Rubber Plantations Research Articles

Analisis Kandungan Hara N, P, dan K pada Perbedaan Lahan yang Ditanami Karet dan Kelapa Sawit

The general obstacles in cultivating rubber and oil palm are soil acidity and limited availability of nutrients, especially N, P, and K. These nutrients play an important role in the growth of rubber and oil palm plants. Knowing the nutrient content is necessary to be able to determine the management that needs to be carried out. The objective of this study is to determine differences in the nutrient content of N, P, and K on various lands planted with rubber and oil palm plants. Soil sample analysis was conducted in the laboratory for available N, available P, and available K. To determine differences in land use for the elements N, P and K, data were analyzed using an unpaired two sample t test. The results showed differences in available K and available P levels between the two land types, while no differences were observed in N availability between the two land types. This variation may be caused by differences in land management practices.

Four new species of Dothideomycetes (Ascomycota) from Pará Rubber (Heveabrasiliensis) in Yunnan Province, China.

The tropical areas in southern and south-western Yunnan are rich in fungal diversity. Additionally, the diversity of seed flora in Yunnan Province is higher than in other regions in China and the abundant endemic species of woody plants provide favourable substrates for fungi. Rubber plantations in Yunnan Province are distributed over a large area, especially in Xishuangbanna. During a survey of rubber-associated fungi in Yunnan Province, China, dead rubber branches with fungal fruiting bodies were collected. Morphological characteristics and multigene phylogenetic analyses (ITS, LSU, SSU, rpb2 and tef1-α) revealed four distinct new species, described herein as Melomastiapuerensis, Nigrogranalincangensis, Pseudochaetosphaeronemalincangensis and Pseudochaetosphaeronemaxishuangbannaensis. Detailed descriptions, illustrations and phylogenetic trees are provided to show the taxonomic placements of these new species.

The Influence of Climate Change on Rainfall and Rainy Days for Rubber Production of Kusen Clone in Rambang District, Muara Enim Regency

Extreme rainfall impacts rubber production, reducing effective tapping days and cumulative annual output and having a wide-ranging effect on rubber crop cultivation. This study aimed to find out how rainfall and rainy days affected the rubber production of the Kusen clone in Muara Enim Regency’s Rambang District. The study was conducted on a rubber plantation of Kusen clone, which has an area of 1 ha. The initial stage in analyzing the impact of climate change on Kusen clone rubber production in Rambang District, Muara Enim Regency, was identifying the independent and dependent variables. The T-test was conducted to see whether each independent variable partially has a significant effect on the dependent variable. Rubber production has fallen year after year, with an average of 205.12 kg/ha in 2019 during the first year of tapping and 118.43 in 2023. The coefficient value (r) shows a 27.2% (sufficient correlation) magnitude association between the rainfall and rainy-day variables and the rubber productivity variable of the Kusen clone. In Correlation test results, rainfall and rainy days are strongly associated with producing Kusen clone rubber, as demonstrated by the correlation analysis value of 0.846. Regression research showed that rainfall and rainy days had a statistically insignificant effect on rubber production on the rubber clone Kusen in Rambang District, Muara Enim Regency.

Expert System for Diagnosing Diseases in Rubber Plants using the Forward Chaining and Dampster Shafer Methods

Expert System for Diagnosing Diseases in Rubber Plants using the Forward Chaining and Dampster Shafer Methods

HISTÓRIA ORAL, FIGURAÇÃO E INTERPRETAÇÃO DO SERINGUEIRO: UMA ANÁLISE DA REPRESENTÇÃO SIMBÓLICA PRESENTE NA PRAÇA DOS SERINGUEIROS, EM PORTO VELHO.

