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Management of rice production systems to increase productivity

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transgressions (Dunsmore et al., 1976). Considering the parent material in<br />

which soils <strong>of</strong> The Gambia were formed, a generally low fertility status might<br />

be expected.<br />

With the inherently low clay and organic matter contents <strong>of</strong> the upland<br />

soils <strong>of</strong> The Gambia, sustainable natural sources <strong>of</strong> plant nutrients are very<br />

limited (Peters and Schulte, 1996). This is particularly critical for<br />

micronutrients which are not typically found in the limited selection <strong>of</strong><br />

commercial fertilizer sources available.<br />

In a study <strong>of</strong> soil nutrients in The Gambia, Peters and Schulte (1996)<br />

reported the following widespread deficiencies Z>S>N>P>K.<br />

Soil organic matter (SOM) is low, in general, in Gambian upland soils<br />

(

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