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Extension for Improving Rice Yields and Water Use Efficiency 2004-2007
mm
by John Lacy and Kathryn Bechaz January 2008
RIRDC Publication No 08/005 RIRDC Project No DAN-236A
Who is the report targeted
at?
The project principally
targeted farmers but also targeted retail agronomists and ancillary extension
providers who have contact or supply information to rice farmers.
Background
Extension programs have
played a significant role in the increase in rice yields and water productivity
and addressing environmental issues over the last 20 years. The role is
significant as there have been no new higher yielding varieties released
from the rice breeding program since Amaroo which reached maximum adoption
15 years ago. This project built on these breeding programs and on the
previous RIRDC project “Better extension programs for improved yields”
that ran from 1997- 2004 (DAN- 162A). It is vital that rice yields continue
to rise, especially with the likelihood of reduced water availability.
Aims/Objectives
The project aimed to increase
yields and water use efficiency by 5% by improving adoption of better farm
practices for each of the four irrigation valleys: Eastern Murray Valley
(EMV), Western Murray Valley (WMV), Coleambally Irrigation Area (CIA) and
the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA). It focused on the improvement of
the adoption of the poorest adopted ‘checks’ in the Ricecheck program.
These were establishment, nitrogen uptake and microspore water depth. Specifically
the adoption targets were to improve adoption of the early pollen microspore
water depth check by 20%, rice establishment plant number check by 20%,
nitrogen uptake check at panicle initiation (PI) by 20% and improve crop
uniformity using aerial imagery. Another objective was to assist with achievement
of targets in the Environmental Champions Program (ECP). The project continued
to promote the Ricecheck package and new technologies at a crop and farming
system level.
Methods
Each year for the 2005,
2006 and 2007 harvest seasons average SunRice rice yields and yield of
selected varieties, water use efficiency (WUE) and check adoption were
compared to baseline data compiled from the average of three to five years
prior to the commencement of the project. Reports and posters showing yields
for the last five years for each of the four irrigation valleys were compared
to yields in each of the project years to see progress. Handouts and posters
were compiled showing the current adoption of the three targeted ‘checks’,
targets for the three years of the project and adoption for each season
for each valley.
Results/Key findings
Average rice yield for the
five years (2000-2004) preceding the project was 8.94t/ha. The average
yield for the three years of this project was 8.9t/ha, hence yield remained
the same. The average was affected by the devastating cold damage which
reduced yields in the 2004/05 season to 6.8t/ha. The 2005/06 and 2006/07
seasons yielded well at 10.0 t/ha and 9.9t/ha respectively.
Water use efficiency for the project dropped slightly because of the very low yielding 2004/05 season and drought affected high water use 2006/07 season. WUE was 0.61, 0.8 and 0.7 t/ML respectively for the 2005, 2006 and 2007 harvest seasons. The average WUE of 0.7t/ML was 8% lower than the average for the previous five years.
There was good collaboration between NSW DPI and the Environmental Champions Program (ECP) to help the ECP meet its targets. District Agronomists (DA) attended an ECP workshop update and continued liaison with the three regional coordinators and one DA was on the ECP working group.
The ECP was also included at Rice Field Days. In the last 12 months there has been close collaboration between the ECP and NSW DPI in developing new water productivity targets for the industry which were included in the 2007 Ricecheck recommendations.
The results from the Ricecheck yield challenge for the variety Amaroo show the Coleambally Irrigation Area (CIA) was the only valley to achieve the target yield in the 2006/07 season with the Western Murray Valley (WMV) achieving the target yield in the 2005/06 season. For the variety Langi the WMV was the only valley to achieve the target in the 2005/06 season, with the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA) and CIA close to achieving the target. These results indicate the WMV had the best overall performance of the four valleys.
The number of rice crops entered into the Ricecheck database for the 2004/05 and 2005/06 seasons were similar or better than the drought affected 2002/03 and 2003/04 seasons. No data was entered for the 2006/07 season because of the very small crop size. The total number of crops in the database is 8287 crops. The database is still a very valuable source of data of crop practices.
The maNage rice CD has been used as a nitrogen, water use, growth stage and temperature decision tool by farmers and stakeholders requesting the CD. The maNage rice CD was converted to a one stop resource containing the Ricecheck Recommendations, Rice Crop Protection Guide, Choosing a Rice Variety primefact and photos of weeds and pests. The CD was sent to all growers at the same time as the NSW DPI rice publications. One issue is that the nitrogen model behind maNage rice has not been updated which has resulted in the nitrogen decision support of maNage rice losing credibility amongst growers.
Field days are important for the awareness of new technology and networking between farmers and rice industry stakeholders. The field days are now organised by a committee made up of major stakeholders which includes NSW DPI, SunRice, RGA and Rice Research Australia Pty Ltd (RRAPPL). Field days were successfully run in 2005 with four valley field days at Murrami, Coleambally demonstration farm, RRAPL and Wakool attracting 200 farmers. Topics included the effects of the early February chill, new varieties, straighthead, split nitrogen, brown slime and the Biosecurity launch. The 2006 rice field day held at (RAPPL) was a great success with an attendance of 300. Concurrent research trial inspections were conducted in the morning with concurrent static site talks held in the afternoon. In 2007 although there were only relatively few farmers growing rice, a morning field day was held and attracted a surprising number of 120 farmers. An aerobic rice variety trial and frog trial attracted most interest.
The use of aerial imaging to target sampling for the NIR Tissue test which was initiated during the Rice CRC was heavily promoted and adoption has been excellent. In the 2004/05 season 29000ha or 66% of the total rice crop was imaged. Variable nitrogen rates were applied to an estimated minimum of 30% of this area thus assisting in the improvement of crop uniformity. In the 2005/06 season, 50% or 46,500 ha of the total rice crop was imaged and an estimated 5800 ha or 35% of the total rice area was imaged in the 2006/07 drought ravaged season.
The impact of the low production years in 2004/05 and 2006/07 due to drought, the very low yield in the 2004/05 season from severe cold and the high water use in the 2004/05 and 2006/07 seasons has resulted in no yield or WUE improvement for the three years of this project. Therefore it is not possible to demonstrate the usual financial benefits in terms of additional yield and production or profit per megalitre. All the irrigation communities, but particularly those in the Murray Valley where there was virtually no rice production in the 2006/07 season have been badly hit.
Unfortunately, the drought is continuing and at the time of publication of this report there are zero water allocations in both the Murrumbidgee and Murray Valleys. Very little rice will be grown with production to be similar to the developing rice industry in the 1920’s.
Implications
NSW DPI research and extension
and agribusiness resources remain in place to service the rice industry
when it revives. This project has demonstrated the wide range of educational
and extension activities used which will be essential to revitalising farmers
and the rice industry when the drought is over. When more normal seasons
and production eventuate there can be confidence that yields and WUE will
again improve.
Recommendations
The results and outputs
from this extension project have already been communicated to the target
audience of farmers and stakeholders. Recommendations are listed in the
Recommendations Chapter of this report. These relate to future coordination
and delivery to farmers, Ricecheck, publications, decision support, links,
projects and technical issues. One key recommendation indicates the importance
of training Technical officers in Crystal Reporting software and securing
the future funding of the Cropcheck database.
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