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ABSTRACT
Field experiments were conducted during wet season of 2007 and 2008 at Central Agricultural Research Institute,
Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands to evaluate the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) practices of rice in Island
ecosystem for increasing the productivity. Time of planting, spacing and nitrogen management practices significantly
influenced the physiological parameters and yield of rice while number of seedlings/ hill did not exert any influence on
yield. Crop growth rate was higher under early planting with closer spacing (20 x 20 cm) while the same recorded lower
value of light transmission ratio (41.6). Second fortnight of planting in June coupled with 20 x 20 cm spacing recorded
higher a, b and total chlorophyll contents (1.97, 1.04 and 3.64 mg/g respectively) with 9.2 % higher panicles/m2 and
higher grain yield (4 678 kg/ha). More number of bacteria, fungi and PSB are found with the application of 50 % RDN
through Gliricidia + 50 % RDN through urea followed by 75 % RDN through Gliricidia + 25 % RDN through urea.
Though application of 100 % RDN through urea recorded more number of panicles and highest grain yield (4 465 kg/
ha) but it was comparable with 50 % RDN through Gliricidia + 50 % RDN through urea. Hence, early transplanting
in June second fortnight using single seedling in 20 x 20 cm spacing with application of 50 % N through Gliricidia and
50 % N through urea can be recommended for improving the physiological, microbial activities in the rhizosphere and
achieving higher yield of rice under SRI practice in island ecosystem.
Key words: SRI, Management practices, Physiogical parameter, Nutrient uptake, Yield, Soil nutrient status
Paddy is the lifeline cereal of Andaman and Nicobar during vegetative phase (Uphoff, 2003). SRI involves a
Islands grown in 8 549 ha with the annual production of 26 number of specific techniques that are always required to
249 t and productivity of 2.2 t/ha necessitating an import be tested and adapted according to local conditions. The
of about 27 188 t of rice from the mainland. The low yield components of SRI have claimed substantial increase in
of rice is mainly due to mono cropping of traditional rice rice productivity in different rice growing areas. Among
variety (C 14 - 8) with low or no input management. A the management practices, timely planting, appropriate
challenge in the future would be that more rice would have control of vegetative growth throughout the duration of
to be produced from lesser inputs like land, water, labour, the crop, suitable transplanting densities for optimum
and capital. Under this scenario, the System of Rice tillering and control of leaf growth by controlling water,
Intensification (SRI) would be an appropriate practice to fertilizer are essential for improving the growth variables
produce more yield with less input. The SRI has proven responsible for high yield (Ghosh and Singh,1998).
ability to increase rice production by 26 % or more Manipulation of planting geometry plays a significant
depending on the extent of adherence to its basic principles role in increasing the rice yield, as it is assumed to have
viz., transplanting young seedlings, at wider spacing in pronounced effect on tillering, interception and utilization
square pattern and keeping the soil moist and aerated of light which in turn influence the rice yield.
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Damodaran et al. J. Andaman Sci. Assoc. 19 (2):2014
Among various nutrients, nitrogen is integral part dose of fertilizer 90, 60, 40 kg N, P and K/ha was adopted
of structural and functional protein, chlorophyll, nucleic for rice. 100 % P and 50 % K was applied as basal and
acid and plays a vital role in crop development. In remaining 50 % K was applied at Panicle initiation stage
coming decades, organic sources of nitrogen would be through inorganic sources as per the treatment. In the case
vital for reducing the cost of fertilizers, supplementing of organic treatments, the quantity of P and K supplied
the nutrients, maintaining the soil productivity and by Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) was estimated and the
ecosystem stability for sustained crop production. Hence, remaining quantity was supplemented with inorganics.
