SRI-A Method for Sustainable Intensification of Rice Production with Enhanced Water Productivity

Climate change induced higher temperatures will increase crops’ water requirements. Every 10°C increase in mean temperature, results in 7% decline in the yield of rice crop. Hence, there is a need to develop water saving technologies in rice which consumes more than 50% of the total irrigation water in agriculture. System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is one such water saving rice production technology. Experiments were conducted at different locations in India including research farm of Directorate of Rice Research (DRR), Hyderabad, during 2005-10 to assess the potential of SRI in comparison to normal transplanting/Standard Planting (NTP/SP) under flooded condition. SRI recorded higher grain yield (6 to 65% over NTP) at majority of locations. Long term studies clearly indicated that grain yield was significantly higher (12-23% and 4-35% over NTP in Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively) in SRI (with organic+inorganic fertilizers) while the SRI (with100% organic manures), recorded higher yield (4-34%) over NTP only in the Rabi seasons. Even though, SRI resulted in higher productivity, the available nutrient status in soil was marginally higher (10, 42 and 13% over NTP for N, P and K, respectively) at the end of four seasons. There was a reduction in the incidence of pests in SRI and the relative abundance of plant parasitic nematodes was low in SRI as compared to the NTP. About 31% and 37% saving in irrigation water was observed during Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively in both methods of SRI cultivation over NTP. SRI performed well and consistently reduced requirement of inputs such as seed and water in different soil conditions. SRI method, using less water for rice production can help in overcoming water shortage in future and it can also make water available for growing other crops thus promoting crop diversificatio

Assessment of different methods of rice (Oryza sativa. L) cultivation affecting growth parameters, soil chemical, biological, and microbiological properties, water saving, and grain yield in rice–rice system

Field experiments were conducted at DRR farm located at ICRISAT, Patancheru, in sandy clay loam soils during four seasons, Kharif 2008, Rabi 2008–2009, Kharif 2009 and Rabi 2009–2010, to investigate growth parameters, water-saving potential, root characteristics, chemical, biological, and microbial properties of rhizosphere soil, and grain yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) by comparing the plants grown with system of rice intensification (SRI) methods, with organic or organic + inorganic fertilization, against current recommended best management practices (BMP). All the growth parameters including plant height, effective tillers (10–45 %), panicle length, dry matter, root dry weight (24–57 %), and root volume (10–66 %) were found to be significantly higher with in SRI-organic + inorganic over BMP. With SRI-organic fertilization, growth parameters showed inconsistent results; however, root dry weight (3–77 %) and root volume (31–162 %) were found significantly superior compared to BMP. Grain yield was found significantly higher in SRI-organic + inorganic (12–23 and 4–35 % in the Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively), while with SRI-organic management, yield was found higher (4–34 %) only in the Rabi seasons compared to BMP. An average of 31 and 37 % of irrigation water were saved during Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively, with both SRI methods of rice cultivation compared to BMP. Further, total nitrogen, organic carbon%, soil dehydrogenase, microbial biomass carbon, total bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes were found higher in the two SRI plots in comparison to BMP. It is concluded that SRI practices create favorable conditions for beneficial soil microbes to prosper, save irrigation water, and increase grain yield

Mapping the research impact of collaboration and networking of ICAR fisheries research institutes in India: A scientometric study

The eight National Fisheries Research Institutes under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) play a significant role in driving fisheries development in the country by advancing knowledge through basic and applied research; technology development and extension/outreach. Collaboration and networking among researchers and institutes are fundamental to address the multi-faceted issues confronting the fisheries sector in India. Collaborative research pattern among ICAR-Fisheries Research Institutes (IFRIs) and with R&D organisations in other countries was studied for a period of 20 years (2000-2019). Research productivity and focus areas of research of these institutes were also assessed through bibliometrics of publications extracted from the Web of Science (WoS) database. The search yielded 4,557 publications and a significant increase in the number of publications from 2000 to 2019 was evident . Major chunk of these papers (87%) was published in collaboration with National Institutes while only 10.6% had international collaboration especially with the United States of America (USA), Australia and Japan. A positive correlation (p<0.01) was observed between the extent of collaboration (both national and international) and the average citation per paper. The average impact factor of the journals carrying fisheries research papers with at least one international author was higher than those in which the papers were with only Indian authors. This leads us to hypothesise that the network of IFRIs with international research institutions aids in increasing the quality, visibility and impact of research. The co-authorship pattern revealed a gradual reduction in single and two-authored papers during the last 20 years, while multi-authored papers exhibited an increasing trend. The study showed that the collaboration network in fisheries research is growing fast; collaborating countries in the network increased gradually, and the number of authors and publications increased almost exponentially, as indicated by the growth rate and doubling time in research publications. The present study provides a multi-dimensional overview of the impact of research publications from IFRIs and provides specific insights in to the research managers to plan and strategise their collaborations to enhance the influence of fisheries research in India

