Evaluation of the System of Rice Intensification in Bhutan

1
Evaluation of the System of Rice
Intensification in Bhutan
2nd National SRI Symposium, 2007

• Karma Lhendup
• Faculty of Agriculture
• College of Natural Resources
• Royal University of Bhutan
• Thimphu

2
Brief background on paddy cultivation in Bhutan
3
Rice is cultivated in a wide range of elevations
from 150 m - 2600 masl
Over 50,000 acres -- about 20,235 hectares -- are
under rice cultivation in Bhutan (MoA, 2004)
4
Average rice productivity is about 2.88 ton/ha
5
SRI in Bhutan

• No documentation of any SRI activities in
  Bhutan prior to 2006

6
In 2006, SRI evaluation trials were carried
out at three locations in Eastern Bhutan.
7
Objective

• To assess the respective responses to SRI
  practices of different rice varieties (cultivars)
  popularly grown in Bhutan.
• To disseminate and promote SRI technique to
  community and agriculture extension
  workers.
• To seek greater knowledge about SRI
  under Bhutanese conditions

8
Methodology Location of study sites
Kanglung Geog

• Kanglung is one of the
• 16 Geogs (blocks) of
• Trashigang district

9
Site I
Site II
Site III
Site Characteristics Site Characteristics Site Characteristics Site Characteristics Site Characteristics
Site Altitude (masl) Texture Variety planted pH (H2O)
I (Khangma) 2000 Loam Khangma maap 4.4
II (Thragom) 1850 Loamy to sandy clay Paropa 4.47
III (Pangthang) 1600 Sandy loam to sandy clay loam Verna 5.99
10
Experimental Design

• RCBD with 3 replications and 5 treatments

Treatments were 20 x 20 cm spacing, 3-leaf stage
seedling age 20 x 20 cm spacing, 4-leaf stage
seedling age 30 x 30 cm spacing, 3-leaf stage
seedling age 30 x 30 cm spacing, 4-leaf stage
seedling age Control (farmers practice), gt 7
leaf stage Plot size was 5 x 4 m2, with a total
of 15 plots at each site
11
Application

• Granular pre-emergence herbicide Butachlor was
  applied _at_ 40 grams per 10 m2 containing
  5 Butachlor.
• Urea was applied at the rate of 173.8 gm
  per plot, equivalent to 40 kg/ha, at
  55 days after transplantation due to yellowing of
  the tips of leaves.

12
Note

• The full set of SRIs recommended practices was
  not assessed only
• (a) Seedling age (younger vs. older)
• (b) Wider spacing -- plant density per
  hill and per square meter (m2), and
• (c) Water control reduced amounts

13

• (d) Weeding (active soil aeration) through
  the use of a rotary weeder was not done
  a hand hoe was used to loosen the soil.
• (e) Additional organic fertilization was
  not applied, although cattle were tethered
  in the fields for about 2-3 weeks prior to
  ploughing the field.
• The results reported here are thus for
  partial application of SRI methodology.

14
Results and Discussion

• 3-leaf stage seedlings spaced at 30 x 30 cm
  gave the best results for all
  measurements
• Yield-contributing parameters were higher
  in SRI plots than with conventional
  methods

15
Results and Discussion

• In all three sites, SRI plots on average
  showed better yield performance as compared
  to conventional method.

Yield at three different sites calculated at 14 moisture content Yield at three different sites calculated at 14 moisture content Yield at three different sites calculated at 14 moisture content Yield at three different sites calculated at 14 moisture content Yield at three different sites calculated at 14 moisture content
Sl.No Parameters Site I Site II Site III
1 Rice variety Khangma maap Paropa Verna
2 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Yield (kg/plot/Mt/ha) 20x20 3-leaf stage 20x20 4-leaf stage 30x30 3-leaf stage 30x30 4-leaf stage Control (3.90) 5.7 (3.47) 5.2 (4.03) 6.0 (3.53) 5.3 (3.50) 5.2 (2.63) 3.9 (2.57) 3.8 (2.83) 4.2 (2.53) 3.8 (2.45) 3.6 (2.57) 3.8 (2.20) 3.3 (2.83) 4.2 (2.43) 3.6 (2.45) 3.6
16
Analysis of variance (RCB) for grain yield data Analysis of variance (RCB) for grain yield data Analysis of variance (RCB) for grain yield data Analysis of variance (RCB) for grain yield data Analysis of variance (RCB) for grain yield data Analysis of variance (RCB) for grain yield data Analysis of variance (RCB) for grain yield data
Sources of variation Degrees of freedom Sum of squares Mean squares Computed Fb Tabular F Tabular F
Sources of variation Degrees of freedom Sum of squares Mean squares Computed Fb 5 1
Replication 8 35.05 4.38 4.54 2.67 3.97
Treatment 4 3.11 0.78
Experimental error 32 5.48 0.17
Total 44 43.64 5.33      
a cv 9.5 b Significant at 1 level
of significance
17
Dissemination of SRI techniques
18
Conclusion

• Trials have already sparked some interest among
  farmers as well as researchers and extension
  workers.
• Moreover, this study would contribute to
  the promotion of organic farming in Bhutan.
• Evaluations of SRI methods at various elevations
  in Bhutan are continuing.

19
Thank you!!!