Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Modified system of rice intensification for higher crop and water productivity in Meghalaya, India: opportunities for improving livelihoods for resource-poor farmers

  • Article
  • Published:
Paddy and Water Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The productivity and water-use efficiency of traditional rice (Oryza sativa)-based cropping systems in northeastern hill region of India is low and needs to be revisited for improving food security and mitigating the impact of climate change. The adoption of modern agricultural technologies is a necessity for upliftment of agricultural productivity and livelihood of the farming households. Therefore, a modified system of rice intensification (MSRI) was demonstrated in participatory mode during 2010–2012 in 16 farmers’ field of Meghalaya, India, to increase cropping intensity, yield, water productivity (WP) and improve livelihood. The 20-day-old seedlings of improved rice variety ‘Shahsarang-1’ were transplanted at 20 cm × 20 cm spacing with two seedlings hill−1 under MSRI as against 30-days-old seedlings transplanted randomly using 4–5 seedlings hill−1 under farmers’ practice (FP). The average rice productivity under MSRI was enhanced by 39% than that under FP. The employment and net returns were enhanced by 15 and 61% over FP, respectively. Adoption of MSRI also increased water-use efficiency by 12% and WP by 59% compared to FP. The rice crop under MSRI matured 15 days earlier than that under FP. Thus, adoption of MSRI facilitated growing of vegetable pea (Pisum sativum) with average productivity of 4.2 t ha−1 after rice which doubled the cropping intensity and increased farmers’ income. In addition, the available nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and organic carbon content of soils under rice (MSRI)-pea cropping system were also increased by 7.5, 5.2, 3.4 and 4.3% over antecedent level after 2 years. Hence, MSRI is recommended for enhancing rice productivity, sustaining soil fertility and income of hill farmers in studied ecosystem.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anthofer J (2004) The potential of the system of rice intensification (SRI) for poverty reduction in Cambodia. Paper presented in conference on international agricultural research for development, Deutscher Tropentag, Berlin, 5–7 Oct

  • Balasubramanian P, Palaniappan SP (2007) Principles of Agronomy. Agrobios India, Jodhpur, pp 268–270

    Google Scholar 

  • Barison J (2002) Nutrient-use efficiency and nutrient uptake in conventional and intensive (SRI) rice cultivation systems in Madagascar. Master’s thesis, Crop and Soil Sciences Department, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

  • Barison J, Uphoff N (2011) Rice yield and its relation to root growth and nutrient-use efficiency under SRI and conventional cultivation: an evaluation in Madagascar. Paddy Water Environ 9(1):65–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ceesay MC, Reid WS, Fernandes ECM, Uphoff N (2006) The effects of repeated soil wetting and drying on lowland rice yield with system of rice intensification (SRI) methods. Int J Agric Sustain 4(1):5–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Chauhan BS, Mahajan G, Sardana V, Timsina J, Jat ML (2012) Productivity and sustainability of the rice-wheat cropping system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains of the Indian subcontinent: problems, opportunities, and strategies. Adv Agron 117(1):315–369

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Das A, Patel DP, Ramkrushna GI, Munda GC, Ngachan SV, Choudhury, BU, Mohapatra KP, Rajkhowa DJ, Kumar R, Panwar AS (2012) Improved rice production technology—for resource conservation and climate resilience (Farmers’ Guide). Ext Bull No. 78. ICAR Research Complex for NEH region, Umiam, Meghalaya, p 29

  • Choudhury SG, Srivastava S, Singh R, Chaudhari SK, Sharma DK, Singh SK, Sarkar D (2014) Tillage and residue management effects on soil aggregation, organic carbon dynamics and yield attribute in rice–wheat cropping system under reclaimed sodic soil. Soil Tillage Res 136:76–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Das A, Tomar JMS, Ramesh T, Munda GC, Ghosh PK, Patel DP (2010) Productivity and economics of low land rice as influenced by N-fixing tree leaves under mid-altitude subtropical Meghalaya. Nutr Cycl Agro-ecosyst 87:9–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Das A, Patel DP, Munda GC, Ramkrushna GI, Kumar Manoj, Ngachan SV (2014) Improving productivity, water and energy use efficiency in lowland rice (Oryza sativa) through appropriate establishment methods and nutrient management practices in the mid-altitude of north-east India. Expl Agric 50(3):353–375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dass A, Chandra S, Choudhary AK, Singh G, Sudhishri S (2016) Influence of field re-ponding pattern and plant spacing on rice root–shoot characteristics, yield, and water productivity of two modern cultivars under SRI management in Indian Mollisols. Paddy Water Environ 14(1):45–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dewangan KN, Owary C, Datta RK (2010) Anthropometry of male agricultural workers of north-eastern India and its use in design of agricultural tools and equipment. Int J Ind Ergonom 40(5):560–573

