WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT

PLANTATION CROPS I
(AGR182)

GROUP:
AGR1822G3

NUR ATHIRAH SYAIRAH BINTI AHMAD

(2022816678)

LECTURER:
GRACE FLAVYELIZ SINONG

FACULTY OF PLANTATION AND AGROTECHNOLOGY

MARCH – AUG 2023
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pages

1.0 Introduction 3
2.0 Factors affecting the production in Rubber plantation 4 -12
3.0 Conclusion 12
4.0 Reference 13
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Hevea brasiliensis is a tree species native to the Amazon rainforest and best known as a major
source of natural rubber. Commonly called rubber tree or para rubber tree. This tree grows up to
100 feet tall and has a straight trunk and smooth bark. The leaves are dark green and glossy, and
it produces small, inconspicuous flowers that are pollinated by insects.

Rubber tree sap, also called latex, is obtained by making an incision in the bark and pouring it
into a container. Latex contains a mixture of water, sugars, proteins, and rubber particles used in
making various rubber products. Rubber is used to make tires, rubber bands, gloves, shoes, and
many other products.

Hevea brasiliensis is an important crop in many countries, especially in Southeast Asia where it
is widely grown in plantations. However, rubber tree cultivation is also associated with
deforestation and environmental degradation in some areas.

Figure 1: The example of Hevea Brasiliensis trees

2.0 FACTORS AFFECTING THE PRODUCTION IN RUBBER PLANTATION
1) Manuring (Fertilizer applications)
Rubber trees are like any other crop that needs fertilizer to grow properly. Fertilization is
important in this context and is generally based primarily on the need for the
macronutrients N, P, K, and Mg. However, there is one nutrient that is less important than
this micronutrient. This is because they are considered micronutrients and can be
absorbed by the soil. For this reason, micronutrients have received little attention in rubber
trees.

a. Manuring immature rubber tree

Figure 2: The summary of the fertilizer application on immature rubber tree

• During planting: CIRP (Christmas Island Rock Phosphate) will be applied into the
planting hole.
• After transplanting (until 15 months of age): Fertilizer is applied around the tree
base. The circle radius depends on the age of the rubber tree.
 b. Manuring mature rubber tree

Figure 3: The summary of the fertilizer application on mature rubber tree

• Should be done when the leaves start to develop after the leaf’s dry seasons
• Active nutrient absorption is usually at the leaf’s redevelopment phase until the
next 5 months

2) Weeding Management
Integrated Weed Management (IWM) is a long-term management approach to control
weeds through specific techniques. These techniques are a combination of biological,
physical, chemical, mechanical, and cultural practices. Collectively, they help improve
crop production, revenue, and environmental health. Before tackling weeds, we need to
know the definition of weeds and their impact on various factors such as the environment,
economy, and other parts of society. Weeding is the removal of weeds from a field. It is
an effective method of pre-harvest crop protection and crop production control. Weeds act
as competitors to crops for various resources needed for growth such as nutrients, light,
and water. Weeds must be removed as they can cause disturbance and reduce
yields. Different types of weeding include hand pulling and cultivation, pre-emergent
herbicides, and mulches.
• Hand Pulling and Cultivation
The process of removing weeds by hand. Certain tools, such as a shovel, can be used for
this task.
• Pre-emergent Herbicides
Pre-emergent herbicides prevent weed growth. It is applied to the soil surface after
planting perennials or annuals. Plants must be in an active growth stage for effective
results.
• Mulches
Mulches are spread in the garden to restrict the access of the sun to the weed seeds,
thereby, preventing the growth of the weeds.

Figure 4: Types of the common weeds

 To reduce
competition for
nutrients,
space, and
sunlight

THE IMPORTANCE
OF WEEDING
MANAGEMENT

To make sure
To eliminate
application of
habitat of pest
fertilizer is
and disease
efficient

Figure 5: The importance of weeding management

3) Pest and Disease Management

A variety of small organisms, including diseases, microscopic organisms, and
parasites, cause infections in rubber trees. In addition, more ground-crawling pests
and more soil affect rubber tree production in plantations. Fluctuations in
environmental conditions often lead to microbial overlap while affecting crop
utilization and soil fertility. This reduces the resources available to plants and
prevents them from producing adequate biomass, seed, and yield. The
development of microbes and bugs can be accelerated by moving them from one
place to another. However, some examples of plants working with living organisms
and sub-atoms associated with microbes help bacteria protect themselves from
disease.
 MEALY BUGS (Lepidosaphes coculi)
• Occurrence and damage caused are similar to scale insects

