The System of Rice Intensification

Abstract

SRI creates a triple-win situation for agriculture, climate security, and food security because it: 1. Sustainably increases rice production and farmer incomes (greater crop productivity) 2. Strengthens crops' resilience to climate change and variability (facilitates adaptation) 3. Reduces rice production's contribution to climate change (helps promote mitigation) 1. Productivity Rice yields are increased by 20-50%-sometimes >100-200% SRI methods work for hybrids, HYVs, local and indigenous varieties • Higher water productivity gives 'more crop per drop' o Reductions in irrigation water requirements-by 30-50% per hectare; and o Higher water productivity-more output of grain per unit of water input-by 30-100% [1] • Higher nutrient-use efficiency o Less fertilizer and agrochemical inputs needed by 30-50%, and by 100% with organic SRI when relying on organic fertilization; higher nutrient uptake by larger root systems [2] • Higher seed productivity and better quality o Seed multiplication rate can be >1000 times, compared to 90x with standard methods • Greater factor productivity o Labor productivity-higher rice yield per day of labor [4] o Benefit-cost ratio higher due to higher yields with similar or lower production costs [4, 7] 2. Adaptation SRI plants show improved resistance to drought, floods, storms, pests, diseases • Improved drought resistance o SRI plants thrive with 30-50% less irrigation water per land area, due to deeper, larger, less-senescing root systems [5,7] o Reduced competition among plants creates stronger plants above and below ground o Organic matter-enriched soils able to store more water and furnish nutrients • Higher pest and disease resistance [6,8] o Stronger and healthier plants o Less humidity in the plant canopy • Greater resistance toward rain and wind damage from storms o Thicker tillers, deeper roots, wider spacing o Increased uptake of silicon into leaves and tillers from soil that has aerobic conditions o Reduced lodging-10% lodging vs. 55% under conventional cultivation methods [6] The System of Rice Intensification (SRI)… … is climate-smart rice production Vietnamese farmer shows the difference between SRI-managed rice (left) and conventional rice (right) after a typhooon. An Indian farmer shows healthy SRI-managed rice plants during a drought.