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh PK, Das A, Saha R, Kharkarang E, Tripathi AK, Munda GC, Ngachan SV (2010) Conservation agriculture towards achieving food security in North East India. Curr Sci 99(7):915–921

    Google Scholar 

  • Hashim MAA, Siam N, Al-Dosari A, Asl-Gaadi KA, Patil VC, Tola EHM, Rangaswamy M, Samdani MS (2012) Determination of water requirement and crop water productivity of crops grown in the Makkah Region of Saudi Arabia. Aust J Basic Appl Sci 6(9):196–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Islam M, Nath LK, Patel DP, Das A, Munda GC, Samajdar T, Ngachan SV (2014) Productivity and socio-economic impact of system of rice intensification and integrated crop management over conventional methods of rice establishment in eastern Himalayas, India. Paddy Water Environ 12(1):193–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ismail AM, Singh US, Singh S, Dar MH, Mackill DJ (2013) The contribution of submergence-tolerant (Sub1) rice varieties to food security in flood-prone rainfed lowland areas in Asia. Field Crop Res 152:83–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jagannath P, Pullabhotla H, Uphoff N (2013) Meta-analysis evaluating water use: water saving and water productivity in irrigated production of rice with SRI vs. standard management methods. Taiwan Water Conserv 61:14–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Jayadeva HM, Prabhakara Shetty TK, Sanjay MT (2009) Effect of crop establishment techniques and sources of nutrients on productivity, energetics and economics of rice. Mysore J Agric Sci 43(1):45–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Knudsen D, Peterson GA, Pratt PF (1982) Lithium, sodium, and potassium. In: Page AL, Miller RH, Keeney DR (eds) Methods of soil analysis, Part 2: chemical and microbiological properties. American Society of Agronomy, Wisconsin

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar SN, Aggarwal PK, Rani S, Jain S, Saxena R, Chauhan N (2011) Impact of climate change on crop productivity in Western Chats, coastal and northeastern regions of India. Curr Sci (Bangalore) 101(3):332–341

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuo S (1996) Phosphorus. In: Sparks DL et al (eds) Methods of soil analysis: part 3-chemical methods. SSSA book series no. 5. Soil Science Society of America, Inc., Madison, pp 869–919

    Google Scholar 

  • Lal R (2006) Enhancing crop yields in developing countries through restoration of soil organic carbon pool in agricultural lands. Land Degrad Dev 17:197–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Latif MA, Islam MR, Ali MY, Saleque MA (2005) Validation of the system of rice intensification (SRI) in Bangladesh. Field Crop Res 93(2):281–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McHugh O (2002) Farmers alternate wet/dry, non-flooded, and continuously flooded irrigation practices in traditional and intensive systems of rice cultivation in Madagascar. M.Sc. Thesis. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

  • Meena VK, Edison SJ, Subramani S (2015) Frontline demonstration an effective way of popularization of system of rice intensification (SRI). Agric Sci Dig 35(3):215–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishra A, Salokhe VM (2011) Rice root growth and physiological responses to SRI water management and implications for crop productivity. Paddy Water Environ 9(1):41–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishra A, Whitten M, Ketelaar JW, Salokhe VM (2006) The system of rice intensification (SRI): a challenge for science, and an opportunity for farmer empowerment towards sustainable agriculture. Int J Agric Sustain 4(3):193–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Mishra A, Kumar P, Noble A (2012) Assessing the potential of SRI management principles and the FFS approach in Northeast Thailand for sustainable rice intensification in the context of climate change. Int J Agric Sustain. doi:10.1080/14735903.2012.658648

    Google Scholar 

  • Moser CM, Barrett CB (2003) The disappointing adoption dynamics of a yield-increasing, low external-input technology: the case of SRI in Madagascar. Agric Syst 76(3):1085–1100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naresh RK, Tomar SS, Kumar D, Singh S, Dwivedi A, Kumar V (2014) Experiences with rice grown on permanent raised beds: effect of crop establishment techniques on water use, productivity, profitability and soil physical properties. Rice Sci 21(3):170–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson DW, Sommers LE (2005) Total carbon, organic carbon and organic matter. In: Spark DL (ed) Analysis of soil and plants chemical methods. SSSA book series: 5. Soil Science Society of America Inc., American Society of Agronomy Inc., Wisconsin

