FOR ORGANIC FARMING SOLUTIONFOR ORGANIC FARMING SOLUTION

Kabelan Kurnia, M.Si.P.T. Prosper Biotech IndonesiaDirector of Research & Development Department

Utilization ofUtilization of

© Copyright 2011, Koperasi Ekonomi Rakyat Nusantara

100% ORGANIC SYSTEM

Benefits: Eliminate the needs of chemical fertilizer Maintain fertility of soil Produce 100% consumer-safe products Better result (25-40%) both in quantity and

quality of products Minimize usage of water and seeds Dramatically lower overall cost of farming

ORGANIC FARMING

Intensively managed agriculture (left) compared with organic farming (right). (Reproduced by permission of The Gale Group.)

SOIL FERTILITY Soil fertility is a measure of the soil's ability to grow crops

and plants. Fertility is affected by a soil's tilth and the amount of nutrients it contains. Tilth refers to the physical structure of soil. Good tilth means that soil is loose and not compacted. It holds a great amount of water without becoming soggy and permits air to penetrate to plant roots and soil organisms. It also allows plant roots to grow and penetrate deeper.

The nutrients in soil are directly related to the soil's concentration of organic matter (living or dead plants and animals). Plants require more than 20 nutrients for proper growth. Some of these nutrients are obtained primarily from the soil, especially inorganic compounds of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. In natural ecosystems, microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) in the soilbreak down organic matter, releasing the inorganicnutrients necessary for plant growth.

SOIL FERTILITY In conventional farming, soil tilth is destroyed by the use of

heavy machinery, which compacts the soil. Very little organic material is added to the soil in conventional farming, decreasing the amount of nutrients that are naturally produced. Instead, inorganic nutrients are added directly to the soil in the form of synthetic fertilizers, which are manufactured from raw materials. These fertilizers are often applied at an excessive rate. As a result, they pass through the soil to contaminate groundwater and flow along the surface of soil to pollute surrounding bodies of water, threatening native species.

In contrast, organic farmers try to increase soil fertility by increasing the organic matter in the soil. They do so by adding the dung and urine of animals (which contains both organic matter and large concentrations of nutrients), by plowing under growing or recently harvested plants (such as alfalfa or clover), or by adding compost or other partially decomposed plants. These methods rely more heavily on renewable sources of energy and materials rather than on nonrenewable materials and fossil fuels.

ORGANIC FARMING SHARE (CONTINENTS)

Source: IFOAM report 2004

Promising Trend in Asia: 6% Share Growth

BIOFERTILIZER: EVAGROW

EvaGROW is a micro-organism consortium formula that promote dramatic increase in organic farming yield, a multi function organic bio-fertilizer contains extract of various natural sources. It is produced through fine-tuned process with latest bio-technology to utilize micro-organism which perform important roles in cultivation.

It is enhanced with nutritions, bio-active compound, growth hormone, and essential minerals.

BIOFERTILIZER: EVAGROW

NutriGow Features & Benefits: Trapping Nitrogen to increase soil fertility Decompose Phosphor to become readily

available for plants Decompose Calium to enrich soil

minerals Produce various enzyme and hormone as

bioactive compounds Accelerate decomposition of organic

matters Increase soil acidity to 6-7 pH Produce better products (sweeter fruits,

enhance aroma, more vivid color on flower, etc.)

Strengthen performance of fungicides and insecticides

Decrease environmental pollution Safe for consumer of farming products

SOLID HIBERNATED ORGANISM TECHNOLOGY

Benefits: Once revived, the micro-bacteria become

more active thus produce better performance Smaller volume and lighter weight, resulting

in dramatically reduced distribution cost Solid state for safer and easier distribution by

air

BIOPESTICIDES

Biopesticides are certain types of pesticides derived from such natural materials as animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals. For example, canola oil and baking soda have pesticidal applications and are considered biopesticides.Biopesticides are usually inherently less toxic than conventional pesticides.Biopesticides generally affect only the target pest and closely related organisms, in contrast to broad spectrum, conventional pesticides that may affect organisms as different as birds, insects, and mammals.Biopesticides often are effective in very small quantities and often decompose quickly, thereby resulting in lower exposures and largely avoiding the pollution problems caused by conventional pesticides.When used as a component of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, biopesticides can greatly decrease the use of conventional pesticides, while crop yields remain high.

