Contrasts in Areas of Rubber Tree Clones in Regard to Soil and Biomass Carbon Stocks

Abstract

rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) crop may accumulate significant amounts of carbon either in biomass or in the soil. However, a comprehensive understanding of the potential of the C stock among different rubber tree clones is still distant, since clones are typically developed to exhibit other traits, such as better yield and disease tolerance. thus, the aim of this study was to address differences among different areas planted to rubber clones. We hypothesized that different rubber tree clones, developed to adapt to different environmental and biological constrains, diverge in terms of soil and plant biomass C stocks. Clones were compared in respect to soil C stocks at four soil depths and the total depth (0.00-0.05, 0.05-0.10, 0.10-0.20, 0.20-0.40, and 0.00-0.40 m), and in the different compartments of the tree biomass. Five different plantings of rubber clones (FX3864, FDR 5788, PMB 1, MDX 624, and CDC 312) of seven years of age were compared, which were established in a randomized block design in the experimental field in Rio de Janeiro State. No difference was observed among plantings of rubber tree clones in regard to soil C stocks, even considering the total stock from 0.00-0.40 m depth. However, the rubber tree clones were different from each other in terms of total plant C stocks, and this contrast was predominately due to only one component of the total

Soil Attributes, Soil Organic Carbon and Relations With Rubber-Tree Morphology in a Three-Decade-Old Orchard

“…The top soil layer (0 -0.05 m) presented 7.12 t ha -1 , while the second layer (0.05 -0.10 m) presented 5.57 t ha -1 of carbon. These values of carbon stored in the soil indicate that the rubber-tree is a forest species capable of fixing significant amounts of atmospheric carbon into the soil (Cheng et al 2007;Nizami et al 2014;Diniz et al 2015).…”

“…Plantations can be cultivated in several Brazilian regions since there are rubber-tree clones well adapted to the diverse climatic variations found in the country. In addition to latex production, rubber-tree plantations can be used to recover deforested and degraded areas, because the cover provided by the canopy and litter deposition protect the soil against erosion, maintain moisture and cycle nutrients (Naime et al 2009), and also, can store significant amounts of carbon in tree biomass, in soil and in the latex produced, which is a raw material for many industrial products (Diniz et al 2015).…”

Growth, nutrition and production of dry matter of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) in function of K fertilization

“…Some authors suggest that the rubber tree crop is increasing and that this may change natural ecosystems at different scales, either spatial or temporal, particularly affecting the socio-economic conditions of farmers (Häuser et al, 2015). In addition to aspects inherent to the production of latex and wood from Hevea brasiliensis, this crop can store large amounts of carbon (C) in the soil (Diniz et al, 2015;Blagodatsk et al, 2016). Thus, some authors compare the storage of C by rubber tree growing areas with natural and planted forests, and consider this type of crop a good alternative for increasing C levels in the soil (Diniz et al, 2015).…”

“…In addition to aspects inherent to the production of latex and wood from Hevea brasiliensis, this crop can store large amounts of carbon (C) in the soil (Diniz et al, 2015;Blagodatsk et al, 2016). Thus, some authors compare the storage of C by rubber tree growing areas with natural and planted forests, and consider this type of crop a good alternative for increasing C levels in the soil (Diniz et al, 2015). However, some aspects concerning production systems must still be clarified, especially those inherent to plant nutrition, considering the need to increase crop productivity.…”