Shades of Michael Pollan ! )

Bill

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http://ciifad.cornell.edu/sri/

The SYSTEM of
RICE INTENSIFICATION

known as SRI * also as le Systéme de Riziculture Intensive in French and
la Sistema Intensivo de Cultivo Arrocero (SICA) in Spanish -- is a
methodology for increasing the productivity of irrigated rice
cultivation by changing the management of plants, soil, water and
nutrients. SRI practices lead to healthier, more productive soil and
plants by supporting greater root growth and by nurturing the abundance
and diversity of soil organisms. The agroecological principles that
contribute to SRI effectiveness have good scientific bases. SRI concepts
and methods have been successfully adapted to upland unirrigated rice,
and they are now being extrapolated to other crops like millet, wheat
and sugar cane

SRI does not require the purchase of new seeds or the use of new
high-yielding varieties. Although the highest yields with SRI have been
obtained from improved varieties, most traditional or local varieties of
rice respond well to SRI practices and command a higher market price.
And while chemical fertilizer and agrochemicals can be applied with SRI,
their use is not required as organic materials (compost, manure or any
decomposed vegetation) can give good or even better results at low cost.
Farmers report that when SRI methods are used correctly, rice plants are
better able to resist damage from pests and diseases, reducing or
eliminating need for agrochemical protection.

More at above URL

Times article Url below.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/sc...&hp&oref=slogi
n

--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA
Book "Our Media Not Theirs" Many Stars