Presentation at the 4th International Rice Congress Presenter: Zhoucen Feng Title: System of Rice Intensification in China Venue: Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC), Bangkok, Thailand Date: October 31, 2014

1. System of Rice Intensification in China:
Research Dynamic and Innovative Adaptations
Zhoucen Feng and Erika Styger
SRI International Network and Resources Center (SRI-Rice)
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University
Ithaca, NY, USA
Presentation at the International Rice Congress (IRC), Bangkok, Thailand
October 31, 2014

2. Objectives
 Review of SRI research in China
 Little is known to the rest of the world due to
language barrier
 What has been done?
 Where has it been done?
 Who has been doing it?
 Research topics and findings
 Adaptations

3. Research Method
 CNKI (www.cnki.net)
 China Knowledge Resource Integrated
Database
 Academic literature database
 Search with key word “水稻强化栽培” (“System
of Rice Intensification” in Chinese)
 Read, categorize, and analyze articles found

4. A brief history of SRI in China
 1999: First SRI trial at Nanjing Agricultural
University
 2001: Dr. Longping Yuan published a review
paper on SRI
 2002: First International SRI Conference in
Sanya, Hainan
 Collection of research publications by 2013
 313 journal articles
 13 dissertations
 11 in conference proceedings

5. Large number of published SRI studies
in academic journals
By 2013:
 313 journal articles
 244 research articles
 219 on field experiments
 25 reviews
 576 worldwide in total
 69 technical
recommendations
 In 72 journals
 Peak in 2005
 Increasing ratio over time of
technical recommendations
to research work
2
7
24
38
44
38
27
20
13 11
6 6 8
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Number of Journal Articles on SRI
Published in China
Research Articles
Technical Recommendation

6. Evolution of SRI Article Content
 Phase 1: Research
 Studying the yield effects
and influencing factors
when applying SRI
methods
 Studying physiological
processes associated
with SRI and their
influence on yield
 Phase 2: Application
 Delivering technical
recommendations for
specific farming
conditions
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Number of Journal Articles on
SRI in China
Research Articles
Technical Recommendation

7. Where has SRI been studied?
 93 Experiment
sites in all 19 rice-
producing
provinces
 Trials concentrate
in a few provinces
 2 leading
provinces:
Zhejiang, Sichuan
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
4
4
4
6
7
9
10
11
11
14
44
89
Hubei
Yunan
Fujian
Ningxia
Xinjiang
Hainan
Henan
Jiangsu
Heilongjiang
Shanghai
Anhui
Jiangxi
Guangdong
Chongqing
Guangxi
Hunan
Guizhou
Sichuan
Zhejiang
No. SRI Experiments by Province
(2001-2013)

8. SRI Experiment Sites in China

9. Who has been studying SRI?
 Institutions
 Universities and research institutes
 Department of Agriculture
 Agricultural extension services
 Seed companies
 Inter-institutional collaborations

10. What are the research topics?
 4 main topics
 Planting density
 Nutrient
management
 Seedling age
 Variety testing
 Others
 Weed management,
pest management,
etc.
114
34
17
1
1 topic 2 topics 3 topics 4 topics
Number of Main Topics
Addressed per Experiment

11. Research topics and findings I
 Planting Density
 94 research articles
 Planting pattern (triangular
or square grids), inter-plant
spacing (20~50cm), No.
seedlings/hill (1~3)
 Lower density improves
photosynthesis and root
activity
 Balancing individual plant
productivity with unit area
productivity
 Soil nutrient
management
 59 research articles
 Types, combinations,
application rates and
timing of various chemical
fertilizer and organic
inputs
 Focus on N management

12. Research topics and findings II
 Variety testing for
SRI
 55 articles: variety
comparison
 26 articles: single
variety tests
 Focus on hybrid varieties
 Seedling age
 44 research articles
 8 ~ 36 days or 2~8 leaf
age
 Younger is better
 Fast establishment
 Minor transplantation shock
 More low-position tillers
 Cold soil temperature can
be a challenge

13. Evaluation Parameters of Experiments
 Yield and Yield Components
 Plant physiology and morphology
 Response to Disease, Pests, and
Lodging
 Soil properties
 Water usage
 Economic cost and profits

14. Applications and Recommendations for SRI
 115 articles on technical recommendations and
practical instructions (esp after 2010)
 Suitable varieties, seedling age, planting density, soil
nutrient management, etc. for local climates and
cropping systems
 Specified and precise instruction of almost every step in
rice production
 Adaptations
 Agricultural policy
 SRI has been chosen as one of the “Major Agricultural
Technologies to Promote of the year” by the department
of agriculture in Zhejiang and Sichuan since 2010

15. Adaptation of SRI practices
 Triangular SRI - 33 research articles
 Designed for low light intensity condition in Sichuan
Province
 Higher planting density than regular SRI
Double-Triangular SRI Triangular SRI Regular SRI
Vs.
plants/square: 9 12 4

16. Adaptation
 Triangular SRI, compared to CK and/or SRI
 Increase LAI, dry matter accumulation and
translocation rate, root exudation rate,
productive tillering
 Increase panicle size, grain-filling ratio
 Achieving balance between productivity per
plant and productivity per unit area
 “Major Agricultural Technology to Promote” by
Sichuan Agriculture Department since 2009

17. Sites of Triangular SRI Experiments

18. Adaptations
 No-till SRI
 11 articles , various findings
 Most see yield increase
 Some combine with raised beds
 Potential of soil conservation
 Direct-seeding SRI
 High yield
 Potential of saving labor
 Using mulch in SRI
 Mulching with rice hull or plastic for weed control
 SRI rice-duck system

19. Conclusions
 SRI research in China
 Long time, large number, various participants
 Wide range, Sichuan and Zhejiang as leading
provinces
 Major focus: planting density, soil fertility, seedling
age, variety testing
 Depth in physiology and morphology
 Many research results have been mainstreamed
into technical recommendations for rice production
 Generated various adaptations of SRI practices to
local conditions, e.g. Triangular SRI