Reviving Traditional Rice Farming Practices for Sustainability and Resilience

Wikifarmer

Editorial team

4 min read
04/09/2024
Reviving Traditional Rice Farming Practices for Sustainability and Resilience

Rice fields across the world are predominantly wetlands encircled by bunds, soil structures designed to conserve water and minimize run-off. These bunds create diverse habitats for various plants and animals that thrive in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. Before the green revolution of the 1970s, these biodiverse rice fields were crucial for rural households, providing a range of foods and medicinal resources. Despite the low rice yields from these traditional systems, typically less than 3 Mg/ha per cultivation cycle, they were stable due to the use of local cultivars adapted to withstand drought and floods. The ecological dynamics within these fields, including fallow periods that disrupted pest life cycles, contributed to yield stability by preventing pest outbreaks.

Impact of Green Revolution on Indonesian Rice Farming

In Indonesia, the introduction of green revolution technologies in the early 1970s led to increased pest outbreaks. This revolution promoted monoculture practices and the heavy use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. However, these chemicals often became ineffective during extreme weather conditions, leading to increased dosages and more frequent applications by farmers. This practice resulted in pest and weed resistance, resurgence of secondary pests, and significant nutrient losses, with about 20% of applied nitrogen being lost to the air or through run-off. As extreme weather events become more common, the effectiveness of these chemicals is expected to decline further, threatening global food security and farmers’ livelihoods.

Exploring Traditional Polyculture Systems for Modern Rice Production

To address these challenges, it may be beneficial to revisit traditional polyculture systems and incorporate modern improvements. Studies have shown that traditional rice polycultures, such as rice combined with azolla (a nitrogen-fixing fern), fish, or ducks, can reduce the need for agrochemicals while maintaining similar yields to conventional monoculture systems. Azolla can reduce weed biomass by up to 22%, fish by up to 63%, and ducks by as much as 91%. Fish and ducks also help control pests by foraging on them, thus reducing pest populations and disease incidence. Furthermore, integrating these animals into rice systems enhances nutrient recycling, as their waste products decompose and release nutrients back into the soil.

Benefits of Complex Rice Systems (CRS)

Complex rice systems (CRS), which integrate rice with azolla, fish, and ducks, have shown promising results. These systems not only suppress weeds and pests but also improve nutrient cycling and increase rice yields. Experiments conducted in East Java, Indonesia, from 2013 to 2016 demonstrated the effectiveness of these multispecies interactions. Seven different treatment plots were tested, ranging from conventional rice farming to organic systems incorporating azolla, fish, and ducks. The results indicated that more complex systems had lower weed density, reduced pest populations, and better nutrient management.

Enhanced Weed and Pest Control through CRS

Weed control in CRS was significantly improved, with azolla covering the soil and water surfaces to prevent weed emergence and ducks further reducing weed abundance through their foraging behavior. Similarly, pest suppression was enhanced by azolla acting as a trap crop, attracting pests that were then consumed by ducks, creating a dead-end trap mechanism. Nutrient cycling was also more efficient in CRS, with organic matter from N-fixing plants, animal excreta, and crop residues providing a steady supply of nutrients for rice growth.

Significant Increase in Rice Yields with CRS

The impact of complex rice systems on rice yields is noteworthy. Experiments have shown that incorporating azolla, fish, and ducks into rice farming significantly boosts rice biomass and grain yields. In trials, rice yields increased by 24% and 29% in organic systems with azolla and ducks, respectively, compared to conventional methods. When fish were added to these systems, yields soared by 40%, outperforming both conventional and organic methods alone. These results were consistent over multiple cropping cycles, highlighting the stability and resilience of CRS, especially during pest and weed outbreaks. This increase in yields is attributed to enhanced weed suppression, pest control, and nutrient cycling in CRS.

The Future of Sustainable Rice Farming

These findings highlight the potential of complex rice systems to provide a sustainable alternative to conventional monoculture practices. By increasing functional agrobiodiversity, CRS can enhance ecosystem resilience, reduce reliance on chemical inputs, and improve food security. However, further research is needed to explore additional ways to increase the complexity and self-sufficiency of these systems, reduce environmental losses, and enhance resource efficiency. The revival and adaptation of traditional farming practices, combined with modern innovations, could pave the way for more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.

This is a popularized version of the paper: “Agro-ecological mechanisms for weed and pest suppression and nutrient recycling in high yielding complex rice systems.

Uma Khumairoh a,b,*, Egbert A. Lantinga a, Irfan Handriyadi c, Rogier P.O. Schulte a, Jeroen C. J. Groot”   2021

Further reading

Unlocking Sustainable Farming Solutions: Insights from Wageningen’s Lighthouse Farms

Climate-Smart Agriculture Solutions in Rice

Rice sustainable farming and SRI (System of Rice Intensification) method

How to grow Rice – Rice Complete Growing Guide from Seeding to Harvest

Building Resilience in Agriculture

What are the Principle, Goals and Benefits of Sustainable Agriculture?

What is Biologically Integrated Farming Systems (BIFS)?