ABSTRACT
SRI is a biologically-based technology that differs fromwhat is currently understood as ‘biotechnology’ in that it involves no genetic manipulation or modification. Instead it capitalizes upon productive potentials that already exist within the genomes of rice (and other crops), inducing different, more productive phenotypes from available genotypes (Uphoff, 2007). While the reasons for methodology’s effectiveness are still not fully understood, positive results from its alternative management practices have already been seen in>25 countries (Satyanarayana et al., 2006; Uphoff, 2006). Thismeans that to the important question are no longerwhether SRI is effective, butwhy? Explanations for the increased productivity of resources used in irrigated rice production that can be attributed to SRI methods are mostly coming from a better understanding of soil biological factors and of plant-soil-microbial interactions (Randriamiharisoa et al., 2006).
