The potential of aerobic rice production technology in Sabah (Potensi teknologi penanaman padi aerob di Sabah)

Transcription

1 The potential of aerobic rice production technology in Sabah (Potensi teknologi penanaman padi aerob di Sabah) Helda Souki 1 and Sariam Othman 2 1 Rice and Industrial Crop Research Centre, Stesen MARDI Kota Kinabalu, Lot 1 KKIP, Jalan Teluk Sepanggar, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 2 Rice and Industrial Crop Research Centre, MARDI Headquarters Serdang, P.O.Box 12301, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia heldasou@mardi.gov.my Key words: Aerobic rice, interim package, Sabah Abstract MARDI has developed an interim technology package for aerobic rice production which includes variety and crop management practices. Due to no research has been done before in Sabah; an appropriate technology package is required for successful aerobic rice production system. Two potential aerobic rice varieties namely SAE 1 and AERON 1 had been tested and evaluated in Station MARDI Kota Kinabalu for two seasons. SAE 1 has a maturation period of 110 days (from seed emergence to maturity) where as AERON 1 matures about 100 days after emergence. The average yield for SAE 1 is 2.26 t/ha in season 2/2011 and increasing to 2.90 t/ha in season 1/2012. The average yield for AERON 1 is 3.79 t/ha in season 2/2011 and 4.07 t/ha during 1/2012. This result indicates that aerobic rice production technology has the potential in Sabah especially in water scarce areas in order to increase rice production and to achieve 60% rice requirement for Sabah. Introduction The current self sufficiency level (SSL) in rice for Sabah is only 35% which is the lowest in Malaysia (MAFI, 2007). The average rice yield for Sabah is only 3.5 t/ha and only 2.85 t/ha when hill paddy is included. This is considered low when compared to the average yield in Peninsular Malaysia. Number of farmers and land for paddy cultivation in Sabah are

2 decreasing each year due to many rice growing areas have been developed into housing or industrial estate or being neglected because lack of water or seed supply and inefficient irrigation/drainage infrastructure. These have made farmers not planting rice or planting only once a year (in certain area) or even neglect it for years. In addition to that, Sabah also had experienced series of drought season where the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) forced to order all rice growing areas not to plant rice until the season become stable. Besides that, competition for available water from domestic and industrial sectors has affected water supply for wetland rice cultivation in Sabah. The state government represented by Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry of Sabah (MAFI) had targeted 60% SSL in rice by 2015 (MAFI, 2007). However it is impossible to reach even 40% SSL because of the said reasons above. Hence the farmers in Sabah urgently need rice production system that requires less water without affecting yield. Aerobic rice technology is the answer for this problem as it requires very much less water than the wetland rice. An appropriate technology package is required for successful aerobic rice production system. The state government represented by Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry of Sabah (MAFI) had targeted that Sabah must reach the target of 60% SSL in rice by 2015 (MAFI, 2007). However it is impossible to reach even 40% SSL because of the said reasons above. Hence the farmers in Sabah urgently need rice production system that requires less water without affecting yield. Aerobic rice technology is the answer for this problem as it requires very much less water than the wetland rice. An appropriate technology package is required for successful aerobic rice production system. In Malaysia study in aerobic rice is still new and no variety of aerobic rice has been released yet. However, several studies have been conducted by MARDI regarding selection and evaluation of potential aerobic rice lines from IRRI.As a result, few lines such as Aeron 1 is identified as a potential aerobic rice variety (Habibuddin, 2009). Interim technology

3 package for aerobic rice production system in Malaysia was also developed by researchers from MARDI. The technology package includes Crop establishment and Nutrient management (Sariam, 2009) and sustainable weed management for aerobic rice (Azmi, 2008). To date, research or study regarding Aerobic rice in Sabah has never been reported before even by DOA or Korperasi Pembangunan Desa (KPD) (state agencies under MAFI Sabah involving in rice plantation and research actively). Besides that, Sabah has different environment in term of maybe climate, longitude, level of pest and diseases and even soil type compared to West Malaysia. For this reason, this project is undertaken to evaluate Interim Technology Package of aerobic rice in Sabah as an alternative to the water shortage problem. The project includes 1) evaluation of potential Aerobic rice line in Sabah, 2) Evaluation of interim Technology package of aerobic rice in Sabah. Evaluation of aerobic rice lines and interim technology package for aerobic rice in Sabah will be the basis of recommending new approach in rice cultivation in Sabah. Therefore, it will escalate the rice production in this state. Materials and Methods Selection of varieties Aerobic rice collected directly from researcher involved in identification of aerobic rice lines project in MARDI Seberang Perai. Two aerobic rice varieties: Aeron 1 and SAE arrived in Sabah on September 2011 (with import export quarantine letter). Aeron 1 and SAE 1 were planted in season 2/2011 and 1/2012 in MARDI Kota Kinabalu. Cultural and agronomy practises Dried seeds were seeded at the rate of kg per hectare. The seeds were row seeded at the distance of 30 cm between rows and at the depth of 3cm. Seeding was done either manually or using garden seeder. Seeding using garden seeder is very much easier and faster

