The System of Rice Intensification calls for cultivating rice with as maximum amount of organic manure as is practical, beginning with young seedlings planted individually at a wider spacing in a square pattern; intermittent irrigation that keeps the soil moist but not overwatered; and regular inter-cultivation with weeders that aggressively aerate the soil. SRI is not a predetermined, standardized technological approach. It is more of a set of concepts or a methodology for effectively controlling and preserving resources by altering how land, seeds, water, nutrients, and human labor are used to enhance productivity from a few well-tended but sparsely distributed seedlings. This article will explain the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) which will be helpful in preparing the Agriculture Syllabus for the UPSC Civil Service exam.

System of Rice Intensification

SRI - Methodology

• Ploughing: Ploughing is done first to prepare the field.
• Transplanting: Before transplanting, it should be laser leveled to ensure adequate water management and efficiency for a healthy crop stand.
• Irrigation: Then irrigation is provided to the field, which is less than that of a well-irrigated area but not as much as traditional techniques.
• Rope Meter: Then, with the use of a rope meter, 10-12 day old nursery plants (young paddy plants) are transplanted in lines with soil particles surrounding the roots with minimal disruption to the roots.
  • The goal of constructing lines is to create a favorable environment for rice plant growth and development by spacing them out.
• To prevent a time gap between uprooting and planting, which should not be more than 30-40 minutes.
  • So that the roots do not dry out, seedlings or nurseries should be positioned near the main field.
• Unlike Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR), which is only ideal for medium to heavy textured soils, SRI is good for all types of soil, even less fertile soil, where the number of seedlings can be doubled.
• In the SRI approach, just 2 kg seed is needed to produce a nursery for one acre, compared to 5 kg seed in the old method.

SRI - Critical Factors and Practices

SRI - Requirement of Constant Flooding after Nursery Transplantation

• Fields are kept under flood-like conditions in traditional sowing from the day of transplanting until the crop turns 35-40 days. Then, until a few weeks before harvest, fields are filled every week.
• On the other hand, SRI does not require continual flooding but rather a periodic watering.
  • The roots of the plants should not be deprived of oxygen due to floods.
  • Water is introduced to the field when the surface soil develops hairline cracks, and irrigation is administered to keep soil moisture near saturation at first.
• The intervals between irrigations will vary depending on the field conditions.
  • During a study in Gurdaspur district fields where Pusa 1121 was planted, it was discovered that 50 lakh liters of groundwater were consumed, compared to 62 lakh liters for the same variety in a puddled technique field.

SRI - Weed Management

• In Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR), where weeds are a major issue and weedicides are sprayed simultaneously at the time of sowing.
• In SRI, which allows for greater weed growth due to alternate wetting and drying of fields, the weeds are incorporated into the soil by operating a cono-weeder between rows made at the time of sowing, which adds nutrients to the crop like green manures.
• 10-12 days after planting, the first weeding is undertaken. Depending on the need, more weedings can be done at 10-15 day intervals till the crop reaches the panicle stage.
• Through a process of soil aeration, each wedding improves production.
• It is recommended that weeding and irrigation be done at the same time for smoother and simpler functioning of the cono-weeder.

SRI - Advantages

• Increased water availability at the landscape level or for other consumption demands since SRI management can cut irrigation water use by up to 50%.
• Reduced agrochemical usage leads to improved soil and water quality.
• Organic matter additions to soils and residues from bigger root systems result in an increase in soil carbon reservoirs.
• Reduced methane emissions from rice paddies due to non-flooded rice paddy conditions; thus far, despite the need for additional study, no offsetting rise in nitrous oxide emissions has been seen.
• Rice cultivar biodiversity can be increased if local types become more productive and hence more appealing to farmers to produce.
• Seed requirement is reduced because a single seedling is planted at a wider spacing. SRI requires only 7-8 kg of seed per hectare. This is especially useful for hybrids, where seed costs are very high.
• Nursery area reduction.
• Nursery duration is being reduced.
• Increased tillering - 30 tillers per plant is not difficult to achieve.
• SRI plants require more force to uproot than conventional plants due to their extensive root growth.
• Grain filling has improved with larger panicles and higher panicle weight.
• Because the soil is only kept moist during the vegetative growth phase and only a small amount of water is used during the reproductive phase, SRI results in water savings of 35 to 40% when compared to conventional methods.
• SRI provides a good growth environment for rice plants, resulting in stronger tillers and extensive root growth that is less susceptible to lodging.
• Since SRI plants are stronger, pest and disease incidence is lower.
• While chemical fertiliser increases yield in SRI, resource-poor farmers can still use locally available organic manures to maintain higher yields while lowering the cost of externally purchased inputs.
• SRI is associated with higher grain yields than the conventional method.
• Field rodent damage has been reduced.
• Increased net profit.

SRI - Limitations

• Increased weed growth, if left unchecked, will result in a significant loss of yield.
• If organic inputs in the soil structure are maintained, it can be sustainable.
• In addition, scientists and farmers must undertake more research by performing experiments on small plots of land at first, and accurate study records must be kept.
  • In Telangana, a large area was brought under SRI to conduct a study, and the results are quite encouraging in terms of water saving, lower input costs, and improved plant growth, adding that to save water.
  • A large area was brought under SRI to conduct a study, and the results are quite encouraging in terms of water saving, lower input costs, and improved plant growth.
• Water control practises must be strictly enforced.
• Initially, the SRI method necessitated a larger workforce.
• Transplanting requires more skill.
• Weeds pose a greater threat than traditional transplanting.
• SRI is not suitable for large-scale production because it is labour intensive.
• Farmers' traditional mindset.
• Inadequate understanding of technology.
• Lack of critical implements such as markers and weeders.
• The transplanting labourers' lack of cooperation.

Conclusion

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) economic feasibility has been observed and tested by governmental and non-governmental organizations all around the world. Due to this method's success, it has already been adapted for use with other crops, including wheat and sugarcane. Small-scale, marginal farmers enthusiastically embraced this SRI strategy for high output. SRI is anticipated to reach its peak in terms of output and global coverage by 2030.