Study and Utilization of the SRI Technology for Super High Yield in Sichuan

Co-partner units ：Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences

General Station of Sichuan Agricultural Technology Extension

Sichuan Kenong Seed Industry Co., Ltd.

Ma Jun Sichuan Agricultural University

Report Outline

1. Technology Background

2. New Technology of SRI

3. Technology Research for Transplanting

with Medium and Old Seedlings

4. Technology Advancement

5. Technology Utilization and Extension

1. Technology Background

Rice production in Sichuan Planting area: 2,000,000ha Grain yield: about 7.6 t/ha Total rice production: 15.2 mt(47%) Varieties: medium-late maturing hybrid rice

Cropping system Wheat-rice Rape-rice Vegetables-rice Fallow-rice

1. Technology Background

Rice cropping distribution

Plains—25% Low hills—25%

Hills—45% Mountains—5%

1. Technology Background

 Problems to utilize original SRI directly in Sichuan

Transplanting with young seedlings is difficult

→ Cropping systems set certain transplanting dates for rice

→ Long growth period of varieties

→ Low temperature in early spring

Application of organic manure

Water management

Weeding paddy fields

Low percentage of effective tillers

Use the concepts and ideas of SRI

Making adaptations based on concrete ecological

conditions, farming systems, variety characteristics,

and production conditions in Sichuan

Study and set up the new applications of SRI principles

1. Technology Background

2. New Technology of SRI for Super High Yield

Varietal selection

Obvious differences in yield among different varieties under SRI. Many

years of trials and demonstration results have showed for super high

yields with SRI, we should choose high-quality hybrid rice varieties

having large panicles, strong tillering ability, and lodging resistance.

This promotes earlier and faster tillering and also improves the percentage of effective tillers.

Upland nurseries for raising seedlings or raising seedlings

on plastic film

Zero-till or plowing for paddy field

Transplanting seedling age:

2.5-3 leaves for fields fallow in winter

4-6 leaves for double-cropped fields

Transplanting early with young seedling

Grain yield and its components under different seedling-ages and planting densities

Seedling ages

Plant density*104 plant/ha

Effective panicles*104 /ha

Spikelets/ panicle

Filled grains/ panicle

Seed setting rate ( % )

1000-grain wt. /g

Yield (t/ha)

2 -leaf 4.5 156.68 155.4 134.4 86.49 30.59 7.11

9.0 192.15 137.4 120.2 87.48 32.26 7.78

13.5 238.95 129.3 115.0 88.94 32.18 8.33

Average 195.93 140.7 123.2 87.64 31.68 7.74

3-leaf 4.5 153.0 148.4 126.4 85.18 30.35 6.96

9.0 195.15 136.3 118.1 86.65 31.45 8.43

13.5 225.23 127.1 110.1 86.62 32.0 8.07

Average 191.13 137.27 118.2 86.15 31.27 7.82

4-leaf 4.5 147.68 161.0 143.1 88.88 30.74 7.06

9.0 192.15 139.4 119.4 85.65 31.92 7.88

13.5 225.0 125.2 109.2 87.22 32.15 8.11

Average 188.28 141.87 123.9 87.25 31.60 7.68

5-leaf 4.5 153.75 151.2 134.3 88.82 30.60 7.15

9.0 192.0 137.4 121.1 88.14 31.98 7.92

13.5 220.5 135.0 116.4 86.22 31.94 8.18

Average 188.75 141.2 123.9 87.73 31.51 7.75

Variety ： Xieyou 527

Sparse planting

Transplanting patterns ： triangle planting (3 plants/hill),

square or wide-narrow row planting

Planting density ： 25-30cm×25-30cm (7,500~10,000 hill/667m2) for low-fertility

paddy fields or low fertilizer supply

30cm×30cm or so (7,500 hill/667m2) for middle-fertility paddy

fields or middle fertilizer supply

35-50cm×35-50cm (3,000~5,500 hill/667m2) for high-fertility

paddy fields or high fertilizer supply

This promotes more tiller emergence and more growth of individual plants

Comparison of grain yield and its components under different cultivation practices

Cultiva-

tion

methods

No. of

effective

panicles

(104 /ha)

No. of

spikelets

/panicle

No. of total

spikelets

(106/ha)

Seed setting

rate

(%)

1000-grain wt. (g)

Grain

yield

(t/ha)

Increase

(%)

T-SRI 337.5 185.3 703.47 88.9 25.9 15.075 37.67

SRI 279.0 181.0 577.13 87.5 26.0 12.945 18.22

Standard

cultivation

(CK)

268.5 177.3 531.90 89.5 26.1 10.950 —

T-SRI: Triangular system

30-40cm

30-40cm

10-12cm

Transplanting machine— for making holes in zero-till field

和

Transplanting young seedlings with 3-4 leaves

Transplanting young seedlings with 3-4 leaves

With “wet-dry-shallow-interval” irrigation technology, transplanting into soil

with no layer of standing water and then maintaining shallow water ensures

that the seedling will turn green and survive.

