Post on 26-Dec-2015
Overview of System of Rice Intensification in Cambodia
Chou CheythyrithNational FAO-IPM Project Coordinator, Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries, in collaboration with Regional FAO Vegetable IPM Program
Background of SRI
• SRI is a set of improved practices or methods in plant, water, soil and nutrient management being used to bring out rice natural growth potential
• SRI was introduced in 1999, with field tests by farmers beginning in 2000, supported by CEDAC
• MAFF supports SRI through an SRI Secretariat that implements activities in 24 provinces and municipalities
• 32 NGOs have implemented SRI with activities educating and assisting farmers
• Presently, more than 60,000 households are practicing SRI on the area about 16,385 ha
• IPM Program conducts SRI Participatory Action Research and educates farmers to grow healthy crops
Principles and practices of SRI
According to their natural potential, rice plants have ability for:
• More profuse tillering -- 50 tillers per plant, with some having many more tillers
• Larger and deeper root systems• Larger panicles• Higher quality grain, with fewer unfilled and fewer broken
grains, and often higher grain weight
Traditional/conventional practices inhibit crop growth and do not allow rice plants to achieve their full potential, while SRI methods create a conducive environment for rice plants to grow
Tillering potential of rice plant
Difference between traditional and SRI practices
Traditional• Rice field is continuously
flooded with high level of water during the vegetative stage
• Seedlings are raised with much water, and seedling density is high
• Transplanting with too many seedlings per clump, mixture of weak and thick seedlings
SRI• Only minimal water,
preferably keeping the soil only moist and in dry/wet condition
• Seedlings are raised in beds like vegetable bed, and the seed density is very low
• Young seedlings are used, preferably less than 15 days old (at 2-3 leaf stage)
Difference between traditional and SRI
Traditional• Seedling age is too old,
generally more than one month
• Seedling is uprooted with damage to root and stem, and is kept for one to two days before transplanting
• Seedlings are transplanted with close spacing and no equal spacing
SRI• Only 1 to 2 seedlings, but
preferably one seedling per clump, only vigorous seedlings
• Young seedling is uprooted and transplanted with care, transplanted immediately after uprooting
• Wide spacing and square pattern, or at least line transplanting
Difference between traditional and SRI practices
Traditional• Weeding is not early
enough, not frequent and regular
• Limited Use of farmyard manure, and dependence on use of chemical fertilizers
SRI• Early weeding and
frequent weeding to improve soil aeration
• Application of compost as much as possible
For SRI, the best result or the optimal yield is achieved only through the proper combination of the improved practices that create a synergy effect. The more good practices that farmers can apply, the more yield they will get.
To begin, if farmers just select only strong seedlings for transplanting, reduce the number of seedlings per clump, and do shallow transplanting, their yield can be increased by more than 30 % (at no extra cost !).
Highlights of the results in the wet season 2006:
Average SRI yield was 4.7 tons per ha, while the average yield of conventional practice is 1.92 tons per ha Around 20 % of farmers were able to harvest more than 4 tons per ha All SRI farmers were able to reduce the amount of rice seeds and fertilizer that they used be significant amount, thus reducing cost
SRI field
Better root and shoot growth with SRI
No. of farmers applying SRI in Cambodia
28 500 300010000
17092
40000
60000
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Progress of SRI area in Cambodia (ha)
1.6 28.7900
4700 4788
11200
16385
02000400060008000
1000012000140001600018000
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Supported by Regional FAO Vegetable IPM Program
SRISRI
PAR-SRI Research, CambodiaPAR-SRI Research, Cambodia
Effect of different water regimes and planting densities on rice yield.
Treatment:
Three water regimes Alternate wet and dry
(AWD) Flooded field (FF), and Just moist (JM)
Three planting densities Single seedling with 15 x15
cm Single seedling with 30 x 30
cm Six seedlings with 15 x 15
cm
ResultResultRoot growthCriteria for healthy root
growth: More root volume More number of white and fine
roots More number of laterals More number of crown roots
Trend under different water regimes and planting densities:
Single seedlings with wider spacing had better root growth
More number of white and fine roots were seen under just moist (JM) condition.
EffectEffect onon yield-conyield-contributingtributing parametersparameters
A
1(30) 1(15) 6(15)
Gra
in n
umbe
r/ p
anic
le (
mea
n ±
SE)
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Total grain Unfilled grain
a
B
a
C
AA
A
c
Grains/panicle
1000-grain weight
Tillers/m2
A
FL1 (30) FL1(15) FL6(15) WD1(30) WD1(15) WD6(15) JM1(30) JM1(15) JM6(15)
Mea
n G
rain
yie
ld (
t/ha)
1
2
3
4
5
Yield (t/ha)
AA A
AA
BB B
Grain yield (t/ha)
ImplicationsImplications Effect of root length density on rice yield
should be evaluated with different soil types (sandy, clay, loam)
Varietal evaluation is needed under different soil types
Location-specific research is needed for optimizing G x E (variety-environmental) interaction for better productivity using participatory action research
Farmers should be seen as active research partners in PAR trials
Concluding remarks SRI movement is growing very fast in Cambodia, with increasing number of farmers involved and support/implementing organizations/projects
There is need to reinforce this momentum by providing assistance to farmers in further developing and disseminating SRI to ensure that the maximal number of farmers can have sustainable benefit from SRI
Thank you for your attention