RESULT IN VARIOUS PLACES IN WEST JAVA

SRI METHODSSRI (System of Rice Intensification) is a method of cultivation that can save water, seeds and fertilizer. Initially experimented by farmers in Madagascar in 1980s, now this methods  has become popular in many countries.

The core principles of this method are using less seed, less water and no chemical fertilizers and  pesticides .  As rice is the staple food,  adoption of SRI method opens up potential water saving and groundwater management issues.

SRI METHODS“The SRI method is a breakthrough in rice farming by changing the management of plants, soil, water and nutritional elements”

SRI method can save seeds up to one-third, fertilizer up to 50% and needs lower depth of water compared to the conventional farming methods.

SRI method aims to achieve high quality and quantity of rice.

SRI method isprofitable for longterm farming,since it will improvethe soil condition,physically & chemically.

8 BASIC PRINCIPLES IN SRI

Preparing high quality land Developing nutrient-rich and un-flooded

nurseries Using young seedlings for early transplantation Transplanting the seedlings singly Ensuring water spacing between seedlings Preferring compost or farmyard manure to

synthetic fertilizers Managing water carefully so that plants root

zones moisten, but are not too continuously saturated

Weeding frequently

SRI: COST EFFECTIVE IN ANY WAYThe System of Rice Intensification improves yields with less water, less seed, and less chemical inputs than most conventional methods of rice cultivation.

This means that the returns on inputs are higher, making the method potentially more profitable than most of the traditional methods. Initially it does require significantly more labor - mainly for preparing land and weeding. Most SRI farmers have found that as they get to know the methods better and gain confidence in them, their pace of work speeds up, and SRI actually becomes labor-saving.

SRI uses 25-50 percent more labor than conventional rice xultivation methods in the initial stages. Once farmers master the techniques, SRI more often will reduce labor requirements by about 10 percent.

Source: Norman Uphoff, "System of ricxe intensification responds to 21st century needs"; Rice Today, May-Sep 2004

SRI METHODS

The SRI for Super-High Yields of Ricein Sichuan Basinhttp://www.cropscience.org.au/icsc2004/poster/

2/3/319_zhengjg.htmJiaguo Zheng, Xianjun Lu, Xinlu Jiang, and Yonglu Tang

Crop Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, China 610066,

Email: zhjguo@mail.sc.cninfo.net

ABSTRACTThe System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is a new technique for rice culture. The main features of this system are: transplanting of young seedlings singly in a square pattern with wide spacing, using organic fertilizers and hand weeding, and keeping the paddy soil moist during the vegetative growth phase.

Significant phenotypic changes occur in plant structure and function and in yield and yield components under SRI cultivation. The production increases can be notable.

However, there are some constraints to adoption of the presently recommended set of practices, e.g., a small number of plants may not be suitable for the low solar radiation condition.

Experiments over 2 years are reported in which SRI is modified according to the agro-ecological conditions in Sichuan, with variations in the transplanting pattern, plant leaf-age and density, etc. The following modifications were tested: transplanting 3 separated seedlings in one hill in a triangular pattern with the leaf age extended to 3-4; application of herbicide before transplanting; mulching the spaces between plants with straw; adding chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth vigorously when needed; making shallow furrows before transplanting in the zero-till fields, and applying the alternate-wetting-and-drying method for water management with mid-season drainage to inhibit tillering.

With these modifications, grain yield exceeded 12 t/ha, 46% greater than in control using field comparison.

INTRODUCTIONTo assure food security in the rice-consuming countries of the world, those countries will have to produce 50% more rice with improved quality to meet consumers’ demand by 2025. This additional rice will have to be produced on less land with less water, less labor, and fewer chemicals. The task becomes even more difficult when rice quality preferences gradually receive more attention. Crop improvement and management have played an important role in increasing the production of major food crops in the past. There is no doubt that the task of making gains becomes even more difficult when rice yield is already at the high level. The System of Rice Intensification (SRI), developed in Madagascar over a 20-year period and synthesized in the early 1980s (Stoop et al 2002; Uphoff et al 2002), offers opportunities to researchers and farmers to expand their understanding of potentials already existing in the rice genome. Experience with SRI methods suggests that average rice yields can be about double the present world average without requiring a change in cultivar’s or the use of purchased input (Wang et al 2002). Moreover, only about half as much water per season is required for these higher yields. Crop protection requirements are reduced because SRI plants are more resistant to damage by pests and diseases. The SRI methodology for raising rice production makes three main changes in irrigated rice cultivation: transplanting younger seedlings, preferably 8-15 days old before the plants enter their fourth phyllochron of growth, planting the seedlings singly rather than in clumps of 3-6 plants, and keeping the paddy soil moist but not continuously saturated during the plants' vegetative growth phase. To achieve a super high yield, we introduced the SRI to China rice production in 2000. This paper is the review of research progress on SRI in Sichuan ecosystem.

