not inverting root tips which halts growth3. Give plants wider spacing - one plant per hill and in

square pattern for more exposure to air and sunlight4. Keep paddy soil moist but unflooded - soil is kept

mostly aerobic, never continuously saturated – but SRI methods are being extended to rainfed cropping

5. Actively aerate the soil as much as possible6. Enhance soil organic matter as much as possible –

while fertilizer can be used with other SRI methods, best results have come from compost applications

These methods work with practically all rice varieties – also give buffering against drought, storm damage, etc.

Results from SRI Changes in Practices1. Reduced crop requirements for water – can help

farmers to get ‘more crop per drop’ 2. Greater water use efficiency – increased fixation

of CO2 per unit of water transpired by rice plants3. Drought resistance – even better yields reported

in drought year from Sichuan province, China4. Resistance to storm damage and cold

temperatures – less lodging; good production despite cold snap

5. Pest and disease resistance – SRI management reduces plants’ attractiveness and vulnerability

6. Shorter crop duration with higher yield – reducing exposure to end-of-season biotic/abiotic stresses

7. Reduced greenhouse gas emissions – reduced CH4 when fields are not kept flooded; apparent reduction or no increase in N2O when nol chem. fertilizer used

Despite reduction in rice cultivation area, State produces over 60 lakh tonnes

“Rice intensification project a boon to farmers” Special Correspondent

http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/01/stories/2009120155040500.htm — Photo: E. Lakshmi Narayanan

SALEM: Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam has pointed out that despite reduction in rice cultivation area due to poor monsoons, the State could produce 64.61 lakh tonnes, thanks to the rice intensification project. The Minister, inaugurating a seminar organised by the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) of Department of Agriculture here on Monday, said that erratic monsoon had reduced the area of paddy cultivation in the State. “Because of the rice intensification scheme, however, the production touched 64.61 lakh tonnes. While in normal cultivation, 3,450 kg of rice could be produced per hectare, under the intensification scheme, it is somewhere between 6,000 and 9,000 kg…”

SRI phenotypes give higher water-use efficiency as indicated in the ratio of

photosynthesis to transpiration: For each 1 millimol of water lost by transpiration,

SRI plants fixed 3.6 millimols of CO2,

RMP plants fixed 1.6 millimols of CO2

Climate change will make such gains in water efficiency increasingly important -- C4

transformation is not the only way to achieve more water-efficient phenotypes --

agroecological means now available, not hypothetical

AK Thakur, N Uphoff, E Antony (2010). An assessment of physiological effects of the System of Rice Intensification

(SRI) compared with recommended rice cultivation practices in India. Experimental Agriculture, 46: 77-98

ParametersCultivation method

SRI RMP SRI % LSD.05

Total chlorophyll (mg g-1FW)

3.37 (0.17)

2.58 (0.21)

+30 0.11

Ratio of chlorophyll a/b 2.32 (0.28)

1.90 (0.37)

+22 0.29

Transpiration (m mol m-2 s-1)

6.41 (0.43)

7.59 (0.33)

-16 0.27

Net photosynthetic rate (μ mol m-2 s-1)

23.15 (3.17)

12.23 (2.02)

+89 1.64

Stomatal conductance (m mol m-2 s-1)

422.73 (34.35)

493.93 (35.93)

-15 30.12

Internal CO2 concentration (ppm)

292.6 (16.64)

347.0 (19.74)

-16 11.1

Comparison of chlorophyll content, transpiration rate, net photosynthetic rate,

stomatal conductance, and internal CO2 concentration in SRI and RMP

Standard deviations are given in parentheses [N = 15]

Effects of the system of rice intensification and fertilizer N rate on irrigation water use efficiency

(IWUE) and total water use efficiency (WUE) (irrigation + rain)

Cultivation IWUE (kg m−3) WUE (kg m−3)systems N rate 2005 2006 2005 2006TF N0 0.298 f 0.232 e 0.210 f 0.182 f