At early tillering stage — soil-aerating irrigation promotes tillering

At late tillering stage -- paddy field is dried (total tiller number=

150-180 × 103/667m2).

At middle growth stage, from spike differentiation to heading, shallow

irrigation (2 cm or so) promotes larger panicle formation

At late growth stage during grain-filling stage, wetting-drying alternation

irrigation maintains root vigor, prevents leaves’ senescence, and

promotes grain-filling.

Water management for stronger root systems

Purpose is to set up a stronger root system

Comparison of grain yield and its components under different water management

Varieties Treatment No. of effective

panicles/plant

Spikelets/panicle

Seed settingrate(%)

1000-grainweight

(g)

Grain yield(g/plant)

Water use efficiency

(kg/m3)

Gangyou527

A 10.6A 152.8 82.2 29.9 42.6 2.15

B 11.0A 167.4 82.5 30.0 46.7 2.17

C 7.2B 117.7 67.2 26.2 15.8 1.23

D 10.1A 164.3 82.0 29.0 41.2 1.34

Dyou363

A 10.8A 139.7 77.3 26.2 38.9 1.96

B 11.2A 154.7 82.0 26.5 42.8 1.99

C 8.9B 107.5 65.3 23.1 15.4 1.20

D 10.3A 146.2 77.0 26.1 37.8 1.23

Shanyou63

A 10.6A 111.2 71.4 26.1 34.2 1.73

B 10.9A 147.6 74.7 26.3 37.4 1.74

C 8.6B 85.1 58.6 21.9 10.4 0.81

D 10.2A 140.6 71.2 26.0 31.8 1.03

Note ： A = damp irrigation (no-water layer, soil water potential (ψsoil : -0.017±0.003MPa).B = wet, dry, shallow, interval irrigation. C = dry cultivation (ψsoil: -0.065±0.005MPa).

D = submerged irrigation (CK; maintain water depth of 1-3 cm, ψsoil: 0MPa)

Control of tiller emergence

Field was dried until total tiller number was 150-180×103/667m2)

at late tillering stage.

This way, over 75% of total tillers became effective.

Aim is to control ineffective

tiller emergence and promote

effective tiller growth, in order

to promote stronger stems and

larger panicles

Sufficient fertilizer for higher yield

Organic fertilizer: 30% or so

Fertilizer rate: supply N 150-210Kg/ha, N:P:K= 2 : 1 : 1-2

Fertilization patterns

Decrease fertilizer rate at early growth stage and increase

fertilizer rate at late growth stage.

The rate of base, tillering and panicle fertilizer application is

50%,30% and 20%,respectively.

Meet the nutrient requirements for super high yield

Comparison of yield and its components under different kinds of fertilizer

TreatmentsNo. of

effective panicles×104/ha

Spikelets/panicle

No. offilled

grains/panicle

Seed setting rate %

1000-grainweight

(g)

Grain yieldt/ha

Yieldincrease±

%

Blank (CK) 117.82 228.23 178.27 78.12 22.44 5.00c -

Organic fertilizer

171.44 212.19 161.20 76.00 23.08 7.41b +48.2

Chemical fertilizer

170.34 242.80 192.70 79.37 22.72 7.66b +53.2

1/2 organic +1/2 chemicalfertilizer

168.41 246.31 196.12 79.62 22.81 7.59b +51.8

Organic compound fertilizer

166.21 249.85 195.10 78.09 23.30 7.69b +53.8

Organic + chemi cal + microbial activity fertilizer

182.46 260.99 199.00 76.25 22.39 8.81a +76.2

Variety ： 2480/881

Weeding

Chemical weeding

Manual weeding (1-2 times)

SRI and rice quality

Treatments Length/widthPercentage of

chalky kernel

(%)

Chalkiness

(%)

Brown rice

(%)

Milled rice

(%)

Head milled

rice

(%)

A 2.89a 32.47c 4.04c 83.70a 73.22b 50.17c

B 2.81a 30.05d 3.17d 83.71a 74.00a 53.26b

C 2.79a 23.62e 1.02e 84.48a 72.87b 61.2a

D 2.77a 41.07a 7.17a 82.32b 68.38d 47.99d

E 2.77a 39.89b 6.74b 83.66a 69.98c 46.65e

Variety ： Xieyou 527

A , B, C = SRI with planting densities (103 plants/ha), respectively, of 45, 90, 135

D, E = Conventional cultivation with planting densities (103 plants/ha), respectively, of

90 and 180

3. Technology Research for Transplanting with Medium and Older Seedlings

Background Wheat (rape) -rice rotation cropping patterns

Medium and late-maturing hybrid rice varieties

Longer seedling age

Wider SRI application range

Technology of seedling-raising

Goal is to raise medium and older seedlings with 5-7 leaves

Upland seedbed for raising seedlings

Thin sowing (10-20g/m2)

Topdressing 2-3 times on nursery bed

Effects of different sowing densities and transplanting seedling age on rice yield

