Organic Rice Research and Development in the Northeastern Region

Abstract

Organic rice farming produces high quality rice for consumers. Agricultural practices must follow the strict organic plants production and milling standard of organic rice. Surin Rice Research Center (RRC), Sakon Nakhorn RRC, Udon Thani RRC and Ubon Ratchathani RRC conducted 3 field trials during 2004-2007 to find appropriated technology, 1) evaluation of high-yielding variety with organic practices, 2) methods to produce breeder and foundation seed of 4 varieties grown in northeast and 3) soil fertility management. The comparing treatments were chemical fertilizer, organic fertilizer, nature (no fertilizer) and an extra dry-seeded with straw mulching at Surin RRC. Varieties and lines used were Hang Yee 71, Niew Ubon 2, RD6, Jow Daeng, Lueang 11, Khao Dawk Mali 105, IR77954-1-31, UBN96010-PMI-68-2-2-1-2, Mali Dam 53-SRN-C05-6-1(-1) and KKNLR84149 SRN-35-1-1-1-2. The results showed that all varieties and lines with organic fertilizer gave high yield as chemical fertilizer and higher than the nature. Breeder and foundation seed yields with the application of organic fertilizer were high as chemical fertilizer. Soil fertilizer management or organic fertilizer input to organic paddy field varied from place to place and years depending on the environment and organic materials available. Sakon Nakhon RRC used green manure (Sesbania rostrata) and compost while Surin RRC applied farm yard manure in some years. There was no damage threshold of diseases or insect pests in organic, chemical and nature plots throughout the experiments. The partial budget, net benefit and marginal rate of return (MRR) of a trial indicated that green manure gave the highest MRR (309 %), the application of pillet bio-compost gave the minus MRR (-771%), while dry seed broadcast with straw mulching gave 40% MRR. The MRR over 50% was good for transfer technology to farmers.