Organic rice production - Improving system sustainability
Project Summary
Full title:
Organic Rice Production - Improving system sustainability
Project ID:
03P71
Project type:
Research/Extension
Start date:
01/07/2003
Completion date:
30/06/2004
Project status:
Current
Project leader:
Ms Robyn NEESON, Yanco Agricultural Institute
Lead agency:
NSW DPI
Locations:
Yanco Agricultural Institute
Project Details
Objectives:
The project will aim to demonstrate technologies that support the drive for continued sustainability of the rice farming enterprise within the context of the ecological, economic and social environments of the region. This will be achieved by:
· benchmarking current organic rice production techniques,
· conducting preliminary on-farm assessments to determine: - the suitability of existing rice varieties for organic production; - the effectiveness of non-chemical weed management techniques currently employed by organic farmers; and - phosphorous and nitrogen availability to the rice crop following the pasture phase in organic systems.
· conducting an economic assessment of existing pasture/livestock/rice systems.
The desired outcomes of the project will be to:
i. Improve productivity and sustainability of the organic rice-based production system,with particular emphasis on sustainable soil and crop management and pest control strategies to minimise pesticide use. A specific outcome is: soil management (particularly phosphorous and nitrogen availability) to create higher organic rice yields without loss of productive potential or environmental quality.
ii. Determine more appropriate use of fertilisers to increase production and grain quality by optimising phosphorous availability in the pasture phase and hence nitrogen fixation for the subsequent rice crop.
iii. Minimise chemical use to successfully protect rice crops from insect pests, diseases and weeds by evaluating the effectiveness of existing non-chemical weed management and by investigating alternative non-chemical weed management techniques, and
iv. Review the further potential for management, biological agents and reduced chemical use to support sustainable and profitable rice production (including organic production).
Methodology:
The project will review and benchmark organic rice management systems with particular emphasis on:
· Suitability of current rice varieties for organic production systems; · weed management; and · rice system nutrition.
Initially, a workshop will be convened with organic rice producers, NSW Agriculture researchers and district agronomists, as well as other rice industry agronomists to identify current management practices and potential strategies that could be evaluated in the field during the 2003-2004 rice season.
In addition the following studies will be undertaken in three rice production areas (Leeton, Hay and Barham) during the 2003-2004 rice season:
1. Prior to rice planting in 2003, an evaluation of pasture health on organic farms will be undertaken. This will include a population assessment of leguminous and non-leguminous forage species and measurements of available soil nitrogen and phosphorous. Further soil N and P measurements will be taken throughout the rice growing season.
2. During 2003-2004 rice season, the project Technical Officer, in conjunction with NSW Agriculture district agronomists, will conduct preliminary on-farm trials to investigate the performance of different rice cultivars under an organic management regime.
3. A weed survey will be undertaken and correlated with paddock management history to determine management effects on weed species and their population.
4. An economic assessment will be conducted of existing organic pasture/livestock/rice rotations.
Results of the studies will be presented at three field days (Hay, Leeton and Barham), an industry workshop, in journals (eg The IREC Farmers Newsletter) and in a formal report (RIRDC Final Report). As well as presenting results of the studies during the final industry workshop, participants will be asked to determine options for future research in organic rice systems. This will provide an opportunity to provide direction for Rice CRC research into organic production.
Industry relevance:
Markets for Australian organic rice have been identified domestically, in Europe, and in Asia (particularly Japan). SunRice has predicted that the demand for Australian organic rice will increase from 2,205 tonnes (FP) in 2003 to 2,640 tonnes (FP) in 2004, with the greatest increase in the Food Ingredients category. However, organic rice production falls well short of both domestic and export requirements with total production of organic rice in a good year currently around 600-700 tonnes finished product (FP) (SunRice, 2002).
Organic rice production is primarily based on a pasture (clover, ryegrass) and livestock / rice rotation. This rotation tends to have a long pasture phase - usually 3-4 years pasture followed by 1-year rice. This is in contrast to conventional systems where a rice on rice rotation is common. The lengthened pasture and livestock phase in the organic system plays an important role in providing a weed break as well as nutrition for the subsequent rice crop. Some organic producers follow rice with a winter cereal if the soil has sufficient nutrient reserves. All crops and pastures grown in the rotation must be organically produced and all livestock managed by organic principles.
A workshop coordinated by NSW Agriculture, RIRDC and SunRice in 2002 was told that organic production has a greater risk of failure and lower yields than conventional rice production. Under current production regimes yields of organic rice are 50-75% lower than conventional rice. Crop establishment, crop nutrition and weed management were identified as key areas of management that differentiate organic and conventional systems. The workshop concluded a number of specific production constraints were limiting potential expansion of the organic rice industry:
Suitability of current rice varieties Organic producers questioned the suitability of ‘modern’ rice varieties for organic production. Existing organic producers believe that older varieties such as “Pelde” may be more suited to organic production - seedling vigour is better, less nutritional requirements, better weed competitiveness and reasonable cold-tolerance. The workshop concluded that district variety trials should be undertaken to determine the quality and yield potential of ‘new’ and ‘older’ varieties under organic management regimes.
Weed management Weed management, particularly barnyard grass, is a significant problem in organic rice production. Since chemical controls are not an option, research into alternative methods of control is needed. The findings of such research would potentially have flow-on benefits for the ‘non-organic’ rice industry by reducing herbicide usage.
Rice system nutrition The management and economic sustainability of the long pasture phase in organic rice systems requires investigation. Long pasture rotations require growers to place a greater emphasis on improving and maintaining vigour in clover pastures and maximising returns from organic livestock. In order to provide adequate rice nutrition, P availability, and hence N fixation, must be optimised during the pasture phase. What other options to the long pasture phase are available - is it possible to shorten the pasture phase and still achieve weed suppression and adequate crop nutrition without the use of artificial fertilisers and herbicides? Would this be at the expense of a profitable livestock enterprise?
An improved understanding of these areas of organic rice production will potentially increase the yield, quality and economic sustainability of organic rice and encourage the conversion of more farms to organic production.
The information contained in this web page is based on knowledge and
understanding at the time of writing. However, because of advances in knowledge, users are
reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date and to
check currency of the information with the appropriate officer of New South Wales
Department of Agriculture or the user’s independent adviser.
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