the present study was carried out to standardize the SRI Gliricidia contains 2.9 % N, 0.5 % P2O5 and 2.8 %
practices (time of planting, spacing, number of seedlings K2O on fresh weight basis. However, no addition of K
per hill and Nitrogen management) and its influence on from inorganic source was done, since Gliricidia leaf
physiological attributes, microbial biomass and yield of incorporation met the K requirement. N through inorganic
rice in Island ecosystem. sources was applied in three equal splits as basal, tillering
and Panicle Initiation (PI) stage. Nitrogen in the form of
MATERIALS AND METHODS Urea, Phosphorus in the form of Single Super Phosphate
and Potassium in the form of Muriate of potash was
The field experiments were carried out during wet
applied. Conoweeder was operated three times during
season of 2007 and 2008 at Bloomsdale farm, Central
the crop growth period in between the crop rows in both
Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair, Andaman &
the directions at 10, 25 and 40 DAT. The weeds were
Nicobar Islands. The soil was clay loam in texture with
thus incorporated in to the soil as well as the soil was
pH 6.2, EC 0.2 dS/m, organic carbon 0.6 % , low in
stirred. Growth and yield parameters were recorded as
available Nitrogen (245 kg/ha), medium in Phosphorus
per standard procedures. Grains from individual net
(11.2 kg/ha) and low in available Potassium (128 kg/
plot were sun dried, cleaned and weighed and yield was
ha). The experiment was laid out in split plot design with
expressed at 14 % moisture basis while straw was sun
three replications. Time of planting and spacing was
dried for 4 days and weighed separately. Grain and straw
assigned to main plot while number of seedlings per hill
yields were expressed in kg/ha. Crop growth rate (CGR)
and nitrogen management was assigned to sub plot. The
in different growth stages was computed as per formula
main plot treatments were planting in Second fortnight
given by Watson (1958) and expressed in g m - 2day - 1.
of June with 20 x 20 cm (M1), Second fortnight of June
The intensity of solar radiation falling above the canopy
with 25 x 25 cm(M2), Second fortnight of July with 20
(Ia), middle and also below the canopy (Ib) in all directions
x 20 cm( M3) and Second fortnight of July with 20 x 20
was measured and worked out at flowering stage with lux
cm (M4) while the sub plots were assigned with number
meter. The Light Transmission Ratio (LTR) was computed
of seedlings per hill One (H1), Two (H2) and Nitrogen
(Ib/Ia x 100) as per the procedure suggested by Yoshida
management practices such as 100 % of recommended
et al., (1972) and expressed in percentage. Chlorophyll
dose of N through Gliricidia (N1), 100 % RDN through
was extracted in 80 % acetone and their optical density
urea (N2), 50 % RDN through Gliricidia + 50 % RDN
readings were read out at 663 nm, 645 nm and 652 nm
through urea (N3) and 75 % RDN through Gliricidia +
in a spectrophotometer and chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b
25 % RDN through urea (N4). 15 days old seedlings of
and total chlorophyll contents were estimated as per the
rice cv. Bhavani raised in MAT nursery were transplanted
method suggested by Yoshida et al., (1972) and expressed
in the main field as per the treatments. The recommended
as mg/g fresh weight of leaf.
150
Damodaran et al. J. Andaman Sci. Assoc. 19 (2):2014
Where,
OD – Absorbance at specific wavelength
Microbial population in the soil at flowering stage of the crop were assessed through standard serial dilution
technique (Pramer and Schemidt, 1965) using Nutrient agar medium for heterotrophic bacteria, Potato dextrose agar +
streptomycin media for fungi and Pikovskaya media for Phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION biomass production. In the present study, early planting in
second fortnight of June with closer spacing of 20 x 20 cm
Physiological parameters recorded higher chlorophyll contents. This is in agreement
with the findings of Tari et al., (2009). Nitrogen nutrition
Time of planting, spacing and N management influenced the quantity, structure and composition of
practices significantly influenced the Chlorophyll photosynthetic apparatus and played a crucial role in
contents (a and b), Crop growth rate (CGR) and Light determining the photosynthetic capacity of the plant.