    Google Scholar 

  • Noltze M, Schwarze S, Qaim M (2012) Understanding the adoption of system technologies in smallholder agriculture: the system of rice intensification (SRI) in Timor Leste. Agric Syst 108:64–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patel DP, Das A, Munda GC, Ghosh PK, Ngachan SV, Kumar R, Saha R (2008) SRI and ICM rice culture for water economy and higher productivity. Res Bull No: 68. ICAR research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, pp 1–28

  • Patel DP, Das A, Munda GC, Ghosh PK, Bordoloi JS, Kumar M (2010) Evaluation of yield and physiological attributes of high-yielding rice varieties under aerobic and flood-irrigated management practices in mid-hills ecosystem. Agric Water Manag 97(9):269–1276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pathak M, Shakywar RC, Sah D (2013) Biodiversity of insect pests, natural enemies and diseases in SRI and traditional system of rice cultivation in North Eastern region of India. ORYZA Int J Rice 50(4):370–374

    Google Scholar 

  • Rajendran R, Ravi V, Valliappan K, Nadanasabapathy T, Jayaraj T, Ramanathan S, Balasubramanian V (2005) Early production of robust seedlings through modified mat nursery for enhancing rice (Oryza sativa) productivity and profit. Indian J Agron 50(2):132–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao KS, Poonam A, Ghosh A, Mohapatra PC, Pandey MP (2007) Present status of SRI research at CRRI, Cuttack, India. In: 2nd national symposium on SRI in India: progress and prospects, papers and extended summaries, Agartala, Tripura, pp 35–37, 3–5 Oct 2007

  • Rudrappa L, Purakayestha TJ, Singh D, Bhadraray S (2006) Long-term manuring and fertilization effects on soil organic carbon pools in a Typic Haplustept of semi-arid sub-tropical India. Soil Tillage Res 88:180–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saha R, Ghosh PK (2010) Effect of land configuration on water economy, crop yield and profitability under rice (Oryza sativa)-based cropping system in north-east India. Indian J Agric Sci 80(1):16–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanjay MT, Prabhakara Setty TK, Nanjappa HV (2006) Productivity, energetics and economics of different systems of crop establishment in rice. Crop Res 31(3):350–353

    Google Scholar 

  • Satyanarayana A, Thiyagarajan TT, Uphoff N (2007) Opportunities for water saving with higher yield from the system of rice intensification. Irrig Sci 25:99–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shekhar J, Mamkotia BS, Dev SP (2009) Productivity and economics of rice (Oryza sativa) in system of rice intensification in north-western Himalayas. Indian J Agron 54(4):423–427

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh SP, Kumar RM, Sreedevi B, Krishnamurthy P, Subbaiah SV (2007) System of rice intensification and integrated crop management for sustaining rice production under irrigated ecosystem. In: Second national symposium on SRI, Agartala, Tripura, India, pp 55–56, 3–5 Oct 2007

  • Singh B, Shan YH, Beebout SEJ, Singh Y, Buresh RJ (2008) Crop residue management for lowland rice-based cropping systems in Asia. Adv Agron 98:117–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh YV, Singh KK, Sharma SK (2013) Influence of crop nutrition on grain yield, seed quality and water productivity under two rice cultivation systems. Rice Sci 20(2):129–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sinha SK, Talati J (2007) Productivity impacts of the system of rice intensification (SRI): a case study in West Bengal, India. Agric Water Manag 87(1):55–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sridevi V, Chellamuthu V (2007) Effect of system of rice intensification (SRI) practices on the yield and yield attributes of rice (Oryza sativa). In: Second national symposium on SRI, Agartala, Tripura, India, pp 74–75, 3–5 Oct 2007

  • Stanford G, Smith SJ (1978) Oxidative release of potentially mineralizable soil nitrogen by acid permanganate extraction. Soil Sci 126:210–218

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suryavanshi P, Singh YV, Prasanna R, Bhatia A, Shivay YS (2013) Pattern of methane emission and water productivity under different methods of rice crop establishment. Paddy Water Environ 11(1–4):321–329

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swaminathan MS, Kesavan PC (2012) Agricultural research in an era of climate change. Agric Res 1(1):3–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taha M, Gulati JML (2001) Influence of irrigation on yield and moisture utilization of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Indian J Agron 46(3):523–527