The present study aims to present an analytical sketch about the interpretative and polysemic possibility of the figure of the rubber tapper. In this sense, the general objective is to analyze how the representation of the rubber tapper is transformed into symbols and historical meanings in a square in Porto Velho. The specific objectives are guided by presenting the implicit discourses of the symbolic representation constant in the rubber tappers’ square; and describe how the statue of the rubber tapper present in the square translates the history of the rubber plantation as a spatial and temporal mark of discourse and identity; The theoretical foundation will be subsidized, mainly, by Joutard (2000) and Caldas (1997), regarding Oral History. Bakhtin (2003) about text and discourse, and Nora (1993), about symbols and Memory of places. In the area of methodology, the research was developed via bibliographical research, whose nature of the texts and literature it is possible to locate the premises that meet the scope and object of the study. As a result, it can be inferred that there are a variety of possibilities for interpreting the rubber tapper square, with regard to the representative symbols marked by the rubber tapper statue. Thus, it was concluded that what has already been written about the story told via oral history of the rubber tappers still remain as a symbol of social resistance and identity of the historical character that was created throughout the period of rubber extraction in the Amazon.

Analysis of 10-m Sentinel-2 imagery and a re-normalization approach reveals a declining trend in the latest rubber plantations in Xishuangbanna

Natural rubber is one of the four main raw materials of industry and a globally important strategic material. Rubber plantations with agroforestry attributes have undergone rapid growth in the northern part of mainland Southeast Asia (including Xishuangbanna) since the 1990s, leading to a series of eco-environmental effects on biological diversity, climate change, carbon stocks, and hydrological processes. Accurate, detailed, and updated spatial information on rubber plantations, therefore, is fundamental for developing efficient management strategies. Currently, the booming rubber plantations are being experienced new changes in Xishuangbanna. The commonly used coarser spatial resolution satellite data (e.g., 250-m MODIS and/or 30-m Landsat) have limited applications because most plantations are often small and scattered, especially in the mountainous areas. Here, we developed a straightforward and effective re-normalization of red green normalized difference vegetation index (ReNDI) approach based on finer resolution (10-m) Sentinel-2 imagery, and then mapped the first annual 10-m rubber plantations in the entire Xishuangbanna during 2018–2021. Interestingly, rubber plots no longer expanded as rapidly as in past decades and even decreased slightly. The latest area of rubber plantations was 2514.7 km2, a decrease of 31.9 km2 comparing since 2018, with an average overall accuracy and kappa coefficient of four-year reached up to 95.37 % and 0.90, respectively. Among them, Jinghong city and Menghai county increased by 52.4 km2 and 14.8 km2 respectively, and Mengla county decreased by 99.1 km2. The main area of rubber expansion was around the Jinghong city, where rubber was initially planted. More importantly, owing to pursuing increased economic benefits and requirements of environmental protection, a considerable portion of the rubber encroachment has disappeared, particularly near roads and rivers. Our phenology-based ReNDI algorithm not only enriches the remotely-sensed methods for other industrial plantations mapping, but also provides a new chance to understanding the current patterns of rubber plantations (i.e., increase and decrease), which will contributed to rational planting planning and agroforestry management in the future, especially in the tropics.

INCOME ANALYSIS OF MAIZE FARMERS ON RUBBER PLANTATION HIATEN LAND UTILIZATION SUNGEI PUTIH RESEARCH UNIT

Sungei Putih Research Unit is an area located in Galang District, Deliserdang Regency which has a rubber plantation sector. The vacant land found in rubber plantations in this area is used by the community, one of which is to grow corn. The purpose of this research is to increase the income of corn farmers through the use of land between rubber plantations in Sungei Putih Research Unit and to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of corn farming by utilizing land using the R/C Ratio and ROI. This research was conducted at Sungei Putih Research Unit, Galang District, Deli Serdang Regency using the Saturated Sampling method to select 9 farmers who intercropped rubber with corn as research samples. To find out whether the business is profitable or not, production costs and income are calculated and then analyzed using the R/C Ratio and ROI, and the income contribution is calculated. The results showed that the R/C ratio was 2.36 > 1, which means that every production cost of Rp. 1,000 will generate income of Rp. 2,360 for farmers so that corn farming on rubber plantations between Sungei Putih Research Unit is profitable. The ROI value of 36.66% indicates that farming has a profitable profit rate, and a revenue contribution of 69.39% indicates that corn farming on rubber plantation land makes a good contribution to the total income of farmers. To increase the maximum income, it is recommended that farmers take good care of their corn plants so that they are free from pests and diseases.

