Author(s):

R Mahender Kumar, S Gopalakrishnan, PC Latha, K Surekha, Ch Padmavathi, N Soma Shekhar, P Muthuraman, MS Prasad, D Srinivas and P Brajendra

Abstract: The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) developed in Madagascar, a systems approach to increasing rice productivity with less reliance on exogenous inputs, is gaining attention all over the world including India. Indian Institute of Rice Research conducted a multi-year experiment (2008-09 to 2010-11) to compare the effects of different nutrient amendments (organic and/or inorganic) used with either SRI methods or with recommended best management practices (BMP) for growing puddled rice on sandy clay loam soils to study the effects on rice water productivity, soil health and microbes functioning were assessed. With integrated nutrient management combining organic and inorganic nutrient applications(INM) in SRI method yielded higher mean grain yield than BMP in both wet season (15.7%) and dry season (22.8%). The superior performance of SRI was associated with higher microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and with higher levels of dehydrogenase activity an indicator of biological presence and activity in the soil. Respectively and collectively, SRI practices (young seedlings, wide spacing, active soil aeration through inter-cultivation with mechanical weeder, water management that saturates the soil but does not inundate it, and enhancement of soil organic matter) create more aerobic soil conditions under which beneficial microbes and other soil organisms can prosper and improve the soil‘s structure and fertility. Water productivity of SRI method is higher (0.41 to 0.73 kg grain/m³) in kharif (0.65 to 0.97 kg grain/m³) in rabi over best management practice (0.26 to 0.62 kg grain/m³).

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