In SRI cono weeder can it be mechanized to save labour cost?
It is possible to motorise the cono weeder

Whether SRI is suitable for all seasons?
Yes, suitable for all the varieties and seasons. Compare to seasons, SRI is more suitable to Sornavari and Navarai seasons. Rainy season is not suitable for SRI cultivation, wherever inundation problem is promising.

Can we apply cono weeder for drum seeded rice?
Yes, Possible in between rows only not in between the plants.

Can the young seedling (14 days) able to withstand the transplanting shock?
Yes, it can withstand in the field condition since it is transferred along with its soil from nursery to the main field. So, the transition shock is prevented.

Is it mandate to use single seedling in SRI?
Yes, but two seedlings can also be used if the fields are prone to flood and inundation.

Whether organic farming can be adopted in SRI?
Yes, SRI is more responsive to organic manures like glyricidia, which reduces the rate of application of inorganic fertilizer in addition to increase the soil health.

New varieties suitable for rainfed and semi dry cultivation.
TKM 11 and TKM ® 12

Whether the TKM 11 and TKM ® 12 are having yield potential as that of existing varieties in cultivation?
Yes, approximate yield of TKM 11 and TKM ® 12 are 3500 kg/ ha and 3070 kg/ ha respectively under upland rainfed condition.

What is the yield advantage of hybrids over varieties?
Recently released short duration rice hybrid CORH 3 is yielding 6.6 tin/ ha and the varieties yield an average of 5 ton/ha.

Name the hybrid rice suitable for Tiruvallur district? What is its duration?
Hybrid rice CORH 3 is most suitable. Its duration is 115 days.

Which is the most suitable season for taking up hybrid rice cultivation?
Sornavari, Kar, Kuruvai and Navarai are suitable.

What is the seed rate and where it is available?
Seed rate is 20 kg / ha and is available at Department of Rice, TNAU, Coimbatore.

Can’t we take seeds from KVK, Tirur?
No, we have only a minimum quantity to lay out demonstration in farmers fields. In future more production will be planned.

Who will buy the produce?
Produce can be sold for grain purpose like other paddy varieties through local buyers or through regulated market committee.

Can we reserve these seeds for the next season?
No, the produce of hybrids cannot be further used for seed purpose, because they will segregate. For every time, F1 seeds have to be bought and used.

Is hybrid rice cultivation a successful one?
Definitely hybrid rice cultivation has gained momentum since it is easy to cultivate and crop production aspects are like normal varietal cultivation except nursery and fertilizer management.

What will be the yield of CORH 3 hybrid rice?
Its average yield is 6600 kg/ ha. But in farmers field it has recorded 8000-10000 kg/ha

Will it be resistant to stem borer and blast?
Yes.

Can we produce our own F1 hybrid seeds?
Yes, it is possible.. Plant breeder from KVK, Tirur will guide you in raising hybrid rice seed production plots.

How to manage problematic soils and irrigation waters?
Problematic soils are of two types.
Acidic soils. B. Saline , Alkaline and sodic soils.
To manage acid soils, based on the pH and soil exchangeable aluminium, lime requirement has to be worked out and applied to the soils. To manage saline, saline-alkaline and sodicity, gypsum requirement has to be worked and applied to the soil, apart from frequent submergence and drainage of soils. To manage problematic irrigation waters based on the EC of water, treatement of such waters with gypsum and deficient minerals could bring the EC to normal levels.

What is the reason for blackening of rice roots, even though there is sufficient water stand and does it have any negative effect on rice yield?
Though rice soils are under submergence and in reduced potential excess of dissolved oxygen in interaction with root respiration and exudates oxidizes the root zone whereby discoloration of root occurs. The event prevents proper uptake of nutrients affecting the yield, To avoid such negative chemical interactions, application of zinc sulphate solves the problem by expressing their anti oxidant nature thereby maintaining normal redox potential. To overcome this problem zinc 25 kg/ ha is recommended.

What is the role of Zinc sulphate in rice production?
Zinc is a micronutrient and an anti oxidant. Apart from its nutrient value it helps to maintain proper redox potential in the root zone of rice under submerged condition.

Which variety is suitable for SRI and paddy direct seed drum?
All medium and short duration varieties are suitable for SRI and direct seed drum method.

How to control the thrips attrct in paddy Nursery?
Dsetroying of host  weeds near the nursery area.
Spraying of neem seed kernel entract (NSKE) 5% or neem oil 2% or Chlorpyriphos 20Ec 2m/lit of water.

What are the technologies to be adopted for SRI
Raised bed nursery (with polythene sheet, DAP, biofertilizers)
Marker assisted trans[plantion on 14 th  day with 22.5*22.5 cm spacing, single seedling used for transplanting.
Cono weeder application on 10th and 20th day.
1’’ water level maintained , irrigation at hairline crack formation

Availability of SRI markers in MAdurai and mandatory address
Recommended to purchase from AMRC,TNAU,Coimbatore and private  workshops at  Melur,Madurai dist.

Possibility transplanter in SRI technology ?
Research on SRI transplanter in AEC & RI,Kumulur and may be released in  2009.