The large-scale expansion of rubber plantations in southern India: major impacts and the changing nature of drivers

This study investigates the major environmental and socio-economic impacts of an increase in the area of rubber plantations and the changing patterns of drivers of land use changes. Using a combination of geospatial techniques and socio-economic methods, we mainly analyzed the rate of increase in area under rubber plantations, the major impacts of land use changes, and the changing drivers of land use changes. Our results show that the area under rubber plantations has increased significantly within the study area, with the area under rubber plantations increasing from 30 to 74% of the total area within five decades. Impact assessment of land use changes based on household surveys showed significant improvement in the socio-economic conditions of the farmers, however, at the expense of severe environmental degradation. Our results also indicate that while areas under rubber plantations continue to increase, the drivers of land use changes have changed over time. Furthermore, it has been observed that in the past, many interventions prioritized social and economic development and placed less emphasis on the ecological stability of the region. Perceptions of farmers revealed that the effects of ecological fragility already affected the economic robustness of the whole area. Therefore, we conclude that government interventions to support additional rubber cultivation should also focus on ecosystem stabilization in order to minimize the risk of an ecological catastrophe that would significantly affect the economic prosperity of the region.

Toward soil carbon storage: The influence of parent material and vegetation on profile-scale microbial community structure and necromass accumulation

Soil microbial communities play a crucial role in the accumulation and stabilization of soil organic carbon (SOC) through complex processes involving plant residue transformation and mineral interactions. These processes are influenced by plant inputs and modulated by soil properties that are mostly determined by the parent material. However, our understanding is limited regarding the manner in which vegetation and parent material affect microbial community structure, necromass accumulation, and their subsequent impact on SOC storage. To bridge this knowledge gap, we conducted an in-depth investigation focusing on the top-down influence of vegetation type and the bottom-up effect of parent material on microbial-mediated carbon transformation across soil profiles in a tropical region. Our study encompassed 42 sites on three parent materials (basalt, granite, and marine sediments) and four vegetation types (rubber, banana, areca plantations and uncultivated grassland). Soil samples were collected at 0–20, 20–40, 40–80, and 80–100 cm depth. Microbial community structure and necromass were quantified using microbial biomarkers of phospholipid fatty acids and amino sugars, respectively. In rubber plantations, we observed a trend toward higher microbial biomass that, though not significant when compared to other vegetation types, transformed to a significantly higher accumulation of microbial necromass. This increase in microbial necromass was linked to the accumulation of SOC facilitated by the presence of clay size minerals in clayey soils developed from basalt. In particular, basaltic soils were dominated by bacteria, which facilitated the accumulation of bacterial necromass that significantly bolstered its contribution to SOC. In contrast, in sandier soils developed from granite and marine sediments, fungal communities and necromass dominated due to the propensity of fungi for coarser soil environments. Overall, the main impact of vegetation on microbial communities and necromass accumulation was primarily demonstrated for the topsoil. Differences in soil texture arising from different parent materials exert significant effects on the fungal-to bacterial-biomass and necromass ratios, consequently influencing the contribution of fungal and bacterial necromass carbon to SOC across soil profiles. Our study underscores the pivotal role of parent material in governing tropical profile-scale soil carbon storage by shaping the structure of microbial communities and influencing the retention of microbial necromass.

Qualities of Soil Upper Layers Under Rubber Plantation and Various Previous Soil Histories in Zépréguhé (Daloa, west-central Côte d'Ivoire)

Qualities of Soil Upper Layers Under Rubber Plantation and Various Previous Soil Histories in Zépréguhé (Daloa, west-central Côte d'Ivoire)

Investigating Drivers Impacting Carbon Stock and Carbon Offset in a Large-Scale Rubber Plantation in the Middle South of Thailand.

