Influence of soil preparation method on root and vegetative growth of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) in the southwest Côte d’Ivoire

Objective: The study was carried out on the plots of the Southwest Agricultural Civil Society (SCASO) in southwestern Côte d'Ivoire. the objective of this study is to evaluate the aerial and root development of rubber plants of Gondang Tapen 1 (GT 1) clone, through the method of land preparation Methodology and Results: The methodology focused on plougheds soils of the experimental plots according to a toposequence (summit, mid-slope and low-slope). This treatment was compared with control plots on unploughed soil. The results obtained showed that ploughed soil favoured good aerial development of plants of the GT 1 clone, especially in the lower slopes of plots installed on a toposequence gradient. This cultivation technique also allows a good elongation of the main root of the rubber plants of the GT 1 clone, mainly at the summit and bottom of the toposequence, thus ensuring good fixation in the soil, and thus resistance to windthrow and water supply in the dry season. The study indicated a close relationship between the development of the aerial and underground parts of the GT 1 clone plants on undisturbed (unploughed soil) soils. Conclusion and Application: Evaluation of the influence of the mode of land preparation on the aerial and root development of the GT 1 a clone showed that mechanical soil preparation by ploughed soil in rubber cultivation is an appropriate cultivation technique to boost the development of rubber trees in plantations, when soil characteristics require it.

Download Full-text

Effect of different preceding crops and land preparation methods on the agrophysiological and health parameters of Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg clone GT 1 in southwestern Côte d'Ivoire

European Scientific Journal ESJ ◽

10.19044/esj.2018.v14n33p369 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 14 (33) ◽

pp. 369

Author(s):

Ballo Esperence Kouadio ◽

Soumahin Eric Francis ◽

Ballo Koffi Celestin ◽

Elabo Agnyman Eliathe Angeline ◽

Adou Bini Yao Christophe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cote D'ivoire ◽

Côte D’Ivoire ◽

Preparation Method ◽

Physiological State ◽

Cote D’Ivoire ◽

Physiological Profile ◽

Land Preparation ◽

Preceding Crop ◽

Côte D'ivoire ◽

Tapping Panel Dryness

Land preparation method and preceding crops affect the evolution of rubber trees. Its ignorance and/or poor execution do not allow the efficient development of the agronomic and economic potentialities of plantations. In order to remove this constraint, a study was undertaken in southwestern Côte d'Ivoire. The rubber trees were planted at 510 trees/ha according to a Fisherblock experimental design, of six preceding crop treatments with three repetitions. Only one latex harvesting system was applied (S/2 d/4 6d/7 ET 2.5% Pa 1 (1) 6/y). The parameters measured were rubber yield, annual average girth increment, physiological profile, sensitivity to tapping panel dryness and sensitivity to root rot caused by the genus Fomes. The results showed that the rate of rubber trees found in the plots was good (90.73± 0.47 %) and had varied with land preparation method depending on the preceding crops. Vegetative growth at tapping (2.05±1.36 cm.year -1 ), and average rubber yield (2053±179 kg.ha-1 .year -1 ) and the rate of tree loss due to the genus Fomes (8.33±0.42%) were influenced by land preparation method. The good productivity, the good physiological state of the rubber trees were characterized by a well balanced physiological profile and a tapping panel dryness rate (3.60 ± 1.74%), independently of treatments. The Agroeconomic results showed that mechanically prepared fallow (813641 FCFA.ha-1 .year -1 ) was the best preceding crop and land preparation method. This technical result has two main interests for the national rubber-growing industry, since it actively participates in the national policy for fighting against deforestation but also contributes to the establishment of a secondary forest by the attributes of the rubber-growing plant cover.

Download Full-text