System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method involves modified management practices like transplanting 15 days old seedlings at wider spacing, mechanical weeding and intermittent irrigation. Among these practices, using young seedlings is most important.

1
Introduction

• System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method
  involves modified management practices like
  transplanting 15 days old seedlings at wider
  spacing, mechanical weeding and intermittent
  irrigation. Among these practices, using young
  seedlings is most important.
• In conventional wet bed nursery, seedlings do not
  attain the expected15 to 20 cm height in 15 days
  of growth due to crowding of seedlings and poor
  nursery management.
• Modified Rice Mat Nursery practice is developed
  for producing robust, healthy rice seedlings
  suitable for transplantation in 15 days.

2
Seed Bed Preparation

• Seed beds are prepared in a place having water
  facility and no trespassing animal.
• Shallow raised beds are prepared to a height of 5
  cm, with 1.2 m width and convenient length.
• 100 square meter mat nursery is required to
  produce seedlings sufficient for planting one
  hectare rice field.

• Medium Native fertile field soil well
  decomposed FYM _at_ 1 kg FYM mixed with the soil
  required for 1 Square Meter nursery bed as growth
  medium

Raised Bed Preparation
3
Seed Sowing

• Pre-germinated seeds should be used at the rate
  of 5-8 kg/hectare.
• 50 gm dry seed or 100 gm wet seeds should be sown
  per square meter of the seedbed.
• The seeds should be properly covered with medium,
  gently pressed with hand and sprinkled with
  water.
• The seed frame should be removed carefully after
  sowing of seed on raised beds.

4
Seed Sowing
Raised Bed Preparation
Removal of Frame
Sowing sprouted Seed
5
Fertigation

• The medium should be mixed with 20 to 25 gm/m2 of
  Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) before sowing.
• The mat nursery should be sprinkled with water
  2-3 times a day up to 5 days with the help of
  rose-can.
• After 5th day, water can allow to wet in between
  the mat nursery without submerging the area.
• Drenching of 0.5 urea solution (50 gm in 10 lit
  of water) on 9th day after sowing with rose can.
• Water should be drained two days prior to
  transportation of seedling mats to the main field
  for transplanting.

6
Modified Rice Mat Nursery
Watering Seed beds up to 5th Day
Watering Seed beds soon after Sowing
Seedlings Ready for Transplanting
Lifting Seedlings
7
Advantages of Rice Mat Nursery

• Production of robust seedlings with 18-20 cm
  height and 4-5 leaves in 15 days.
• Modified rice mat nursery reduces the cost of
  seedling production as it reduces the cost on
  seeds by 85- 90, fertilizer by 90, labor by 34
  and water use by 55.
• Production cost of seedlings for 1 hectare of
  field is around Rs.1600 which represents a saving
  of 50 in contrast to conventional wet bed
  nursery.
• Seedlings can be produced with limited land and
  water resources.