A large-scale rubber plantation in Southern Thailand is expected to capture a significant amount of carbon dioxide from emissions through carbon sinks in the vegetation and soil. The goal of this research is to create a carbon offset assessment for rubber plantations lasting for 30 years using a voluntary market contract approach. To evaluate the area of large-scale rubber plantations, this study evaluated major growing regions in five provinces in the middle-south region of Thailand (Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Satun and Trang) using an integrated RS-GIS technique that incorporated biomass allometric equations, soil series databases, and object-based classification. The classification of rubber plantation areas and the mapping of rubber stand ages were conducted to estimate the above-ground biomass of the rubber tree. Texture analysis was used in the rubber classification process, and normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) was combined with texture analysis to separate vegetation areas from other land cover. Four groups of varying ages (1-6, 7-13, 14-20 and 21-30 years old) were evaluated for their capacity to generate carbon offsets. The equations of voluntary market contract revenue according to the contract method of the CCX were applied for this case study. This evaluation was used to estimate their annual value, total and net incomes in the carbon market price regarding the RGGI Allowance (RGA). Carbon offset income was then used to estimate the potential income (over a 30-year period) of the life of the contract. The results showed that the carbon stock potential of rubber plantations depended on the age of the trees and the soil carbon stock. The total carbon stock in the rubber plantations varied from 249.73 to 301.48 Mg C/ha (or equivalently 916.49 to 1,106.44 Mg CO2e/ha). Furthermore, the potential net income of the contract was estimated to be between USD5,378.32 and USD5,930.38 Mg CO2e/ha over a 30-year period according to the voluntary market contract revenue. These results suggest that the large agricultural land plot policy could create opportunities for carbon offsetting. The policy of large-scale rubber areas could be used as a tool and mechanism for farmers who are considering participating in carbon-crediting mechanisms. Then, farmers could use voluntary market contracts as a guide and foundation for their decision-making. The carbon offset credit strategy could assist Thailand in achieving its climate goals of transitioning to a low-carbon agriculture sector.

Expanding Rubber Plantation Degrades Biodiversity and Worsen Local Environment

The rapid growth of rubber plantations in India exacerbates traditional agriculture and degrades biodiversity. Rubber is a cash crop, earns a remarkable income for the farmer and boosts the economy in the world market. The North Eastern states of India produce rubber successfully due to favorable atmosphere and climatic conditions. This region occupies a large area of natural forest and a hotspot of biodiversity. In the recent past, people shifted their occupation to rubber plantations by sacrificing forests and biodiversity. A case study in South Tripura, N-E state of India, highlighted the story behind environmental degradation through rubber plantations. A Likert scale analysis followed by a logistic regression tried to find out the negative impact of rubber plantations.

Rubber plantation size and global rubber price are linked to forest loss and degradation in Jambi, Sumatra

AbstractNatural rubber cultivation is one of the main drivers of tropical deforestation and biodiversity loss. This study examines regulatory and socio‐economic conditions that increase the susceptibility of rubber plantations to deforestation and degradation, aiming to support zero‐deforestation pledges and sustainability commitments made by the natural rubber industry. By combining bottom‐up socio‐economic survey data from rubber smallholder farmers in Indonesia with top‐down spatial datasets on forest loss and degradation, this study identifies factors associated with deforestation, tree cover loss, and degradation of high‐risk plantations. In Jambi Province, Indonesia, from 1991 to 2018, the overall tree cover loss in areas adjacent to rubber plantations was positively correlated to plantation size, remoteness (travel time to cities), and distance to the nearest protected areas, indicating that larger, remotely located plantations likely expanded more into forests between 2000 and 2018. Similarly, tropical forest degradation was positively associated with plantation size, travel time to cities, and distance to protected areas. A higher rubber price in the preceding year correlated with increased annual deforestation and forest degradation, whereas lower prices had the opposite effect. These results suggest that monitoring price changes and identifying plantations that are near non‐protected forest frontiers could enable early detection and potential mitigation of deforestation threats.

Planting patterns in rubber agroforestry (Hevea brasiliensis) developed by the communities of Menggala Mas Village, Lampung Province, Indonesia

