Working Group 1
Drought-prone rainfed lowlands

Rainfed lowlands in many parts of Asia are vulnerable to sudden drought, making rice farming an annual risky encounter with nature. Early-season drought affects crop establishment and delays transplanting. Late-season drought affects pollination and grain-filling. Nutrients are less available to rice plants in dry soils, and farmers apply less fertilizer to drought-prone fields because of the risk of crop loss. Drought also increases weed pressure; rice plants can't keep pace with weed growth in dry soils. Weeds normally suppressed by water in a paddy grow quickly in dry soils

Research themes
The Working Group is working to reduce drought risk and improve productivity of direct-seeded and transplanted systems. Researchers are collaborating with farmers on the following themes:
  • Develop varieties acceptable to farmers and consumers,

  • Develop integrated weed management systems acceptable to farmers,

  • Develop nutrient-management systems that permit organic and inorganic fertilizer response and economic efficiency in face of fluctuating soil moisture conditions,

  • Develop effective management of pests associated with drought.

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    Achievements
  • Confirmed that low rates of inorganic fertilizer can give profitable yield increases even in drought years (Thailand, Laos, India).

  • Confirmed that improved establishment methods based on line-sowing and post-emergence herbicide application can have a 1 t/ha yield advantage over the traditional beushening system, and are highly preferred by farmers (India).

  • Confirmed practices that realistically predict the yield potential of drought-prone fields by taking into account water availability, soil quality, and the variety used, tend to be more profitable than the blanket recommendations currently made, which target unrealistically high yields (Thailand, Laos, India).

  • Confirmed that Thai varieties KDML 105, RD15, and the new IRRI-Thai release IR77924-62-71-2-1 have very high tolerance to drought during flowering and grainfilling (Thailand).

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    Working Group Leader Dr. Stephan Haefele
    Key Site Raipur, India; Indira Gandhi Krishi Viswavidyalaya (IGAU), Dr. ASRAS Sastri
      Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand; Ubon Ratchathani Rice Research Center (URRRC), Dr. Varapong Chamarerk
    Satellite Site Dhanusha, Nepal; National Agricultural Research Council (NARC), Dr. NP Adhikari
      Rajshahi, Bangladesh; Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Dr. MA Mazid
      Rambiga, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia; Assessment Institute for Agricultural Technology (AIAT), Ir. Lalu Wirajaswadi MS, and Indonesian Institute for Rice Research (IIRR), Dr. Bambang Suprihatno
      Savannakhet, Laos; Dr. Phoudalay Lathivilayavong