5000. 00

5400. 00

5800. 00

6200. 00

6600. 00

7000. 00

7400. 00

7800. 00

8200. 00

8600. 00

9000. 00

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7

A1

A2

A3

A1, A2, A3: sowing densities, respectively, of 10, 15, 20g/m2 on nursery bed

B1-B7: seedling age at transplanting 40, 46, 52, 58, 64, 70, 76d, respectively

Field planting density

Triangle planting within hills (7-10 cm)

Spacing of hills 30-40cm×30-40cm

Treatments

Effective panicles

Spikelets

/panicle

1000-grain

weightSeed setting Yield

(×104/hm2) (Sp./Pa.) (g) (%) (kg/hm2)

A1 B1 207Aa 175Bc 28.2ABCbc 77.8Bd 10,168Bb

B2 177Cc 212ABa 30.4ABab 85.0ABabc 11,889Aa

B3 155Dd 220ABa 29.9Aa 85.6Aab 9,606BCb

A2 B1 197Bb 182ABbc 28.5BCc 80.5ABbcd 9,920BCb

B2 156Dd 205ABabc 29.4ABCabc 86.8ABabc 9,935BCb

B3 133Ee 216Aa 28.5ABCabc 88.6Aab 8,464Dd

A3 B1 176Cc 181Bc 27.4Cc 82.4ABcd 9,151Dd

B2 133Ee 214ABab 28.4ABCbc 88.0ABabc 9,448CDc

B3 113Ff 206ABab 29.1ABCbc 86.6Aa 6,927Ee

CK 159Dd 156Dd 26.5CDc 66.5Ce 7,347Ef

A1, A2, A3= transplanting seedlings with 2, 5, 8 leaves, respectively.B1, B2, B3= triangular SRI with spacing of 30×30 cm, 40×40 cm, 50×50 cm, respectively.CK = Conventional cultivation , transplant seedlings with 8 leaves, spacing16.7×33.3 cm

Grain yield and its components under different seedling ages and spacing

Triangular SRI field in Yuechi, Sichuan

Nitrogen application

Nitrogen fertilizer application ratio of basic+tiller : panicle

fertilizer was 5:5

Application of panicle fertilizer: no difference among 5th and

3rd, 4th and 2nd, 3rd and 1st leaves from top.

Ratio of panicle fertilizer could be increased by 50% of

total N application under triangular SRI with medium and

older seedlings.

Grain yield under different nitrogen application rates （ kg/667m2 ）

Treat-ment A B C D Average CK1 CK2

1 727.98 685.34 695.27 695.20 700.95 460.62 447.83

2 706.02 728.24 680.02 680.50 698.70

3 703.77 670.28 711.97 681.13 691.79

Ave. 712.59 694.62 695.75 685.61

A, B, C, D = ratio of basic+tiller fertilizer : panicle fertilizer was,

respectively, 5 ： 5, 6 ： 4, 7 ： 3, or 8 ： 2

1, 2, 3 = date of panicle fertilizer application was, respectively, the

emergence of 5th and 3rd; 4th and 2nd; or 3rd and 1st leaf from top

CK1 = P and K but no N but P. CK2 = no N, P, K.

4. Technical Advancement

Set up the new SRI technology and widen its range

of practice.

Promote ‘triangular’ SRI transplanting method

Achieve practical utilization of SRI technology at

large scale within Sichuan province

Grain yield: increased by 20%, the highest yield was 650-853 kg/667m2

Net profit: increased by ￥ 70-200/667m2

New yield records set in most of the demonstration counties, with yields of > 700 kg/667m2.

Set up local technology standard for Sichuan province including use of super high-yielding variety, DB51-T 913 2009.

This has become a major technological innovation to increase rice yields in Sichuan province.

It has been designated a key technology for rice production in Sichuan province in 2009 and 2010.

5. Technology Utilization and Extension

Dr. Norman visited SRI field in Meishan in 2007

Demonstrations of SRI technology for super high yield in 2008

Demon-stration

counties Variety

Demon-stration area

(×667m2)

Measured area

(×667m2)

Measured yield

(kg/667m2)

DongpoGangyou188

52 1.45789.9

(11.85)*

Guanghan Chuanxiang9838

15 1.115853.5

(12.8)*

Zhongjiang(hilly area)

Eryouhang 1 65 1.2721.2

(10.82)*

*(Tons/ha)

Extension area and yield of new SRI technology in Sichuan province, 2004-2009

YearArea

（ ha）

Average provincial

yield(t/ha）

Average yield with new SRI technology

Yield (t/ha)

SRI increase (t/ha) over

average provincial yield

SRI increase (%) over average

provincial yield

2004 1,133 7.74 9.11 1.37 17.6

2005 7,267 7.65 9.44 1.79 23.3

2006 5,740 7.01 8.81 1.80 25.7

2007117,26

7 7.49 9.01 1.59 21.2

2008204,00

0 7.58 9.41 1.83 24.2

2009250,33

3 7.62 9.11 1.49 19.5