Abstract The agroforestry system provides important economic and ecological benefits for local communities, one of which is obtained from the application of planting patterns and plants species in it. This research aims to explain the planting pattern of rubber agroforestry developed by the community in Menggala Mas Village, Lampung Province, Indonesia. The approach in this research is qualitative. Data collection methods included observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation studies. The planting patterns of agroforestry system on their rubber plants were analysed. The research results showed that there are three agroforestry planting patterns implemented by the community, namely, alley cropping, trees along border and random mixture. The dominant combinations in alley cropping were rubber/karet (Hevea brasiliensis) – pulai (Alstonia scholaris) and rubber–mentru (Schima wallichii) – kayu afrika (Maesopsis eminii). The dominant combinations in trees along border were rubber–akasia (Acacia auriculiformis), rubber–jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) – cempedak (Artocarpus integer) and rubber–petai (Parkia speciosa) – jati (Tectona grandis). The dominant combinations in the random mixture were rubber–jengkol (Pithecellobium lobatum), rubber–petai–jengkol–akasia, rubber–jackfruit–cempedak, rubber–pulai–mengkudu (Morinda citrifolia L.) – jengkol and rubber–banana (Musa paradisiaca) – gadung (Dioscorea hispida) – sungkai (Peronema canescens Jack). Forty-one plant species were found. The local community wants to develop this planting pattern because the rubber agroforestry planting pattern can provide direct and indirect benefits such as a greater variety of plants which can increase their income; also, the products can be sold or consumed by the family, as a fence, fire break or barrier to other farmers’ land, can provide shade to reduce hot temperatures when farmers are working, and can reduce the risk of flooding and soil erosion to support soil and water conservation within the ‘Omou’ (garden/forest). The government and agricultural extension workers need to carry out regular guidance and outreach programmes regarding rubber agroforestry development strategies to increase public knowledge.

Morphology and molecular characterization of Colltetotrichum siamense associated with leaf spot disease of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) in southern Thailand

Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) is an economically important crop in Thailand, especially in the southern part of Thailand where the climate is suitable for cultivation. In our recent survey of rubber plantations, rubber trees infected with several fungal pathogens resulting in leaf spot, leaf blight, and in severe cases, leaf defoliation, were observed in the field. These symptoms have not been observed previously and can be considered a novel leaf fall disease. To date, the pathogens causing leaf diseases on rubber trees in Thailand have been characterized to be caused by fungi in the genera Calonectria, Lasiodiplodia, and Neopestalotiopsis. However, species in the genus Colletotrichum, as fungal pathogens that cause leaf spots on rubber trees in Thailand, have not been characterized. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify and characterize Colletotrichum siamense associated with rubber leaf spot disease with morpho-molecular studies combined with pathogenicity tests. Morphological characteristics revealed that isolates PSU-108, PSU-109, PSU-110, and PSU-111 belong to Colletotrichum sp., whereas multigene phylogenetic analyses with actin (act), calmodulin (cal), chitin synthase-1 (chs-1), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapdh), and internal transcribed spacer (ITS), identified these isolates as Colletotrichum siamense. Hence, this report suggests C. siamense as the causal agent of leaf spot disease on rubber tree leaves. The findings in this study could be helpful for the development of appropriate measures to manage plant disease in rubber tree fields.

Women in Community Rubber Plantations in Panca Tunggal Village, Sungai Lilin District

Panca Tunggal Village, Sungai Lilin subdistrict, Musi Banyuasin district is one of the rubber plantation areas. This research aims to describe and describe the phenomenon of women rubber farmers in smallholder industrial rubber plantations in Panca Tunggal village, Sungai Lilin sub-district, Musi Banyuasin district. The research method used is a descriptive method, with data collection in the form of observations and questionnaires. The analysis used uses the Miles Huberman model, namely reduction, presentation and conclusion. The results of the research show that the education level of female rubber farmers is lowest at the high school level. The income earned by women rubber farmers is used to meet the educational needs of their children. Meeting the needs of the families of women rubber farmers depends on the price of rubber.

A Review on the Status of Rubber Plantations in Cambodia

The rubber tree (natural rubber) is a tropical crop around the world. In Cambodia, rubber is one of the most popular agro-industrial crops introduced since the 1910s. This study review article aims to demonstrate the methods for planting and harvesting techniques in rubber plantations. Cultivation is the most important factor in the rubber sector, and planting is done during June and July. Moreover, selecting varieties of clonal rubber is the best way to improve high production, high initial vigor, tolerance to climate change, pests, wind damage, and diseases, and to be a good secondary characteristic. In addition, harvesting techniques are vital elements in the status of rubber plantations. So, improving the methods of cultivation and the techniques of harvesting is very important in order to get a high amount of rubber production.