MATERIAL & METHODSFour experiments and a fired demonstration were conducted in Chengdu plain, Sichuan province from 2001 to 2003. The varieties used in experiments and field demonstration were hybrid rice, such as Gangyou22, Ⅱyou7, and Chuan xiangyou2.

Experiment 1 compared the original SRI (15 d seedling, 40×40cm, single seedling) and the local technique (CK, 50 d seedling, 30cm×15cm, 1seedling with 6 tillers).

Experiment 2 was a modified SRI experiment designed according to the agro-ecological conditions of Sichuan.

Experiment 3 involved transplanting rice seedlings (15d) with different densities, i.e., 40cm×40cm, 40cm×45cm, 45cm×45cm, 45cm×50cm, 50cm×50cm, and 55cm×55cm.

Experiment 4 involved transplanting with different planting patterns, i.e., CK (50 d seedling, 30cm×15cm, 1 seedling with 6 tillers), SRI (15 d seedling, 40cm×40cm, single seedling), S+3 = square with 3 seedlings(15 d seedling, 40cm×40cm, 3 seedlings per hill), S+T = square with triangle (15 d seedling, 40cm×40cm, transplanting 3 seedling separated as 7 cm triangle per hill), O+T = oblong with triangle (15 d seedling, 40cm×45cm, transplanting 3 seedlings separated as 7 cm triangle per hill).

Field demonstration was on modified SRI in large scale at different experiment sites.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONPreliminary evaluation of SRI SRI is a promising way to increase rice yield. The average hybrid rice yield with farmers’ practice resulted in grain yield of about 8.5 t/ha in Sichuan. When the SRI methods were first introduced, rice yield was increased by 20%, and with the modified method (oblong and triangle) intended to suite Sichuan conditions, the increase was still higher, at about 55% (Table 1).

Table 1. Yield response to different planting patterns in rice (2002 Guanghan)

Transplanting pattern

Yield(t/ha)

Compared to CK

+ ton/ha + %

CK 8.65

SRI 10.42 1.77 20.4

Oblong and triangle 13.39 4.74 54.8

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONSRI promotes more vigorous growth of the rice plant

With SRI, leaf blades become bigger, especially for the functional leaves (Table 2). The plant height and culm length become longer (data not shown). The stem diameter of the 4th internode (from top) is 0.49 cm for SRI, 12% more than the CK, hence, results into the very strong stem (data not shown). Leaf area index (LAI) is also much higher for SRI than CK (data not shown).

Table 2. Leaf blade size (cm) response to SRI (experiment 1, 2002 Guanghan)

Planting pattern

3rd leaf 2nd leaf Flag leaf AverageLength Width Length Width Length Width Length Widt

h

SRI 64.25

1.57 71.32 1.87 57.67 2.17 64.41 1.87

CK 56.07

1.43 62.03 1.57 48.67 2.01 55.56 1.67

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONSRI gives higher output with fewer purchased input, but requires more manual work.