transmission ratio (LTR) of rice at flowering stage Similarly Ahmad et al (2003) also reported that the
(Table 1) while number of seedlings/ hill did not exert nitrogen was an important constituent of photosynthetic
any influence on the physiological parameters of rice. components of crop plants and approximately 60 % of
Early planting in second fortnight of June with closer the nitrogen in a plant leaf with C3 photosynthesis is
spacing of 20 x 20 cm recorded higher chlorophyll a and invested in photosynthetic components. Higher CGR
b contents of 1.97, 1.04 mg/g respectively, CGR (29.64 g recorded under early planting with closer spacing can
m2/day) and the lower value of LTR (41.6) as compared to be attributed to accumulation of more dry matter during
delayed planting in July with same density and same time this phase. The lower LTR indicates higher yield. In the
of planting with wider spacing of 25 x 25 cm. Among present study, early planting in second fortnight of June
the nitrogen management practices, application of 100 with a plant population of 25 hills m - 2 in (20 x 20 cm)
% RDN through urea recorded higher chlorophyll a expressed its superiority in reducing the LTR which was
and b (1.92 and 0.94 mg/g), CGR (25.74 g m2/day) and 11.24 % lesser compared to 25 x 25 cm . As the plant
lower LTR but it was at par with N3 (50 % RDN through density increases, mutual shading and competition for
Gliricidia + 50 % RDN through urea). Leaves during light might cause an elongation of stem to facilitate more
growth stage experience a wide range of irradiance in light interception. Lowest LTR recorded in closer spacing
natural environments. Utilization of the amount of light of 20 x 20 cm was mainly due to higher population per
available, depends on the specific changes in composition unit area with more number of leaves which might have
and structure of chloroplasts. Chlorophyll pigments play facilitated better interception and utilization of light.
an important role in the photosynthetic process leading to
151
Table 1. Physiological parameters of rice as influenced by the management practices of System of Rice
Intensification (SRI) technique
Treatments Chlorophyll a Chlorophyll b CGR(g/m2/d) at LTR at flowering
at flowering at flowering flowering to maturity
Damodaran et al.
2007 2008 Pooled 2007 2008 Pooled 2007 2008 Pooled 2008 Pooled
Time of planting & spacing
M1 - June second fortnight + 20 x 20 2.07 1.88 1.97 1.23 0.84 1.04 26.89 29.64 41.8 41.4 41.6
cm 32.38
M2 - June second fortnight + 25 x 25 1.93 1.72 1.83 0.97 0.70 0.84 24.60 20.12 22.36 47.9 47.9 47.9
cm
M3 - July second fortnight + 20 x 20 1.96 1.78 1.87 1.00 0.73 0.86 24.82 21.05 22.93 46.5 47.9 47.0
cm
M4 - July second fortnight + 25 x 25 1.82 1.38 1.60 0.90 0.59 0.75 23.42 18.93 21.18 50.6 51.5 51.0
cm
SEm± 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.40 0.34 0.37 0.7 0.7 0.7
CD (P=0.05) 0.07 0.09 0.08 0.06 0.04 0.05 1.39 1.18 1.28 2.3 2.4 2.4
Number of seedling/hill
152
H1 - One seedling 1.94 1.66 1.80 1.02 0.71 0.86 26.20 21.63 23.91 46.8 46.6 46.7
H2 - Two seedling 1.96 1.72 1.84 1.03 0.72 0.87 26.41 21.87 24.14 46.6 47.6 47.1
SEm± 0.01 0.03 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.40 0.33 0.37 0.7 0.7 0.7
CD (P=0.05) NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS
Nitrogen management
N1 - 100 % RDN through Gliricidia 1.84 1.50 1.67 0.94 0.64 0.79 23.40 19.39 21.40 52.0 53.2 52.6
N2 - 100 % RDN through urea 2.03 1.81 1.92 1.10 0.78 0.94 28.16 23.32 25.74 41.8 42.3 42.1
N3 - 50 % RDN through Gliricidia + 1.98 1.75 1.87 1.02 0.73 0.88 27.22 22.46 24.84 44.5 44.5 44.5
50 % RDN through urea
N4 - 75 % RDN through Gliricidia + 1.93 1.70 1.82 1.05 0.71 0.88 26.42 21.83 24.13 48.4 48.4 48.4
25 % RDN through urea
J. Andaman Sci. Assoc. 19 (2):2014
SEm± 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.02 0.01 0.02 0.57 0.47 0.52 1.0 1.0 1.0
CD (P=0.05) 0.08 0.10 0.09 0.06 0.04 0.05 1.62 1.34 1.48 2.8 2.9 2.8
RDN= Recommended dose of Nitrogen; Interaction non - significant
Damodaran et al. J. Andaman Sci. Assoc. 19 (2):2014
153
Table 2. Influence of management practices of System of Rice Intensification (SRI)
technique on microbial population (No. of CFU/g) at flowering stage of rice
Damodaran et al.