N1 0.371 e 0.278 e 0.262 e 0.218 e

N2 0.433 d 0.344 d 0.305 d 0.270 d

N3 0.448 d 0.326 d 0.316 d 0.256 dSRI N0 0.675 c 0.602 c 0.399 e 0.396 c

N1 0.837 a 0.738 a 0.494 a 0.485 a N2 0.825 a 0.724 a 0.483 ab 0.475 a N3 0.769 b 0.655 b 0.465 b

0.431 bValues with the same letters in a column are not significantly different by LSD at the 0.05 level across cultivation systems TF: traditional flooding; SRI: System of Rice Intensification practices N0: no N fertilizer ; N1: 80 kg ha−1; N2: 160 kg ha−1; N3: 240 kg ha−1

Influence of the System of Rice Intensification on rice yield and nitrogen and water use efficiency with different N application rates.

LM Zhao, LH Wu, YS Li, XH L, DF Zhu, N Uphoff, Exper Agric 45: 275-286 (2009).

Other Benefits from Changes in Practices

1. Water saving – major concern in many places, also now have ‘rainfed’ version with similar results

2. Greater resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses – less damage from pests and diseases, drought, typhoons, flooding, cold spells [discuss tomorrow]

3. Shorter crop cycle – same varieties are harvested by 1-3 weeks sooner, save water, less crop risk

4. High milling output – by about 15%, due to fewer unfilled grains (less chaff) and fewer broken grains

5. Reductions in labor requirements – widely reported incentive for changing practices in India and China; also, mechanization is being introduced many places

6. Reductions in costs of production – greater farmer income and profitability, also health benefits

Drought-resistance in SRI LANKA: Rice fields 3 weeks after irrigation water was suspended; conventionally-grown field on left, and SRI field on right

Journal of Sichuan Agricultural Science and Technology

(2009), Vol. 2, No. 23“Introduction of Land-Cover Integrated Technologies with Water

Saving and High Yield” -- Lv Shihua et al. • Yield in normal year is 150-200 kg/mu (2.25-3.0 t/ha); yield in drought year is 200 kg/mu (3.0 t/ha) or even more• Net income in normal year is increased by new methods from profit of 100 ¥/mu to 600-800 ¥/mu (i.e., from profit of $220/ha to >$1,500/ha)• Net income in drought year with new methods goes from loss of 200-300 ¥/mu to 300-500 ¥/mu profit (from a loss of $550/ha to a profit of $880/ha)

Storm resistance in VIETNAM:

paddy fields inDông Trù village,Hanoi province,

after typhoon

SRI field andrice plant on left;conventional field and plant on right

CHINA: Nie Fu-qiu, Bu Tou village, Zhejiang

In 2004, his SRI field gave top yield in province: 12 t/ha

In 2005, although his SRI fields were hit by 3 typhoons -- he was able to harvest 11.15 tons/ha while other farmers’ fields were badly affected by storm damage (CNRRI report)

In 2008, Nie used chemical fertilizer to try for highest yield - and his crop lodged

Irrigation method

Seedling age

Spacing(cm2)

Plant lodging percentage

Partial Complete Total

Inter-mittent

irrigation (AWDI)

1430x30 6.67 0 6.67

30x18 40.00 6.67 46.67

2130x30 26.67 20 46.67

30x18 13.33 13.33 26.67

Ordinary irrigation (continuo

us flooding)

1430x30 16.67 33.33 50.00

30x18 26.67 53.33 80.00

2130x30 20 76.67 96.67

30x18 13.33 80 93.33

Rice plant lodging as affected by intermittent vs. ordinary irrigation practices when combined with

differentages of seedlings and spacing in Chiba, Japan, 2008

(Chapagain and Yamaji, Paddy & Water Envir., 2009)

Period Period Mean Mean max. max.

temp.temp.00CC

Mean Mean min. min.

temp.temp.00C C

No. of No. of sunshine sunshine

hrshrs

1 – 151 – 15 NovNov 27.727.7 19.219.2 4.94.9

16–3016–30 Nov Nov 29.629.6 17.917.9 7.57.5

1 – 15 Dec1 – 15 Dec 29.129.1 14.614.6 8.68.6

16–31 Dec 16–31 Dec 28.128.1 12.212.2** 8.68.6

Cold resistance in INDIA: Data from an IPM evaluation, ANGRAU, Andhra Pradesh, 2005-