SRI plants have less insect and disease problems and reduce seed requirements by 50-90%. There is a saving of water, as much as by 50%, with high WUE. However, it requires good and careful land leveling to facilitate good water control and minimal application. Also, more time is needed for weeding (data not shown).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONLimiting factors for adoption1.The number of foundation plants, being less, appears not suitable in an ecosystem with the low solar radiation of Sichuan. Single plants in a square pattern with wide spacing cannot produce sufficient panicles and the consequent yield potential is limited, as farmers want to maximize the number of panicles/m2, not panicles/plant. The triangular and oblong planting method appears to be a valuable adaptation of SRI practice, increasing plant density by 50% while maintaining the good plant exposure to the sun and air.2.It is hard to transplant young seedlings at 2-leaf age in multiple cropping system. Traditionally older-age seedlings (about 7-leaf stage) are transplanted into fields after wheat harvest. If very young rice seedlings are used, the sowing date has to be postponed which leads some unexpected results such as late maturity, less yield, and difficulties in field management.3.Organic fertilizers are often in short supply. Because of the popularity of reduced or zero- tillage livestock population is now decreasing in the rural areas. Hence, farmers now cannot get enough organic fertilizer.4.Management measures such as precise weeding and keeping the soil moist are too complex, requiring more labor with SRI.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONImproved SRI method and its practice in Sichuan1.Using tray nursery to raise seedlings. The seedling nursery is operated under upland conditions, with root system not traumatized during transplanting. With SRI methods, seedlings are removed carefully from the nursery, and are transported to, and placed gently in, the main field within 15-30 minutes. This avoids a long recovering time and the leaf age can be extended to 3-4.2.Transplanting density. The yield is different for the various planting geometries (Fig.1). The best transplanting density is 5-5.5 hills /㎡ .3.Oblong with triangle transplanting pattern. Transplanting of 3 separated seedlings from one hill at triangular pattern produces more panicles/m2 and greater panicle size, giving more 'edge effect' in the main field (Fig.2).

Fig.1 Relation between yield and transplanting

density

Fig.2 Yield differences between transplanting

pattern

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONImproved SRI method and its practice in Sichuan (Continue)

4.Application of herbicide before transplanting, and mulching the spaces between plants with straw after recovery stage. Because of the wide spaces and more fertilizer, there are more weeds with SRI than with conventional cultivation, especially in the zero-tillage field. Combining herbicides and mulching measures, the weeds can now be reduced.5.Adding chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth. The effect of organic fertilizer is slower than chemical fertilizer. Hence chemical fertilizer is used in SRI to promote tillering during productive tillering stage.6.Inhibiting tillering after productive tillering stage. The tillering ability of rice plants is very strong, and the panicle to tiller ratio is often less than 50% in SRI. Hence a mid-season drainage is recommended for SRI field to inhibit excessive tillering (data not shown).7.Making shallow furrows before transplanting in the zero-till fields. This is required as the alternate wetting and drying (AWD) method is a good way for water management and shallow furrows would help maintain AWD. This irrigation method is easy, resulting in the surface soil aerated while some water still remaining in the furrows.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONThe practice of super-high yields with SRI in Sichuan

Leshan City is a typical place where the rice-wheat cropping system is practiced, with well-developed irrigation systems. However, in conjunction with SRI cultivation, early-maturing crops such as mushrooms and vegetables would be much better than wheat. Improved SRI has been applied for 2 years in Leshan city during 2002 and 2003. The grain yield surpassed 12 t/ha in both years, certifying the SRI method by the Provincial Department of Agriculture in 2002 and by national experts in 2003. This is the new record of super-high yield in Sichuan ecosystem, being 46% greater than the yields obtained previously.

CONCLUSIONSSRI, with its origin in Madagascar, is a new technique for rice culture in most areas across the world but the technique used in Madagascar is not suitable for Sichuan province. A modified-SRI according to the Sichuan ecosystem can increase rice yield significantly. The modifications include changes in transplanting density, leaf age, planting pattern, and field management.

REFERENCESStoop W, Uphoff N and Kassam A (2002). A review of agricultural research issues raised by the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) from Madagascar: Opportunities for improving farming systems for resource-poor farmers. Agricultural Systems 71:249-274.

Uphoff N, Fernandes EC, Yuan LP, Peng J, Rafaralahy S and Rabenandrasana J (2002) (Eds.). Assessing the System of Rice Intensification: Proceedings of an International Conference, Sanya, China, April 1-4, 2002. Ithaca, NY: Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development. Available on SRI home page: http://ciifad.cornell.edu/sri/

Wang S, Cao W, Jiang D, Dai T and Zhu Y (2002). Physiological characteristics and high-yield techniques for SRI rice. In Assessments of the System of Rice Intensification: Proceedings of an International Conference, Sanya, China, April 1-4, 2002, 116-124. Ithaca, NY: Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development.

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