Norman Uphoff to University of Mississippi, 27 September 1962

The University of Misnnesota Student Association Senate urges the university\u27s student government to encourage Meredith\u27s enrollment.https://egrove.olemiss.edu/west_union_um/1045/thumbnail.jp

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI): Revisiting Agronomy for a Changing Climate

By modifying management of rice plants, soil, water and nutrients to improve growth environments, farmers can get higher-yielding, more vigorous and resilient plants nurtured by larger root systems and greater diversity/abundance of beneficial soil organisms. More productive phenotypes from available genotypes enhance farmers’ income and security while reducing their costs and water requirements

The integration of rural development research and community service

The integration of community service and research is an important subject especially in South Africa, where academics are called upon by the government and the public to contribute to more rapid and equitable development and, particularly for purposes of this contribution, rural development. The generation and application of knowledge should go hand in hand because the process of applying knowledge to real-world situations can itself provide productive challenges and venues for adding to the body of available knowledge. Those concerned with advancing science should appreciate that the knowledge gained in this way has been validated, under realistic conditions, which render the generated knowledge more reliable and relevant

Farmer Innovations Improving the System of Rice Intensification (SRI)

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI), assembled in Madagascar over a 20-year period and gaining applicationinternationally since 2000, enables farmers to raise their irrigated rice production substantially just by making changes in theway they manage their plants, soil, water and nutrients, rather than by increasing inputs such as fertilizer, water oragrochemicals. Getting more output with less cost enhances profitability. This result is quite unprecedented, as discussed inpaper accompanying this one. SRI is not considered by its proponents as a technology; and by not presenting it to farmers asa set technology, this opens SRI up to many adaptations and innovations by farmer-users, who often but not always arecollaborating with NGO or government staff in a collaborative manner. This paper reports on a number of the innovations thathave been made in SRI practices, demonstrating bothfarmer capabilities and the advantages of engagingfarmers as partnersin an ongoing process of participatory development. The companion paper which considers SRI as a system for innovationoffers a more 'macro' view of SRI spread that complements this more 'micro' perspective

El capital social y su capacidad de reducción de la pobreza

Incluye Bibliografí

Effects of Trichoderma seedling treatment with System of Rice Intensification management and with conventional management of transplanted rice

Many benefits of Trichoderma inoculation for improving crop production have been documented, including growth and yield enhancement and the alleviation of biotic and abiotic stresses. However, because rice is usually cultivated under continuous flooding that creates anaerobic soil conditions, this limits the benefits of these beneficial fungi. Cultivating rice with the methods of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) provides rice plants with a more favorable environment for their colonization by beneficial microbes in the soil because the soil is more aerobic under SRI management and contains more organic matter. This study evaluated the effects of Trichoderma inoculation of rice plants under SRI management compared with transplanted and flooded rice plants, considering also the effects of different means of fertilization and different varieties in rice. Experiments were conducted in 2015 and 2016 under the tropical climate of Nepal’s western terai (plains) during both the rainy season (July to November) and the dry season (March to July). The results indicated significantly better performance (P = 0.01) associated with Trichoderma inoculation for both seasons and for both systems of crop management in terms of grain yield and other growth-contributing factors, compared to non-inoculated rice cropping. Relatively higher effects on grain yield were recorded also with organic compared to inorganic fertilization; for unimproved (heirloom) varieties compared with improved varieties; and from SRI vs. conventional flooded crop management. The yield increase with Trichoderma treatments across all trials was 31% higher than in untreated plots (4.9 vs 4.5 mt ha−1). With Trichoderma treatment, yields compared with non-treated plots were 24% higher with organic SRI (6.38 vs 5.13 mt ha−1) and 52% higher with non-organic SRI (6.38 vs 3.53 mt ha−1). With regard to varietal differences, under SRI management Trichoderma inoculation of the improved variety Sukhadhan-3 led to 26% higher yield (6.35 vs 5.04 mt ha−1), and with the heirloom variety Tilkidhan, yield was 41% higher (6.29 vs 4.45 mt ha−1). Economic analysis indicated that expanding the organic cultivation of local landraces under SRI management should be profitable for farmers where such rice has a good market price due to its premium quality and high demand and when SRI enhances yield. These varieties’ present low yields can be significantly increased by integrating Trichoderma bio-inoculation with SRI cultural methods. Other recent research has shown that such inoculation can be managed profitably by farmers themselves

THE SYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION (SRI) AS A BENEFICIAL HUMAN INTERVENTION INTO ROOT AND SOIL INTERACTION

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) was developed in Madagascar in the ealier 1980 by Fr. Henri de Laulanié. Basic principles of SRI are: (1) the transplanting of young seedlings, preferably only 8-12 days old, this conserves the growth potential that rice plants have if they are transplanted before the start of the fourth phyllochron; (2) The young seedlings are transplanted quickly and quite carefully, taking care to minimize any trauma to the roots, also singly and with wide spacing, in a square pattern usually 25 cm x 25 cm, or even farther apart if the soil is fertile; (3) Under SRI management, paddy fields are not kept continuously flooded, instead, mostly aerobic soil conditions are maintained throughout the vegetative growth period, either by adding small amounts of water regularly, or by alternate wetting and drying (AWD); (4) a simple mechanical, soil-aerating weeder is used to control weed growth; (5) Although these methods when used with chemical fertilizer will enhance crop yield, the best yields and greatest cost-saving for farmers are attained with application of organic fertilizer or other organic matter, when available. When SRI practices are used together and as recommended, the following results are common: (1) Grain yields are usually increased by 50-100%, or sometimes more, while water applications are reduced by 30-50% since there is no continuous flooding, straw yields usually also increase, which is an additional benefit to many farmers; (2) The need to use agrochemicals for crop protection is reduced because SRI plants are naturally more resistant to pest and disease damage; (3) With reduced costs of production, including often reduced labor requirements, farmers’ net income is greatly increased with the higher yields; (4) SRI plants are better suited to withstand the effects of climate change, having greater resistance as a rule to most biotic and abiotic stresses; (5) SRI paddy usually gives higher milling out-turn, about 15%, because when milled there is less chaff (fewer unfilled grains) and less breaking of grains. These qualities are probably attributable to the effects of better root systems which can more effectively take up micronutrients from lower soil horizons. Currently, SRI practices has been introduced in many countries with modifications and adaptation to local conditions

The system of crop intensification: Agroecological innovations for improving agricultural production, food security, and resilience to climate change

There is growing consensus that to meet global food-security requirements, agricultural sectors will need to pursue appropriate strategies for sustainable intensification of production. This volume reports on current ‘work in progress’ to achieve this via an approach known as System of Crop Intensification (SCI). Collated from the contributors’ work with farmers in their respective countries – and illustrated throughout with case studies, data, pictures and feedback – it presents a set of ideas and experiences to encourage people to think ‘outside the box’ of current practices