SYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION (SRI)
1. Context
The Punjab government is promoting the Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) technique of paddy, which saves water and labor cost against the conventional puddling method and farmers can also have one more option of rice sowing, but the old method is not popular and well-researched in the state. When the state is not ready to shun paddy sowing, any technique that claims to save groundwater must be researched and promoted in the state.
2. System of Rice Intensification (SRI):
- SRI was Developed in Madagascar in the 1980s, SRI is a method of rice cultivation.
- It is Practiced in several countries worldwide, including India.
- It Promises to save 15 to 20% of groundwater.
- It Improves rice productivity, addressing stagnation issues.
- It Provides equal or higher yields compared to conventional rice cultivation.
- It Requires less water, seeds, and chemicals, reducing external input investments.
3. System of Rice Intensification (SRI) Field Practices:
- Field preparation involves ploughing and laser leveling for water management.
- Irrigation is applied in controlled amounts, less than traditional flooding methods.
- Transplanting occurs with 10-12 day-old nursery plants, minimizing root disturbance.
- Plants are transplanted in lines marked at a distance of 10 inches apart.
- Lines create favorable conditions for rice plant growth and development.
- Seedlings should be located near the main field to minimize root drying.
4. Suitability and Seed Requirements:
- SRI is suitable for all types of soils, including less fertile soil.
- SRI allows for increased seedling density in less fertile soils.
- For one acre of cultivation, 2kg of seed is required to grow a nursery under SRI, compared to 5kg in traditional methods.
5. SRI Method and Irrigation:
- Unlike traditional methods, SRI does not require continuous flooding after nursery transplantation.
- SRI utilizes intermittent irrigation instead of continuous flooding. The aim is to avoid oxygen deprivation for the plant roots.
- Initially, irrigation is used to maintain soil moisture near saturation. Water is added to the field when surface soil develops hairline cracks.
- Irrigation intervals vary based on field conditions. Comparative experiments showed reduced groundwater usage in SRI fields.
- In a specific study with Pusa 1121 variety, SRI used 50 lakh liters of groundwater compared to 62 lakh liters in the traditional puddled method.
6. Weed control in SRI
- In SRI, weeds are managed differently compared to Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) methods.
- SRI allows greater weed growth due to alternating wetting and drying of fields.
- Weeds are incorporated into the soil by using a cono-weeder, which is operated between the rows that were created during sowing.
- The cono-weeder not only controls weeds but also adds nutrients to the crop, acting like green manure.
- The first weeding is done 10-12 days after planting, and subsequent weedings may be performed at 10-15 day intervals until the crop reaches the panicle stage.
- Each weeding improves yield by aerating the soil and reducing weed competition.
- It is recommended to coordinate weeding with irrigation to facilitate the smoother and easier operation of the cono-weeder.
7. Significance of SRI in Punjab
- SRI is crucial in Punjab due to the water scarcity issue.
- A majority of agricultural blocks in the state (116 out of 138) are categorized as dark zone or semi-dark zone due to excessive groundwater exploitation.
- SRI helps conserve groundwater by reducing water requirements for rice cultivation.
- It enhances productivity by promoting more tiller growth compared to the traditional method.
- SRI maintains soil health and reduces input costs by requiring 25% less urea.
- The strong root system resulting from young plant transplantation prevents lodging caused by rain or wind.
- SRI benefits small and marginal farmers by increasing yield while reducing expenses.
- It shortens the crop maturation time by 5-15 days.
- SRI reduces reliance on chemicals, minimizing the need for weedicides and promoting soil health in a region where significant chemical usage is prevalent.
8. Comparative results of traditional and SRI methods
- SRI practices, with planting in rows and proper spacing, have been shown to yield more compared to traditional methods.
- Demonstrations and trials conducted by the Gurdaspur Agriculture Department in Punjab, India, over a decade ago confirmed the superiority of SRI practices.
- SRI plots yielded around 22.34% more rice, specifically Basmati PUSA 1121, compared to other cultivation methods.
- SRI has the potential to significantly increase yield.
- Net total returns per acre were higher with SRI, with farmers in Kothe and Khokhar villages reporting Rs 21,000 to Rs 40,000 more net returns compared to conventional Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) and mechanical methods.
9. Limitations of SRI
- Unchecked weed growth can lead to significant yield losses.
- SRI is not widely promoted by the government in Punjab, except for the demonstration plots established over a decade ago.
- Sustaining the benefits of SRI requires maintaining organic inputs in the soil structure.
- Further research is needed, particularly by scientists at Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), Ludhiana, in collaboration with farmers, to conduct trials on small lands and maintain proper study records.
- The results from SRI implementation in other regions, such as Telangana, have shown promising outcomes in terms of water conservation, reduced input costs, and improved plant growth.
- To promote water-saving practices, Punjab's farmers need viable options supported by adequate studies.
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For Prelims: System of Rice Intensification (SRI), Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) technique, Pusa 1121 variety.
For Mains: 1. What is the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and discuss the significance of SRI in the state of Punjab. (250 Words)
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Source: The Indian Express
