1. System of Rice Intensification Research: a Review
SRI International Network and Resources Center (SRI-Rice)
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca New York
1993-2013
Presentation at the International Rice Congress, Bangkok, Thailand, Oct 31, 2014
Erika Styger, PhD

2. System of Rice Intensification
A. Early and healthy plant establishment
C. Build fertile soils rich in organic matter and soil biota
D. Mange water carefully, avoid flooding &water stress

Soil preparation

Seed treatment/pre- germination

Raised bed nursery

Transplanting:
•
At 2 leave stage, 8- 12 days old - or -

Direct seeding:
•
Precision seeding (at 1 or 2 plants/hill)
Reduce plant density

1 plant/hill - and -

Increase spacing between plants (25cm x 25cm or more), planted in a grid

Mechanical weeding

Fertilize with organic matter and add chemical fertilizer if needed:
•
Manure/compost
•
Cover crop / green manure
•
Crop residues

Incorporate OM or combine SRI with Conservation Agriculture

Land preparation: Leveling, bunding, application or organic matter

Non flooded conditions during the vegetative period Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) – or - Bunding, additional irrigation or drainage
Principles
SRI Practices Indicative and to adapt
Methodology
Conceptual Framework
B. Minimize competition between plants
(Styger and Jenkins, 2014)

3. Spread and Adoption of SRI
More than 10 million farmers benefit from SRI methods in 54 countries (end of 2013)
SRI-Rice (2014)

4. SRI Research Review
•
How SRI research has evolved
•
What has been researched
•
Who has carried out the research
•
What were the findings

5. Methodology
•
624 Journal Articles
•
All articles key-worded (32 kw)
•
All references available at http://sri.cals.cornell.edu/ (Refworks, Mendeley)

6. Number of articles by year and by country group
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
93
99
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
All others
India
China
Number of papers
India > China

7. 0
100
200
300
400
500
600
93
99
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Number of papers
All other countries
China
Cumulative Total
Cumulative number of SRI articles from 1993-2013 by year and by country groups
576
244
332
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
93
99
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
All others
India
161
171
273 journals, with 72 Chinese journals (26%)

8. Number of SRI journal articles published per country
*no circles for India and China
14
3
21
1
2
2
1
3
2
2
5
2
244*
13
7
1
6
3
171*
16
12
8
(by the end of 2013)
3
2
4
4
2
9
4
3
3
(N=576 Articles)

9. Evolution of SRI Research
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
93
99
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Number of papers
All other countries
China
Cumulative Total
1st SRI paper
De Laulanié
> 10 articles on Madagascar & Reviews: SRI theory (USA, NL), few research articles
SRI conference Sanya, China
Controversy: “SRI non scientific, anecdotal, benefits exaggerated”
4 first authors, 6 papers
China’s research minimally considered outside of China
Rapid increase in publications for all other countries especially after 2011 Diversification of publications: 36 countries by end of 2013
Cumulative number of SRI articles

10. Number of countries with reported SRI trials and published journal articles (from 1993-2013)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1993
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Number of countries
Country Trials
Journal publications
32
54
5 Years
7 Years

11. Institutions where SRI research was undertaken and published
BLUE: Research Centers
RED: Universities
India
China
BLUE: Universities and research institutes
RED: Local agricultural extension
YELLOW: Government departments of agriculture
GREEN: Companies
By Christine Ly, SRI-Rice, 2014
By Zhoucen Feng,
SRI-Rice, 2013
Maps available at sririce.org

12. Types of research articles
Comparison Trials (335 papers)
Trials with SRI as BMP (121 papers)
Reviews (81 papers)
Others (87 papers)
(N=624 papers)
SRI: young, single seedling/hill, wider/adjusted spacing, cono-weeding, AWD, organic matter & chemical fertilization
Conventional : several older seedlings/hill, higher plant density, hand weeding/ herbicides, continuous flooding, chemical fertilization
Comparison Trials: most common practices for the 2 Systems

13. 0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
Social impact and gender
Pest and diseases
Soil biota
Adoption
Weed management
Root studies
Organic matter management
Review
Plant establishment
Seedling age
Variety trials
Economic evaluation
Morphology and Physiology
Nutrient management
Plant density
Water management
Main SRI Research Topics
(N = 624 papers)
Number of papers
25% of N
13% of N

14. Findings: Tendencies and Trends I - in relation to SRI:
•
Water management - 168 papers
–
Improved water productivity
–
Reduction of irrigation water use (20-50%)
–
In combination with increased yields
•
Nutrient management 155 papers
–
Optimum treatments include organic and inorganic fertilization
–
Improved nutrient use efficiency
•
Age of seedlings: 88 papers
–
Testing transplanting from 6d to >30d
–
Highest yields with 10-14d old seedlings;
–
Confirms theory to plant before 4th phyllochron

15. Findings: Tendencies and Trends II
•
Economic evaluation 129 papers
–
Production costs and labor: higher/equal/lower
–
Net return and benefit/cost ratio: most often higher
•
Adoption Studies 52 papers
–
Quality of training and technical follow up
–
Importance of rice crop and opportunity costs
–
Market access and policy support
–
Social organization of labor and water management

16. •
Morphology and Physiology: 132 papers; 86 from China
(2004-2008); 26 from India (2009-2013)
–
Wider canopy angle and higher leaf area index
–
Higher light interception, chlorophyll
content, photosynthesis rate
–
Delayed leaf and root senescence
•
Root studies: 57 papers (70% since 2010)
–
Higher root biomass, volume
and root length density
–
Higher soil microbial activity
longer grain filling period and higher yields
Thakur, et al. 2014
Findings: Tendencies and Trends III

17. Findings: Tendencies and Trends IV
•
Greenhouse gas emissions (10 papers of which 7 papers in 2013 and 2014)
–
Methane reduction (6 papers): all reduced by 10- 64%
–
Nitrous oxide (2 papers): increase 22.5%, reduced 12.5%
–
Global warming potential: (4 papers): all reduced by 21-73%

18. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
neg
equal
pos
9 % (15p) 14% (23p) 77% (134p)
Yield effect for SRI System in Comparison Trials
N= 162 papers
Number of papers

19. Conclusions
•
> 600 journal articles on SRI largely confirm what can be empirically observed in farmers’ fields of >50 countries
–
More efficient phenotype
–
Increased grain productivity
–
Reduced seed, water, agro-chemical use
•
In most countries, SRI was first introduced at farmers’ level – research publications lag several years behind farmer field results
•
Most research undertaken by National Institutions

20. Recommendations I
Research foci
Deepen topical analysis
–
E.g. water, weed, nutrient management
–
Optimize physiological processes to produce more effective phenotypes
–
Strengthen synergies between plant, soil and soil biota
–
Influence genetic expression for reaching plant’s genetic potential through management approaches

21. Recommendations II
Broaden to Farming Systems Level
–
Apply a broader farming systems and landscape analysis
–
Integrate socio-economic and socio-cultural research with technical research
–
Integrate other agro-ecological approaches Conservation Agriculture, Agroforestry, IPM with SRI
Apply New Research Models
–
Include farmers actively in research to identify optimal agronomic practices

22. Thank You! www.sririce.org eds8@cornell.edu