The System of Rice Intensification, known as SRI ---- is a climate-smart, agroecological methodology for increasing the productivity of rice and more recently other crops by changing the management of plants, soil, water and nutrients.
SRI methodology is based on four main principles that interact with each other:
Early, quick and healthy plant establishment
Reduced plant density
Improved soil conditions through enrichment with organic matter
Reduced and controlled water application
Recommended SRI Management Practices for Irrigated Conditions
Rice Plants › seedlings are transplanted:
very young › at the 2 leaf-stage, usually between 8 and12 days old*
carefully and quickly › protecting the seedlings’ roots and minimizing the transplanting shock
singly › one plant per hill instead of 3-4 together to avoid root competition
widely spaced › to encourage greater root and canopy growth
in a square grid pattern › 25x25 cm or wider in good quality soil
Soil › The soil is enriched with organic matter to improve soil structure, nutrient and water holding capacity, and favor soil microbial development. Organic matter represents the base fertilization for the crop and is complemented if needed by fertilizer.
Water › Only a minimum of water is applied during the vegetative growth period. A 1-2 cm layer of water is introduced into the paddy, followed by letting the plot dry until cracks become visible, at which time another thin layer of water is introduced. During flowering a thin layer of water is maintained, followed by alternate wetting and drying in the grain filling period, before draining the paddy 2-3 weeks before harvest. This method is called ‘intermittent irrigation’ or ‘Alternative Wetting and Drying’ (AWD). Some farmers irrigated their fields every evening, other leave their fields drying out over 3-8 days, depending on soil and climate conditions.
Nutrients › As soils are improved through organic matter additions, many nutrients become available to the plant from the organic matter. Additionally the soil is also able to hold more nutrients in the rooting zone and release them when the plants need them. Depending on the yield level and on the farming system, some farmers use exclusive organic fertilization for their SRI plots. The majority of farmers complement the organic matter amendment with chemical fertilizers, most often urea, in order to achieve a balanced fertilization of the crop.
Weeds › While avoiding flooded conditions in the rice fields, weeds grow more vigorously, and need ideally be kept under control at an early stage. A rotary hoe - a simple, inexpensive, mechanical push-weeder – is most often used starting at 10 days after transplanting, repeated ideally every 7-10 days until the canopy is closing (up to 4 times). The weeder has multiple functions and benefits. i) It incorporates the weeds into the soil, where they decompose and their nutrients can be recycled, ii) it provides a light superficial tillage and aerates the soil, ii) it stimulates root growth by root pruning, iii) it makes nutrients newly available to the plant by mixing water with organic matter enriched top soil. A re-greening effect of the plants can be observed 1-2 days after weeding, and iv) it redistributes water across the plot, contributing to a continuous leveling of the plot and eliminating water patches in lower laying areas in the field that create anaerobic conditions for the plants. The use of the weeder contributes to homogeneous field conditions, creating a uniform crop stand and leading to increased yields.
Current SRI initiatives in Sabah are located in the North-Western Corridor of Sabah at Kota Belud (Kg. Tambatuon) and Tuaran (Tenghilan) which are carried out by participating villagers with the support of various NGOs and local government agencies. In addressing the Food Security issue exacerbated by Covid-19 Pandemic and Ukraine War, Food for the Hungry International Sabah Malaysia (FHIM) in partneship with PACOS Trust, Kivatu Nature Farm and Caring For the Future Malaysia (CFFM) children's home began in September 2022 to spearhead the conversion of an idle wetland into a SRI Demonstration and Trial Plot along the South-Western Corridor of Sabah at Ulu Kimanis, Papar.
Approximately 0.38 acres
Initial clearing work carried out by excavator at wetland accessible areas to the excavator during 1st week of September
A group of volunteers as young as six year old to senior citizen from Japan and Sabah organized by Caring For the Future Malaysia, CFFM continued the clearing work at inaccessible areas to the excavator from 11-17 September 2022
The Kivatu Nature Farm and PACOS Trust team led by Maria Lasimbang continued the next phase of irrigation making, tilling, plot marking, lining, transplanting from 16-20 September 2022
Day 7 from Transplant of Plot 2 and Plot 1. Seedlings just starting to stand upright
Day 9 from Transplant of Plot 1 and Plot 2. Seedlings starting to be visible
Day 16 from Transplant of Plot 1 and Plot 2. Effects after Day 10 of weeding, spraying Effective Microbes and Fish Amino Acid as well as intermittent irrigation by team Kivatu Nature Farm with the evidence of Tillering phase of the Vegetative stage.
Day 21 from Transplant of Plot 1 and Plot 2 before the second round of weeding, organic and microbiological amendments. More uniform Tillering of the Vegetative stage.
Rotary Hoe and Weeding Tools for maintenance every 10 days up to 4 times after transplanting
On hindsight, field should be flooded to soften the ground for easier weeding
Spraying of effective microbial inoculations, foliar fertilizers and pest repellents
Day 48 from Transplant of Plot 1 and Plot 2. Performance of Plot 1 is better than Plot 2 due to better constant irrigation. Plot 2 also suffers from unevenness during the land preparation resulting dryer areas having lower growth performances.
Day 82 from Transplant of Plot 1 and Plot 2.
Day 82 from Transplant of Plot 1 has begun fruiting uniformly.
Day 82 from Transplant of Plot 2 has only begun in patches at well irrigated areas.
Day 99 from Transplant of Plot 1 has its fruit ripen. Installation of Scarecrow.