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Management of rice production systems to increase productivity

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Two <strong>rice</strong> varieties, IET 3137 and ITA 306 were used in the trial. The<br />

trial was a split‐plot design with 3 replications. The main plot was fertilizer<br />

application rate. Bunds, 15 cm high, were constructed between the main plots.<br />

The two varieties were transplanted in the sub‐plots. Plot sizes were 3 m wide<br />

and 5 m long. Urea <strong>to</strong>pdressing was applied 50 % at tillering and 50 % at<br />

panicle initiation.<br />

VI. On‐Farm SRI management trials<br />

The on‐farm trial was conducted in 2001. It was a researcher managed.<br />

Ten dabadas (households: the smallest divisible unit <strong>of</strong> a farm community in<br />

the Gambia) were selected at random <strong>to</strong> participate in the on‐farm trial.<br />

Each farmer did an SRI and their standard method <strong>of</strong> <strong>production</strong>.<br />

A standard variety IET 3137 was supplied <strong>to</strong> all participating farmers. Ten<br />

days old seedlings are transplanted at 30 x 30 cm spacing. Fertilizer was<br />

applied at a rate <strong>of</strong> 70‐30‐30 NPK kg/ha which is the national recommended<br />

rate, 30‐30‐30 kg/ha NPK was applied as basal, and 20 kg/ha N was applied at<br />

tillering and panicle initiation growth stages.<br />

The standard practice is continuously flooded. The SRI practice is<br />

intermittently flooded and dried. It is irrigated with enough water <strong>to</strong> saturate<br />

the soil, and is re‐irrigated after 2 or 3 days or until the soil starts <strong>to</strong> show<br />

signs <strong>of</strong> slight water deficit.<br />

Rice Varieties used in the trial:<br />

ITA 306 was introduced by the International Institute <strong>of</strong> Tropical<br />

Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Nigeria. It is also known as Sahel 202. It is<br />

widely grown in the Sahel region. It matures in 110 ‐120 days. It is a high<br />

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