    Google Scholar 

  • Tao Y, Zhang Y, Jin X, Saiz G, Jing R, Guo L, Liu M, Shi J, Zuo Q, Tao H, Butterbach-Bahl K (2015) More rice with less water–evaluation of yield and resource use efficiency in ground cover rice production system with transplanting. Eur J Agron 68:13–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thakur AK, Uphoff N, Antony E (2010) An assessment of physiological effects of system of rice intensification (SRI) practices compared with recommended rice cultivation practices in India. Exp Agric 46(01):77–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thakur AK, Rath S, Patil DU, Kumar A (2011) Effects on rice plant morphology and physiology of water and associated management practices of the system of rice intensification and their implications for crop performance. Paddy Water Environ 9(1):13–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thakur AK, Kassam A, Stoop WA, Uphoff N (2016) Modifying rice crop management to ease water constraints with increased productivity, environmental benefits, and climate-resilience. Agric Ecosyst Environ 235:101–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thiyagarajan TM, Gujja B (2009) Single seedling planting and gaja planting: century old practices in Tamil Nadu, India and similarity to the principles of SRI. SRI Newsletter 6: 2-27. ICRISAT-WWF Project, ICRISAT, Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh

  • Thomas GW (1996) Soil pH and soil acidity. In: Sparks DL et al (eds) Methods of soil analysis: part 3-chemical methods. SSSA book series no. 5. Soil Science Society of America Inc., Wisconsin, pp 475–490

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner BL (2006) Organic phosphorus in Madagascan rice soils. Geoderma 136(1):279–288

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uphoff N (2002) Questions and answers about the system of rice intensification (SRI) for raising the productivity of land, labour and water. Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

  • Uphoff N (2003) SRI gives higher yields with fewer external input? the system of rice intensification and potential contributions to agricultural sustainability. Ind J Agric Sustain 1(1):38–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uphoff N, Anas I, Rupela OP, Thakur AK, Thiyagarajan TM (2009) Learning about positive plant microbial interactions from the system of rice intensification (SRI). Asp Appl Biol 98:29–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Uphoff N, Kassam A, Harwood R (2011) SRI as a methodology for raising crop and water productivity: productive adaptations in rice agronomy and irrigation water management. Paddy Water Environ 9(1):3–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uphoff N, Kassam A, Thakur A, Jagannath P, Pullabhotla H, Jiaguo Z, Zhongzhi C, Xuyi L, Xinlu J, Ndiiri JA, Mati BM (2013) Challenges of increasing water saving and water productivity in the rice sector: introduction to the system of rice intensification (SRI) and this issue. Taiwan Water Conserv 61(4):1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Vance CP (1998) Legume symbiotic nitrogen fixation: agronomic aspects. In: Spaink HP et al (eds) The Rhizobiaceae. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp 509–530

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Venterink HO, Davidsson TE, Kiehl K, Leonardson L (2002) Impact of drying and re-wetting on N, P and K dynamics in a wetland soil. Plant Soil 243(1):119–130

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vision (2050) ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, India, p 22

  • Xu Y, Ge J, Tian S, Li S, Nguy-Robertson AL, Zhan M, Cao C (2015) Effects of water-saving irrigation practices and drought resistant rice variety on greenhouse gas emissions from a no-till paddy in the central lowlands of China. Sci Total Environ 505:1043–1052

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao L, Wu L, Li Y, Lu X, Zhu D, Uphoff N (2009) Influence of the system of rice intensification on rice yield and nitrogen and water use efficiency with different N application rates. Exp Agric 45:275–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao L, Wu L, Li Y, Animesh S, Zhu D, Uphoff N (2010) Comparisons of yield, water use efficiency, and soil microbial biomass as affected by the system of rice intensification. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 41(1):1–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author sincerely acknowledges the Ministry of Water Resources, Govt. of India for providing financial support for the scheme Farmers’ Participatory Action Research Programme (FPARP) Phase-II to undertake the study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Crop Production Division, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, India

    Anup Das, Jayanta Layek, R. Krishnappa & Juri Buragohain

  2. Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur, India

    G. I. Ramkrushna

  3. National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Baramati, Maharashtra, India

    D. P. Patel

  4. Natural Resource Management Division, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, India

    B. U. Choudhury

  5. ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Tripura Centre, Lembuchera, West Tripura, India

    Gulab Singh Yadav

  6. Carbon Management and Sequestration Centre (C-MASC), Ohio State University, 422C Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Jayanta Layek

Authors
  1. Anup Das
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jayanta Layek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. I. Ramkrushna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. D. P. Patel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. B. U. Choudhury
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. R. Krishnappa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Juri Buragohain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Gulab Singh Yadav
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jayanta Layek.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Das, A., Layek, J., Ramkrushna, G.I. et al. Modified system of rice intensification for higher crop and water productivity in Meghalaya, India: opportunities for improving livelihoods for resource-poor farmers. Paddy Water Environ 16, 23–34 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-017-0609-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-017-0609-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation