Implication of Climate Variability for Latex Exudates F Rubber Tree (Hevea Brasilliensis) in the Humid Tropics of South Eastern Nigeria.

Abstract

The study aimed at: assessing the relationship between latex exudates and climate variability; identifying the most critical climate element(s) in the yield variability of rubber; and examining the predictability of rubber yield based on climate variability. Fifteen years data was collected from documented, but unpublished, sources and analyzed using multiple step-wise regressions. Two models were developed and all suggested that variable rubber yield was significantly related to the joint influence of climate elements. The most significant variables identified however were rainfall, temperature and sunshine hours. These three elements had significantly negative effects on rubber yield. Analysis of residual and standard error however suggested that these models did not provide good and reliable prediction hence the data generated may have been by chance occurrence. This was suggested to be possible at the intra-annual scale because of multicollinearity that existed between the independent variables. It was therefore recommended that further studies be conducted with a more robust model be developed to incorporate as many independent variables as possible and factor analysis carried out as a reduction tool. Finally, that agro forestry planner should also consider the implications of climate variability for other tree crops.LWATI: A Journal of Contemporary Research Vol. 5 2008: pp. 400-412