Introduction to Major Field Crops

S.R.I. Method of Rice Cultivation

The System of Rice Intensification, known by its acronym ‘S.R.I.’ is gaining popularity among rice farmers in several states. It is a method of rice cultivation enunciated by Father Henry de Laulanie, a French Jurist Priest of Madagascar in 1980s which involves the comprehensive effective management of resources such as land, seeds, water and labour. This system has been tried successfully in 40 countries across the world.




S.R.I. Method of Rice Cultivation


S.R.I. is a system of growing rice which involves principles that are at times radically different from the traditional ways of growing rice. It involves planting of single and young seedlings with care instead of conventional method of multiple and old seedlings from the nursery. This method spaces rice plants more widely and does not depend on continuous flooding of rice fields. It uses lesser seed, chemical inputs and promotes soil biotic activities in and around the root zone, due to liberal application of compost and weeding with a rotating hoe that aerates the soil. These changed practices with lower inputs lead to enhanced yields with considerable savings of inputs, especially the water which is becoming scarce over the years.

Benefits of S.R.I. method

1. Saving of seeds and nursery area as result of adopting wider spacing and planting of single seedling per hill. Highly suitable for hybrid rice cultivation and seed multiplication.
2. Saving of water to an extent of 30-40 per cent.
3. More area can be brought under irrigation with the available water.
4. Activity of the beneficial microbes in the root zone is enormously increased due to aerobic condition.
5. Reduction in the duration of crop as using of 8-12 days old seedlings.
6. Planting of young seedlings prolongs the vegetative growth period in the main field before panicle initiation and facilitates the production of maximum number of tillers.
7. The aerobic condition created by alternate wetting and drying and mechanical weeding facilitates profuse root growth and tillering.
8. Mechanical weeding with cono weeder facilitates soil churning and incorporation of weeds which adds biomass to the soil.
9. Earthing up action done by mechanical weeder results in formation of new roots above the original soil level and also reduces lodging problems.
10. Reduces the leaching loss of nutrients.
11. Maximum utilization of nutrients due to favourable conditions.
12. Reduces the need for supplying of nutrients through fertilizers.
13. Improves the yield.
14. Reduces the cost of cultivation.
15. More profit.