Relative Contribution of Different SRI Practices Towards Growth and Yield of Rice under Temperate Conditions

Field experiment on the relative contribution of the system of rice intensification (SRI) practices towards the growth and yield of rice was conducted at the Mountain Research Centre for Field Crops, Khudwani, Anantnag during the kharif seasons of 2018 and 2019. The treatments comprised a set recommended practices in which 35 days seedlings, 4 seedlings/hill at 15×15 cm spacing with, application recommended dose of fertilizers + 5t FYM/ha, chemical weed control and flooded method of irrigation was followed, replacing sequentially each conventional practice with a practice recommended under SRI in the subsequent treatments. There were nine treatments with change in seedling stage, number of seedling/hill, plant to plant spacings, farm yard manure, weed management and irrigation method .The use of young seedlings planted singly and at a wider spacing of 25 × 25 cm resulted in a significant improvement in growth and yield attributes as compared to the recommended practice. The sole use of organic manures @7.5 or 10 t/ha resulted in a significant decrease in the growth yield attributes and yield. However, combined use of all the SRI practices along with a recommended dose of fertilizers and 10 t FYM/ha resulted in a 12.5% yield increase over the recommended practice.