06

SeasonSeason Normal (t/ha)Normal (t/ha) SRI (t/ha)SRI (t/ha)

Rabi 2005-06Rabi 2005-06 2.25 2.25 3.473.47

Kharif 2006Kharif 2006 0.21*0.21* 4.164.16

* Low yield was due to cold injury for plants (see above)

*Sudden drop in min. temp. during 16–21 Dec. (9.2-9.8oC for 5 days)

Disease and pest incidence in VIETNAM:National IPM Program evaluation: average of data from on-farm trials in 8 provinces, 2005-

06:Spring season Summer season

SRIPlots

Farmer

Plots

Differ-ence

SRIPlots

Farmer

Plots

Differ-ence

Sheath blight

6.7%

18.1%

63.0% 5.2%

19.8%

73.7%

Leaf blight

-- -- -- 8.6%

36.3%

76.5%

Small leaf folder *

63.4 107.7 41.1% 61.8 122.3 49.5%

Brown plant hopper *

542 1,440 62.4% 545 3,214 83.0%

AVERAGE

55.5% 70.7%

* Insects/m2

Crop duration in NEPAL (from seed to seed) of different rice varieties with SRI vs. conventional

methods (6.3 t/ha vs. 3.1 t/ha) 125 days vs. 141 days=16-day reduction

Varieties (N = 412)

Conventional duration

SRI duration Difference

Bansdhan/Kanchhi

145 127 (117-144)

18 (28-11)

Mansuli 155 136 (126-146)

19 (29- 9)

Swarna 155 139 (126-150)

16 (29- 5)

Sugandha 120 106 (98-112) 14 (22- 8)

Radha 12 155 138 (125-144)

17 (30-11)

Barse 3017 135 118 17

Hardinath 1 120 107 (98-112) 13 (22- 8)

Barse 2014 135 127 (116-125)

8 (19-10)

Methane and Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Paddy Rice Fields in Indonesia

Comparison of SRI and surrounding conventional fields -

SRI Experiment Plots + Farmers Fields

Tabo-TaboJampue

Langunga

PenarunganSungsang

Dr. KIMURA Sonoko DorotheaTokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

CH4 FluxWater status at the time of sampling had a greater influence on CH4 flux than did the difference between SRI and conventional methods. However, since SRI fields tend to be drained, CH4 flux tended to be higher in conventional fields. Highest CH4 emission was found during early growing stages with conventional methods.

N2O FluxHigh variability. Unexpected negative flux in some fields. SRI fields tended to emit more N2O than conventional fields -- but the values are in the range found for conventional paddy fields (F.M. Honmachi, 2007 -- total emission 0-0.2 kg N ha-1).

Conclusion

Highlights of S.R.I. Research in Indonesia

Iswandi Anas, D. K. Kalsim, Budi I. Setiawan, Yanuar, and Sam Herodian, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB)

Presented at workshop on S.R.I at Ministry of Agriculture,

Jakarta, June 13, 2008

METHANE EMISSIONS

Initial results reported by IPB Soil Biotechnology Laboratory

from GHG studies with SRI management in Indonesia

N2O EMISSIONS

Yan, X., H. Akiyama, K. Yagi and H. Akomoto. ‘Global estimations of the inventory and

mitigation potential of methane emissions from rice cultivation conducted using the 2006

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Guidelines.’ Global Biochemical Cycles, (2009)

“We estimated that if all of the continuously flooded rice fields were drained at least once during the growing season, the CH4

emissions would be reduced by 4.1 Tg a-1 . Furthermore, we estimated that applying rice straw off-season wherever and

whenever possible would result in a further reduction in emissions of 4.1 Tg a-1 globally. … if both of these mitigation

options were adopted, the global CH4 emission from rice paddies could be reduced by 7.6 Tg a-1.

Although draining continuously flooded rice fields may lead to an increase in nitrous oxide (N2O) emission, the global warming potential resulting from this increase is

negligible when compared to the reduction in global warming potential that would result from the CH4

reduction associated with draining the fields.”

Thank you

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

Email:

ntu1@cornell.edu