TERMITE (Coptotermes curvignathus)

• Feed on the dead bark of trees and young plants. Build
a covered passageway of soil on the tapping panel and
collection cup

PORCUPINE & WILD BOAR (Hystrix indica)

• Pull out young plants and feed on the tap root
• Debark basal portion of young plants and trees

Figure 6: Types of pests

Brown Root Disease White Root Disease Red Root Disease

(Phellinus Noxius) (Rigidoporous ligneous) (Ganoderma philippi)

Figure 7: Types of root diseases

 BIRD'S EYE SPOT (Helminthosporium
hevea)
Appeared a small necrotic spot with
dark/brown margins and pale centre
Severe infection may leads to premature
defoliation and die back

POWDERY MILDEW (Oidium Hevea)

Leaves become tender with ashy coating
On older leaves, white patches later causes
necrotic spots and this reduce
photosynthetic efficiency

COLLETOTRICHUM LEAF DISEASE

(Colletotrichum gloeosporioides)
Small spots and brown in color appear
The infected leaves often crinkle and
become disorted and finally defoliate

Figure 8: Types of leaves disease

PINK DISEASE PATCH OR BARK CANKER

(Corticium salmonicolor) (Phytophthora palmivora)

Figure 9: Types of bark disease

 4) Harvesting Management
As we know rubber trees need to be tapped first before getting their yields. However, the
tapping process can easily go wrong such as an immature tree will go annihilated by non-
adapted or bad tapping quality very quickly and with no way back to retrieve a good yield
potential.
Below are several methods of tapping:
Method A A downward-facing triangular cut was slammed onto the tuft. The tree
trunk is 7.5 cm wide and 2 mm deep
Method B (Same with A) Excludes areas where the bark is tapped around the
tapping area to promote resin flow
Method C (Same with A) Except that the incision is made only in the cambium
layer
Method D (Same with C) However, the bark around the cone was pounded to
stimulate the resin flow
Standardized Traditional This method is an improvement over the traditional method. The cut is a
Lao Method A rectangle 7.5 cm wide and 6 cm long. Loosen the bark to open the top
and form a pocket. The lower bark stuck together and served as a
container to collect the resin
Standardized Traditional It's a very suitable method. A straight vertical line 7.5 cm long was cut
Indonesian Method using a chisel and inserted between the bark and cambium
V-shaped Method Tapping is done with a V-shaped cut. Each side of the V is 3 inches long
and 1 inch wide

- A method, B method, C method, D method, V method. Small black spots of fungus were found
around the woodcut. No trace of benzoin or the sap of oil was observed after one week of
tapping. However, in methods 3 and 4, trace amounts of resin at the edge of the section may
later convert to benzoin.
- Standardized Traditional Lao methods A and B. Bark sacs have been found to contain a lot of
moisture. A bright, transparent resin was found on the exposed cambium and wood surfaces,
especially where chisels and other tools had struck. The drops were sticky to the touch, but this
is a benzoin test. The underlying wood surface was dry, and there was no evidence of resin
crystals in certain parts of the cut where the bark had been peeled off or pinched. These
changes could be key factors in the future production of benzoin.
- A standardized traditional Indonesian method is recommended for the best yield quality.
However, this will increase the time to harvest. It also limits the tapping height compared to
others. On the other hand, the Traditional Lao Method is more efficient with less tapping time as
higher-level forestry knives can only be tapped in one cut. This will give you quantity yields but
not the best quality.

5) Nursery Management
Rubber seeds quickly lose viability if left in the field. Seeds are therefore harvested daily during
the fall seed season and quickly transported to nurseries for germination and planting. Rubber
plantation planting material is produced in ground and polybags.
➢ Ground Nursery
Ground nursery is a place to produce bud stumps, stump buds, and budwood.
• Nursery for seedlings and budded stumps
Mulching is an important work that must be done in the nursery before the start of the
summer season and after the second fertilization. Natural materials such as tree
clippings, dead leaves, forest undergrowth, cut grass and cut cover crop material are
commonly used after drying. Good mulching once in December is sufficient. A black
polyethylene sheet can also be used for mulching, securing it properly to the ground and
preventing it from being blown away by the wind. Spreading a thin layer of soil over the
leaves is an effective way to achieve this. The nursery should be watered during the dry
season, which usually lasts from December to April. For large nurseries, an overhead
sprinkler irrigation system is ideal. Daily watering is preferable for the first few weeks.
After that, the frequency of watering can be reduced to 1 time in 2-3 days.
• Budwood nursery
Only one shoot can grow in the first year of planting. After a year, brown buds of about 1
m can be taken. From the second year on, one plant may develop two or three shoots,
depending on the chosen distance. To remove the leaves present on the browned buds,
first, remove the leaflets by snipping off the tip of the petiole. After about a week, the
petioles dry up and fall off. Cut off the buds, leaving about 15 cm at the base. Shoots will
develop from this part in the following season.