System Of Rice Intensification (SRI): Enhancing input use efficiency in Rice

Sustainable food security in India remains an important agenda given the ever increasing population and widening gap between food availability and consumption at the house hold level. Rice being the staple food crop holds the key for food security of India. It is grown in about 44 m.ha with a production of about 99 m.t. At the current rate of population growth and per capita consumption, rice requirement by 2025 is estimated to be around 130 m.t. Keeping this in view, the Government of India has launched the National food Security Mission to achieve the production of additional 10 million tons of rice by the end of the XI plan period Production of additional 20-30 m.t. of rice by 2025 has to come in the backdrop of declining resources such as land, water, labour and the costly inputs. Area under rice is expected to be reduced to about 40 m.ha in the next 15-20 years and most of this reduction is attributed to water shortages and rapid urbanization. Recent estimates indicate that there would be acute water shortages in the coming decades. More than 80 per cent of fresh water is consumed for agriculture and 50% of it goes for rice cultivation. Rice consumes about 4000 - 5000 liters of water to produce 1 kg of rice. Therefore, rice cultivation could face a threat due to water shortages and hence there is an urgent need to develop and adopt water saving methods in rice cultivation so that production and productivity levels are elevated despite the looming water crisis..

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Not AvailableClimate change induced higher temperatures will increase crops’ water requirements. Every 10°C increase in mean temperature, results in 7% decline in the yield of rice crop. Hence, there is a need to develop water saving technologies in rice which consumes more than 50% of the total irrigation water in agriculture. System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is one such water saving rice production technology. Experiments were conducted at different locations in India including research farm of Directorate of Rice Research (DRR), Hyderabad, during 2005-10 to assess the potential of SRI in comparison to normal transplanting/Standard Planting (NTP/SP) under flooded condition. SRI recorded higher grain yield (6 to 65% over NTP) at majority of locations. Long term studies clearly indicated that grain yield was significantly higher (12-23% and 4-35% over NTP in Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively) in SRI (with organic+inorganic fertilizers) while the SRI (with100% organic manures), recorded higher yield (4-34%) over NTP only in the Rabi seasons. Even though, SRI resulted in higher productivity, the available nutrient status in soil was marginally higher (10, 42 and 13% over NTP for N, P and K, respectively) at the end of four seasons. There was a reduction in the incidence of pests in SRI and the relative abundance of plant parasitic nematodes was low in SRI as compared to the NTP. About 31% and 37% saving in irrigation water was observed during Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively in both methods of SRI cultivation over NTP. SRI performed well and consistently reduced requirement of inputs such as seed and water in different soil conditions. SRI method, using less water for rice production can help in overcoming water shortage in future and it can also make water available for growing other crops thus promoting crop diversification.Not Availabl

System of Rice Intensification: Its Present Status, Future Prospects and Role in Seed Production in India

