Nutrient management of immature rubber plantations. A review

Abstract

The rapid expansion of rubber tree plantations in recent decades has been accompanied by dramatic negative ecological and social impacts. Rubber sector stakeholders consequently engaged in sustainable production of rubber. Despite the lack of harvest during the immature stage following planting, this period plays a key role in future yields. Management practices, particularly fertilization regimes, are used by farmers to shorten the immature period as much as possible. This entails maintaining or even improving the productivity of existing plantations to face the demand for natural rubber. This review focuses specifically on the immature period of rubber tree plantations, as it is the most critical period for nutrient management. We reviewed available knowledge on fertilization practices, soil management, and nutrient dynamics in rubber plantations with the goal of developing a nutrient balance approach for this crop. Our review revealed (1) a notable difference between fertilizer recommendations made by technical institutes and those reported in the scientific literature; (2) that even though nutrient diagnostic methods could help growers adapt the fertilization of rubber trees more than 3 years of age, further studies are needed to adapt current methods to the wide range of cultivation areas; and (3) that the nutrient budget approach may be the best way to incorporate the variety of rubber tree cultivation conditions. In conclusion, the nutrient budget method is a promising way to improve the sustainability of rubber plantations through fertilization making it possible to increase nutrient use efficiency. A comprehensive approach based on nutrient budgets requires further in-depth studies to examine nutrient dynamics in a wide range of conditions, including intercropping and logging residue management between clearcutting and replanting.

Dynamics of biomass and nutrient accumulation in rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantations established on two soil types: Implications for nutrient management over the immature phase

“…This emphasises the need to take into account the overall nutrient inputs and outputs in the soil, as well as the stocks of bioavailable nutrients and the dynamics of tree requirements, to design appropriate fertilization programmes (Ranger and Turpault, 1999). However, the biogeochemical cycles of nutrients are still poorly documented in rubber plantations, which is a considerable hindrance for establishing relevant fertilization regimes throughout the life span of rubber trees (Vrignon-Brenas et al, 2019).…”

“…The sustainability of latex production is a growing concern for the stakeholders of the NR value chain. Highly productive rubber plantations need to match the use of mineral fertilizers to the dynamics of the nutrient requirements of the trees, taking into account their availability in the soil (Vrignon-Brenas et al, 2019).…”

“…The immature phase can be divided into two periods with regard to tree phenology and growth. The juvenile phase (from planting to 2 years old) is characterized by fast vertical growth, while the maturation period (from 2 years old up to latex collection at 6 years) is characterized by an acceleration of the radial growth of the stem (Compagnon, 1986;Vrignon-Brenas et al, 2019). The immature phase ends when 50 % of the trees reach a trunk girth of 50 cm 1 m from the ground.…”

“…NPK fertilizers are commonly used to increase the growth of immature rubber trees (Abraham et al, 2015;Alle et al, 2015;Samarappuli, 2000). In a recent review of the literature, Vrignon-Brenas et al (2019) showed huge ranges of fertilizer applications, from 27 to 697 kg ha − 1 yr -1 for N, 29 to 326 kg ha − 1 yr -1 for P and 14 to 232 kg ha -1 yr -1 for K, depending on local conditions. This review paper shows that most of these recommendations rely on local empirical experiences and that references on the dynamics of tree nutrient requirements over the immature phase are mostly old (Polinière and Van Brandt, 1964;Shorrocks, 1965a).…”

“…According to Vrignon-Brenas et al (2019), logging residues (i.e. trunks, branches, leaves, stumps and roots of the logged plantation) could be managed better to reduce the amounts of fertilizers needed to address the problem of long-term fertility loss in rubber monocultures.…”