Dear Andreas,
Very nice report, which I have touched up a bit on format so that Lucy
Fischer can put it onto the SRI home page. You must really feel good when
you hear reports like Prem Narayan's -- esp. the conversation with the old
lady. I have heard many of these conversations reported, and I still get a
thrill (chill) each time I heard them. They are so real, and so human, and
so consistent. SRI really does work, even under unfavorable conditions like
these. In Andhra Pradesh we are experiencing tremendous success with SRI.
They expect to average over 10 t/ha this rabi season on about 6,000 ha.
They must have different and better soil organisms supporting this -- as my
attention is increasingly directed to biological (rather than
physiological) explanations for SRI success, at least the big successes.
Have you read about phytohormones? I think I sent around something on this
subject. Go on the web and search for PHYTOHORMONES -- including the names
Frankenberger and Arshad. You will be amazed by some of the things you
find. I'll attach also Dr. Satyanarayana's response to the March 25 NATURE
article on SRI. It will be printed in part, I understand. If you don't have
the article, I can send it in a JPG file. With all best wishes for your
continued success with SRI.
Norman