M2 - June second fortnight + 25 x 25 cm 59.1 52.1 55.6 1.00 0.96 0.98 5.3 4.7 5.0
M3 - July second fortnight + 20 x 20 cm 59.3 52.4 55.9 1.04 0.96 1.00 5.5 4.8 5.2
M4 - July second fortnight + 25 x 25 cm 57.8 49.3 53.5 1.02 0.94 0.98 5.3 4.8 5.1
SEm± 1.0 0.9 0.9 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.2 0.2 0.2
CD (P=0.05) NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS
Number of seedling/hill
154
H1 - One seedling 58.4 51.5 55.0 0.96 0.88 0.92 5.3 4.6 5.0
H2 - Two seedling 60.0 52.3 56.1 0.97 0.91 0.94 5.4 4.5 5.0
SEm± 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.2 0.2 0.2
CD (P=0.05) NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS
Nitrogen management
N1 - 100 % RDN through Gliricidia 57.2 49.4 53.3 0.83 0.80 0.82 5.0 4.2 4.6
N2 - 100 % RDN through urea 51.0 43.1 47.0 1.02 0.95 0.98 5.4 4.7 5.1
N3 - 50 % RDN through Gliricidia + 66.1 58.6 62.3 1.01 0.91 0.96 5.5 4.7 5.1
50 % RDN through urea
N4 - 75 % RDN through Gliricidia + 62.6 56.5 59.5 1.00 0.91 0.96 5.5 4.8 5.2
25 % RDN through urea
SE m± 1.3 1.1 1.2 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.1 0.1 0.1
J. Andaman Sci. Assoc. 19 (2):2014
CD (P=0.05) 3.6 3.2 3.4 0.06 0.05 0.05 0.3 0.3 0.3
RDN= Recommended dose of Nitrogen * Colony Forming Units per gram of oven dry soil
Table 3. Influence of management practices of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) technique on yield
parameters and yield of rice
Treatments Panicles/m2 Panicle weight (g) Grain yield (kg/ha) Straw yield (kg/ha)
Damodaran et al.
2007 2008 Pooled 2007 2008 Pooled 2007 2008 Pooled 2007 2008 Pooled
Time of planting & spacing
M1 - June second fortnight + 20 x 20 247 230 239 3.08 3.06 3.07 4 815 4 541 4 678 6 913 6 236 6 575
cm
M2 - June second fortnight + 25 x 25 220 217 219 2.86 2.82 2.84 4 354 4 071 4 212 5 332 4 935 5 134
cm
M3 - July second fortnight + 20 x 20 224 218 221 2.89 2.89 2.89 4 458 4 173 4 316 5 442 5 057 5 250
cm
M4 - July second fortnight + 25 x 25 156 154 155 2.65 2.50 2.58 3 973 3 610 3 792 4 905 4 583 4 744
cm
SEm± 3 3 3 0.04 0.04 0.04 69 66 68 86 83 84
CD (P=0.05) 11 11 11 0.16 0.15 0.16 237 231 234 298 286 292
Number of seedling/hill
155
H1 - One seedling 207 203 205 2.90 2.84 2.87 4 365 4 063 4 214 5 696 5 198 5 447
H2 - Two seedling 216 207 211 2.83 2.80 2.82 4 435 4 135 4 285 5 601 5 207 5 404
SEm± 3 3 3 0.04 0.04 0.04 66 61 63 85 78 81
CD (P=0.05) NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS
Nitrogen management
N1 - 100 % RDN through Gliricidia 198 188 193 2.55 2.52 2.53 4 109 3 748 3 929 5 075 4 691 4 883
N2 - 100 % RDN through urea 222 214 218 3.03 2.98 3.01 4 591 4 339 4 465 6 015 5 524 5 770
N3 - 50 % RDN through Gliricidia + 215 208 212 2.97 2.90 2.94 4 527 4 198 4 362 5 760 5 334 5 547
50 % RDN through urea
N4 - 75 % RDN through Gliricidia + 212 209 210 2.93 2.87 2.90 4 372 4 111 4 241 5 743 5 262 5 502
25 % RDN through urea
SEm± 5 4 4 0.06 0.06 0.06 93 86 90 120 110 115
CD (P=0.05) 13 12 13 0.17 0.17 0.17 263 244 254 340 313 326
J. Andaman Sci. Assoc. 19 (2):2014
improving the physiological, microbial activities in the Pramer, D & Schmidt, E.L. (1965). Experimental soil
rhizosphere and achieving higher yield of rice under SRI microbiology. Burgess Publ. Co., Minneapolis.
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