Step 17: "Do you want a little more rice?"

Different varieties of rice were tried during the last months: AG-5, Jasmine rice, black rice and RC-18. Transplantation 25x25 was the only technique used. We also compared the results of different types of farming. The former farmer used chemical fertilizers.

For our first trial, we spread only vermicompost (equivalent 1T/ha) and for the last trials, we applied all the natural farming protocol (see step 13). From far, the natural farming protocol gave us the best results with the RC-18 variety.

The best result of the former farmer with chemical fertilizers (probably very low quantity) was 35 cavans or 1400 kg/ha.

Our best result with AG5 and only vermicompost was 16.5 cavans or 660 kg/ha which is very low.

Our best results with RC-18 and for the first time natural farming protocol was 45.5 cavans or 1820 kg/ha. During the threshering, Department of Agriculture judged this rice bigger, shinier and better quality.

Because too much parameters are different (varieties, season, place, adverse conditions and pests), we cannot conclude the production has been multiplied by 3. But it is reasonable to say the natural farming protocol has a positive effect on the yield.

Of course we are still far from the result of intensive practices and also far from our target of 100 cavans or 4000 kg/ha. We expect this result in 2011 or 2012 after 3 years of rehabilitation of the soil and general improvement of our protocol.

Trials of Jasmine rice and black rice gave very poor results because of Tungro (virus disease) rat and mole crickets.

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS?

- We observed the consequences of a bad leveling: it disturbs the management of water and increases the damages by some pests like snails or mole crickets. The beds for the next plantations have been reshaped to be as flat as possible with manual technique.

- Transplanting of one seedling 25x25 cm has limitation from “resistance” of workers how want to “secure” their work (transplant of 6 to 8 seedlings per hill and step by step reduction of the distance) to bigger consequences of

destruction by pests if the number of transplants is only one.

Direct wet sowing is another solution but the management of weeds is not so easy. If we want to use rotoweeder to facilitate the weed management, the drum seeder of Philrice is a great choice and we are very happy of this investment (6000 P) which became an important improvement.

By the way we reduce drastically the cost of production because the work of 8 transplanters during 3 hours is made by one worker with the drum seeder in 5 minutes. In our last trial we sowed 2125 m² in 4 hours with one people It needed equivalent of 80 kg of germinated rice/ha but we can probably reduce to 40 kg. 2 other people were also required to refill the drum seeder and manually sow the places not accessible with drum seeder because of the shape of some beds. There is only one risk with this technique: it is better to have no big rain during 3 days to avoid the disturbance of the rows before rooting.

- We also follow the nitrogen status of the rice plant with the LCC (Leaf Color Chart) of Philrice. Until now we did not have to increase the quantity of FAA (Fish Amino Acid, source of nitrogen) because the test showed good results.

We spoke a lot of Philrice in this step. It is interesting to notice the Philrice evolution. In its publication of July to September 2008 (vol.21 No.3) we can read: "Is it possible to go to purely organic? Rice science experts say it is possible, with proper transition. Before going purely organic, though, farmers must first know where to get the materials they need." Hopefully, with natural farming, we know all we need is around us!