4 as compared with manual seeding. However, for large scale planting, mechanised seeding using aero-seeder attached to a four-wheel tractor is recommended. Chemical fertilizers (NPK compound and straight fertilizers) were applied at the rate of 150:60:60 for each AERON 1 and SAE 1. The fertilizer was applied in four splits at 15, 30, 45 and 65 days after emergence (DAE) Foliar fertilizer was applied when necessary. Plant protection from weed, pest and diseases Pre-emergence herbicide was applied at 2-3 days after seeding followed by postemergence herbicide application at 7-12 DAE. Spraying of pre-emergence herbicide must be done in moist soil condition. Manual weeding was done when necessary. Pest and disease management were done according to Manual Penanaman Padi Lestari (MARDI, 2008). At grain filling period, birds attact were handled by setting bird net and scarecrow all over the plots. Irrigation and drainage The water source for irrigation is from the rain but supplemental irrigation was also given using sprinkler system which is suitable for small-scale planting. However, for large-scale planting surface irrigation is more appropriate. Plant sampling At harvest, three sampling areas (3m x 3m each) for each plot were randomly selected. The parameters measured were the plant height, panicle length, the number of panicle in sampling area, the weight of dried straw, panicle, grains and leaves, 1000 grains weight, percentage of filled grains, yield, gross and net weight and harvest index.

5 Results and Discussion Performance of aerobic rice in Sabah As reported earlier, the maturation period of SAE 1 and AERON 1 in Peninsular Malaysia is 100 days and 90 days, respectively. Both varieties were planted in Sabah season 2/2011 and season 1/2012 and the maturation period was found to be slightly longer than when planted in Peninsular Malaysia. It showed that SAE 1 has the maturation period of days whilst AERON 1 matured after about days. Due to that, some modification on fertilizer application and timing will be done. No further research yet been done on why there is difference of maturation period between West Malaysia and East Malaysia. However, differences between soil types, low fertility soil and low water contain in soil also affected rice crop growth significantly (J.Mohd Aris, 2004). Table 1 and Table 2 show the performance of SAE 1 and AERON 1 in Sabah for two respective seasons. Table 1: Data for crop grown during the 2/2011 season Data SAE1 AERON 1 Plant Height (cm) Panicle length (cm) No. of panicle/ m No. of grain/ panicle % filled grain grains weight (g) Harvest Index Yield = Ton / ha

6 Table 2: Data for crop grown during the 1/2012 season. Data SAE1 AERON 1 Plant Height (cm) Panicle length (cm) No. of panicle/ m No. of grain/ panicle % filled grain grains weight (g) Harvest Index Yield = Ton / ha Major constraints in the cultivation of aerobic rice in Sabah Symptoms of K deficiency (brown spot), weeds, insects and birds attack during filling and maturity were the main problems observed in two seasons of planting. Mild PMV was also detected during season 2/2011. K deficiency was tackled by applying additional MOP after 75 DAE. The weed, insect-pest, and diseases were controlled using the chemicals. Birds attack was handled by setting net and scarecrow around plots. It was very effective but might not be economical for large scale planting. The best solution in controlling birds attack is to synchronize planting period for the whole area. Potential The average yield for SAE 1 is 2.26 t/ha and 3.79 t/ha for AERON 1 during season 2/2011 and increasing to 2.90 t/ha and 4.07 t/ha respectively during season 1/2012. As reported by MAFI (2007), the average rice yield for Sabah is only 3.5 t/ha and only 2.85 t/ha when hill paddy is included. This result indicates that there is potential for aerobic rice to be grown in Sabah especially in water scarce areas. This is in order to increase rice production and to

7 achieve 60% rice requirement for Sabah. However, a proper management practises, such as fertilisation, irrigation, weeds control and diseases management could be improved. Conclusion Weed population is expected to be high since aerobic rice needed minimal water influencing the weed to grow faster. The incidence of pest and diseases especially PMV / tungro virus in Sabah is higher when compared to any other states in Malaysia. High yielding Aerobic rice varieties might be susceptible to pest and diseases. Birds are also getting important in Sabah as staggered planting will result in a continuous supply of food for the birds. Acknowledgement The authors would like to express appreciation to research assistance Mr. Mohd Azmal Mohd Yassin and Mr. Rosley Jumat for their assistance during the research. Our thanks are also extended to Mr. Zainudin PMD Hussain and Ms.Shahida Hashim from MARDI Seberang Perai for supplying aerobic rice seed.this research is funded by RnD grant science fund R- RI SFRM10. References Azmi, M Sustainable weed management for aerobic rice cultivation. Year 2008 End Report. Mentoring and Evaluation Meeting (RIC). Tiara Beach Resort, Port Dickson. Malaysia. Habibuddin, H Selection and evaluation of introduced foreign rice varieties for drought tolerance assessment. Mentoring and Evaluation Meeting (RIC). Park Avenue Hotel. Kedah. Malaysia.

8 J, Mohd Aris Rice growth and its indices for nutrient uptake from soils of Muda Irrigation scheme. J.Trop. agri.and fd.sc. 32 (2) : Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Makanan Sabah (MAFI) Pelan tindakan segera Peningkatan pengeluaran beras bagi Negeri Sabah ( ). Sariam, O Nutrient management for aerobic rice cultivation. Year 2009 End Report. Mentoring and Evaluation Meeting (RIC). Park Avenue Hotel. Kedah. Malaysia.