Abstract
Maintaining the tapping quality in rubber fields is the key requirement to obtain potential yield with minimum harm to the tree. It also determines productivity and the economical lifespan of 30 years and sustainable rubber industry. The length of the tapping cut, the depth, the thickness of the bark shaving, and the slope of the tapping cut are the main factors determining the tapping quality. Use of a stencil according to the intended tapping frequency, i.e. d2, d3, d4, etc., to mark the guidelines to maintain the proper tapping angle of 30 degrees to the horizontal, and the bark consumption allowed for one year, are all equally contribute to maintaining the tapping quality. About 5000 ha. was surveyed to assert the tapping quality and to make recommendations. The average bark consumption rate per panel was four years deviating from recommended six years under d2 tapping. The monitory loss per hectare under this bark consumption rate is Rs.2.5 million at a productivity level of 1000 kg/ha/y and Rs.350.00 per kg of rubber. Trees affected by tapping panel dryness varied and was over 70% in some extreme cases. Introducing a quarter cut on the upper opposite panel of the tree ceased the situation to a greater extent.
Highlights
The extent under rubber cultivation in Sri Lanka has come down from around 200,000 ha. in the 1970s to about 130,000 ha. at present (Anon, 2017)
The rubber production in Sri Lanka was on an increasing trend until 2016, mainly owing to the usage of high yielding clones and the adoption of improved agro-management practices recommended by the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka
Though harvesting is the most important agro management practice on an estate, so many malpractices are seen including tapping of under-girth-trees which are not reported in the results
Summary
The extent under rubber cultivation in Sri Lanka has come down from around 200,000 ha. in the 1970s to about 130,000 ha. at present (Anon, 2017). To calculate the bark consumption rate, the actual panel position was measured with a measuring tape and the number of years in tapping was recorded from their records available at the Estate Office.
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More From: Journal of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka
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