System of Rice Intensification (SRI) as an alternate rice cultivation methodology, developed in Madagascar 25 years ago, is gaining wider acceptance in many countries including India. SRI method claims to greatly enhance water productivity and grain yield. But there is lack of understanding of scientific principles underlying and synergetic effects of the principles followed in SRI, especially in Indian conditions. The present paper is intended to discuss about significance and necessity of SRI along with performance of SRI at about 25 locations across the country for a period of four years. SRI was found to record 7- 20% higher grain yield over the traditional irrigated transplanted rice in different agro-climatic situations of the country. SRI also recorded higher nutrient use efficiency without depleting soil available nutrients as compared to conventional transplanting"after two seasons of the study. The varieties having better tillering ability as well as hybrids (KRH 2, HRI 126, PHB 71 and DRRH 2) were found promising and recorded higher grain yield over the high-yielding varieties and scented cultivars with moderate tillering. Root volume, dry mass and dehydrogenase activity in soil enhanced by 7-25% (measure of microbial activity) were found to be higher in SRI, compared with conventional method. There was reduction in seed rate by 80%, nursery area also obviously, water requirement by 29% and growth duration by 8-12 days, thereby enhancing water productivity and per day productivity of rice cultivars in SRI, which also proved to be helpful in producing more seed for faster seed multiplication and also quality seed for higher productivity. Water saving alone should be a strong justification for the adoption of SRI wherever water is not abundant. Ther~ is a need for further enhancing the rice productivity in SRI by identifying suitable cultivars, modifying practices to suit local agro-climatic conditions and understanding long term synergic effects among different practices

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Not AvailableField experiments were conducted at DRR farm located at ICRISAT, Patancheru, in sandy clay loam soils during four seasons, Kharif 2008, Rabi 2008–2009, Kharif 2009 and Rabi 2009–2010, to investigate growth parameters, water-saving potential, root characteristics, chemical, biological, and microbial properties of rhizosphere soil, and grain yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) by comparing the plants grown with system of rice intensification (SRI) methods, with organic or organic + inorganic fertilization, against current recommended best management practices (BMP). All the growth parameters including plant height, effective tillers (10–45 %), panicle length, dry matter, root dry weight (24–57 %), and root volume (10–66 %) were found to be significantly higher with in SRI-organic + inorganic over BMP. With SRI-organic fertilization, growth parameters showed inconsistent results; however, root dry weight (3–77 %) and root volume (31–162 %) were found significantly superior compared to BMP. Grain yield was found significantly higher in SRI-organic + inorganic (12–23 and 4–35 % in the Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively), while with SRI-organic management, yield was found higher (4–34 %) only in the Rabi seasons compared to BMP. An average of 31 and 37 % of irrigation water were saved during Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively, with both SRI methods of rice cultivation compared to BMP. Further, total nitrogen, organic carbon%, soil dehydrogenase, microbial biomass carbon, total bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes were found higher in the two SRI plots in comparison to BMP. It is concluded that SRI practices create favorable conditions for beneficial soil microbes to prosper, save irrigation water, and increase grain yield.Not Availabl

Assessment of different methods of rice (Oryza sativa. L) cultivation affecting growth parameters, soil chemical, biological, and microbiological properties, water saving, and grain yield in rice-rice system

Abstract Field experiments were conducted at DRR farm located at ICRISAT, Patancheru, in sandy clay loam soils during four seasons, Kharif 2008, Rabi 200

Not Available

Not AvailableField experiments were conducted at DRR farm located at ICRISAT, Patancheru, in sandy clay loam soils during four seasons, Kharif 2008, Rabi 2008–2009, Kharif 2009 and Rabi 2009–2010, to investigate growth parameters, water-saving potential, root characteristics, chemical, bio-logical, and microbial properties of rhizosphere soil, and grain yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) by comparing the plants grown with system of rice intensification (SRI) methods, with organic or organic ? inorganic fertilization, against current recommended best management practices (BMP). All the growth parameters including plant height, effective tillers (10–45 %), panicle length, dry matter, root dry weight (24–57 %), and root volume (10–66 %) were found to be significantly higher with in SRI-organic ? inorganic over BMP. With SRI-organic fertilization, growth para-meters showed inconsistent results; however, root dry weight (3–77 %) and root volume (31–162 %) were found significantly superior compared to BMP. Grain yield was found significantly higher in SRI-organic ? inorganic (12–23 and 4–35 % in the Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively), while with SRI-organic management, yield was found higher (4–34 %) only in the Rabi seasons com-pared to BMP. An average of 31 and 37 % of irrigation water were saved during Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively, with both SRI methods of rice cultivation compared to BMP. Further, total nitrogen, organic carbon%, soil dehydroge-nase, microbial biomass carbon, total bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes were found higher in the two SRI plots in comparison to BMP. It is concluded that SRI practices create favorable conditions for beneficial soil microbes to prosper, save irrigation water, and increase grain yield.Not Availabl