Participatory and Spatially Explicit Assessment to Envision the Future of Land-Use/Land-Cover Change Scenarios on Selected Ecosystem Services in Southwestern Ghana

Settlement expansion and commercial agriculture affect landscape sustainability and ecosystem service provision. Integrated landscape approaches are promoted to negotiate trade-offs between competing land uses and their reconciliation. Incorporating local perceptions of landscape dynamics as basis for such negotiations is particularly relevant for sub-Saharan Africa, where most people depend on natural ecosystems for livelihoods and well-being. This study applied participatory scenario building and spatially explicit simulation to unravel perceptions of the potential impact of rubber and settlement expansion on the provision of selected ecosystem services in southwestern Ghana under a business-as-usual scenario. We collected data in workshops and expert surveys on locally relevant ecosystem services, their indicator values, and the probable land-use transitions. The data was translated into an assessment matrix and integrated into a spatially explicit modeling platform, allowing visualization and comparison of the impact on ecosystem service provision of land-use scenarios under rubber plantation and settlement expansion. The results show the capacity of current (2020) and future land-use patterns to provide locally relevant ecosystem services, indicating a decline in capacity of ecosystem service provisioning in the future compared to the 2020 land-use patterns, a threat to the benefits humans derive from ecosystems. This highlights urgent need for policies and measures to control the drivers of land-use/land-cover change. Furthermore, the results emphasize the importance of diversifying land-use/land-cover types for sustainable landscape development. The paper contributes new insights into how spatially explicit and semi-quantitative methods can make stakeholder perceptions of landscape dynamics explicit as a basis for implementing integrated landscape approaches.

Analisis risiko produksi ribbed smoked sheet (RSS) di PTPN IX Kebun Balong, Jepara

Indonesian rubber plantations have the largest area in the world at 3,776.49 thousand hectares, yet they cannot be the largest producer of natural rubber. PTPN IX Balong is a state-owned company that processes latex into RSS. The production often experiences fluctuations which indicate the production risks faced by the company. The study aimed to examine the agents of production risk that are considered priorities, as well as effective mitigation strategies to reduce the impact of production risk. The research was conducted from November to December 2022 at PTPN IX Balong, Bumiharjo Village, Keling District, Jepara Regency. The research was a case study method with primary data collected by observation and distributing questionnaires to specific key persons. The secondary data were obtained from RSS production records. Data were analyzed using a quantitative method, namely House of Risk (HOR), to answer research purposes. The results showed that there are 8 priority risk agents that will be mitigated, namely high rainfall, long-tapping and picking-up times, errors made by the officers of the smoke room, broken grinding machine, dirty post-harvest tools, improper latex dilution, an excess dosage of antacid, and late application of ammonia. The mitigation strategy used to minimize the priority risk agent (source) consists of 7 risk mitigation strategies. Tightening inspections at the factory is the top priority to be implemented.

Status Hara N, P dan K serta Produktivitas Tanaman Karet Pada Dua Tapak Lahan Berbeda

Rubber plant productivity is often hampered because the availability of nutrients in the soil is not sufficient for plant needs. Some rubber productivity results in Karang Intan Village only reach 1,500-2,000 kg.ha-1.th-1 and some reach 2,000-3,000 kg.ha-1.th-1. Generally, the maximum yield of superior latex clones reaches 2,500-3,000 kg.ha-1.th-1. Given this background, it is necessary to conduct this research with the aim of knowing the status of N, P and K nutrients at location A (low productivity) and location B (high productivity). This research was carried out from July to September 2021. Sampling used in this research was purposive sampling method, sampling was conductedin Karang Intan Village, Kuranji District, analyzed of soil sample was at the Soil Physics and Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Soil, Faculty of Agriculture, Lambung Mangkurat University, after that the data obtained from the results of the analysis categorized the level of fertility. The results showed that the Total-N, Total-P, Available-P, Total-K, Available-K in Locations A and B were not significant (Ortogonal Contrast Anova) so that these nutrients could not be used as factors that caused differences in rubber plant productivity. Ammonium and nitrate in Location B is higher than Location A, the difference in these values ​​is a factor that causes differences in the productivity of rubber plants in Karang Itan Village, Kuranji District.