Bradbrook - 2012 - Rice Farming complete with methods to increase ric

1. Claims o f SRI:
a. Results in higher yields;
b. Less water and fewer seeds required;
c. Use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides (external inputs) are not needed; and
d. Purchase of new seeds is not needed.
2. The key elements of SRI:
a. Seedlings are germinated at a lower seeding rate than normal in nursery beds that
are kept moist but not flooded;
b. Transplant seedlings at 8 to 12 days, younger than normal, when they are at the
two-leaf stage;
c. Seedlings are planted one per hill instead of the recommended 3 to 4 seedlings per
hill;
d. Seedlings are spaced farther apart than usual (e.g. 25 cm x 25 cm or wider) and in
a square pattern to facilitate easy weeding;
e. Seedlings are transplanted quickly, carefully, and shallowly (1 to 2 cm deep) to
limit transplant shock especially to the roots. Seedlings are lifted off from the
nursery bed using a trowel to minimize damage to the roots.
f. The soil is kept moist but not saturated. Alternatively, water can be supplied
intermittently to create soil conditions that are alternately wet and dry; this
principle is similar to the AWD type of irrigation covered earlier. This latter
practice is less labor-intensive than keeping the soil moist at all times.
g. A rotary weeder (rotating hoe or conoweeder) removes weeds mechanically while
at the same time improving soil aeration; weeding is done 10 to 12 days after
transplanting and every 10 days thereafter until the rice plant is large enough;
h. Organic fertilizers (e.g. compost) are added to the soil in greater amounts than
normal to improve soil fertility.
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