Question

SRI method is popular for which crops?

• A. Wheat
• B. Maize
• C. Rice
• D. Groundnut

Hint:

SRI literally stands for System of Rice Intensification.
The letter "R" in the acronym directly points to the correct crop.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Resource-conserving technologies in agriculture aim to increase crop productivity while reducing the use of water, seeds, labor, and chemical inputs.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
SRI stands for the System of Rice Intensification.
Developed in Madagascar in the 1980s by Father Henri de Laulanié, SRI is a methodology designed to increase the yield of irrigated rice.
The system relies on a set of specific management practices that differ from traditional flooded rice cultivation:
Transplanting young seedlings (typically 8 to 12 days old, with only two leaves) instead of older seedlings.
Transplanting seedlings singly (one per hill) rather than in clumps.
Spacing plants widely in a grid pattern ($25\text{ cm} \times 25\text{ cm}$) to encourage root and tillering development.
Keeping the soil moist but not continuously flooded, using alternate wetting and drying (AWD) to save water and maintain aerobic soil conditions.
Using mechanical weeders (like the cono-weeder) to control weeds and aerate the soil.
These practices promote extensive root systems and abundant tillering, resulting in higher grain yields while reducing water use by up to 50%.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The SRI method is a highly popular and resource-efficient cultivation system developed specifically for rice.