Green budding shoots are formed from brown budding plants. For this, the well-
established brown-bud plant is first pruned to a height of about 75 cm. A few buds
emerge below the cut. 3 to 5 trees, most of which are about 5 cm long, and pruned to
 produce branches when brown ends. The two to three strongest branches remain on
each shoot and the rest are cut off. Prune again when these secondary branches turn
brown at the base 5 cm. New branches will come out of these, giving the budding plant a
bushy appearance. Newly emerging branches are harvested when leaf whorls develop.
Harvested buds are cut to appropriate lengths before being brought to the nursery for
germination.

➢ Polybag Nursery
Polybag planting material can be done in two different ways.
o Bud stumps can be planted in polybags, and buds can be allowed to
grow until they are ready to be planted in the field
o The germinated seeds are planted in polybags and the shoots are
grafted at 5-6 months of age
The roots of sprouting stumps can be treated with indole butyric acid (IBA), a
hormone that promotes root growth. Soaking roots in cow dung slurry before
planting promotes root development.
There are two types of bud nurseries: brown bud nurseries and green bud nurseries.

3.0 CONCLUSION
All of these practices are interdependent and must be carefully managed to ensure rubber
plantations are healthy and productive. For example, effective pest and disease
management helps prevent losses from diseases that reduce tree growth and make trees
more susceptible to pests. Likewise, proper weed management helps reduce competition
for resources, helps trees grow more vigorously, and resist disease. Rubber plantations
are able to consistently produce high-quality latex over the long term. It is a valuable
resource for the global rubber industry.

4.0 REFERENCE

a. Safwan Mazlan. 2019. Major Diseases of Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) in Malaysia.

ResearchGate, Retrieved on April 12, 2023, from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338366314_Major_Diseases_of_Rubber_Hevea_b
rasiliensis_in_Malaysia#:~:text=Such%20diseases%20like%20Corynespora%20leaf,can%2
0affect%20global%20rubber%20productions
b. Nursery Management. Infotech Portal, Retrieved on May 2 2023 from
http://www.celkau.in/crops/Plantation%20Crops/Rubber/nurserymanagement.aspx#:~:text=
Nursery%20management&text=Rubber%20seeds%20lose%20viability%20very,nurseries%
20for%20germination%20and%20planting
c. Crop Cultivation Guide for Farmers. IndiaAgroNet, Retrieved on May 2 2023 from
https://indiaagronet.com/indiaagronet/crop%20info/rubber.htm#:~:text=Application%20of%2
0Manures%20%26%20Fertilizers&text=The%20manuring%20differs%20according%20to,th
e%20nursery%20bed%20is%20practised
d. Crop Protection and Weeding. Byju’s Portal, Retrieved on May 2 2023 from
https://byjus.com/biology/weed-crop-protection-
weeding/#:~:text=Weeding%20is%20the%20removal%20of,%2C%20light%2C%20water%2
C%20etc
e. Jesusa Dosdos Ortuoste. 2022. Weed Management in Natural Rubber. ResearchGate,
Retrieved on May 3 2023 from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342864007_Weed_Management_in_Natural_Rub
ber
f. Eric Gohet. 2016. Optimizing Smallholders' Yield and Productivity through Adoption of
Appropriate Latex Harvesting Technology. ResearhGate, Retrieved on May 6 2023 from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303248741_Optimizing_Smallholders'_Yield_and_
Productivity_through_Adoption_of_Appropriate_Latex_Harvesting_Technology
g. Santhiya Kvs. 2017. Weed Management in Rubber. Slideshare, Retrieved on May 3 2023
from https://www.slideshare.net/santhiyakvs/weed-management-in-rubber