Rice as a Vegetable: An Organic Perspective of System of Rice Intensification

System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is an agro-ecological method of growing rice in an upland moist ground scenario without flood.  In arid regions where resources like water, seed, and fertilizer are scarce, SRI provides an opportunity for growers to obtain rice yields equal and greater to flood systems. The wide spacing experienced in SRI is the main reason for increased yields due to the plants ability to produce multiple runners and panicles compared to flood systems. This rice cultivar trial was conducted at Clemson Coastal Research and Education Center Organic Research Farm in Charleston, South Carolina, utilizing raised bed plasticulture typically used to grow vegetable crops. Cultural practices included 160 pounds per acre of 8-5-5 Nature Safe preplant incorporated, with black plastic mulch and two rows of drip tape. Rice cultivars Carolina Gold, Charleston Gold, Presidio, Tesanai II, IAC 600, XL 753, Jefferson/O. rufipogon, and Dragon Eyeball were seeded in 288 cell packs May 1, 2014, and transplanted May 15, 2014, three rows to a plot in a 25 cm² grid pattern in a completely randomized block design with four replications.  Moisture levels were maintained between saturation and field capacity. Days to flowering, heading, and height data were collected prior to harvest. At harvest, 0.03 m² area plot subsamples were hand harvested and graded for narrow brown leaf spot, brown leaf spot, bacterial panicle blight, and straight head. The graded bundles were then hung in a drying greenhouse for approximately 36 hours until rice kernels achieved 12% moisture and then the bundles were threshed with a Kincade plot combine and then weighed. Average field yields in pounds per acre were as follows; Carolina Gold=1,366, Charleston Gold=4,155, Presidio=10,427, Tesanai II=8,889, IAC 600=2,090, XL 753=15,311, Jefferson/O. rufipogon=6,144, and Dragon Eyeball=2,094.  XL 753 is a modern hybrid and yielded significantly greater yields than the other cultivars. Commonly cultivated Presidio and Tesanai II yields were statistically similar. The remaining lines in this trial were heritage types yielded consistent with flood culture.  A flood trial was conducted alongside the SRI trial with six of the eight cultivars, and of the comparable yields SRI XL 753 yielded 4,469 pounds per acre more than flood and Presidio yielded 3,514 pounds per acre more than flood.  Considering command pricing for organic heritage rice, SRI rice as a vegetable has potential to fill a niche in commercial horticulture with more research.