Effects of Conservation Pits Applied With Organo-inorganic Fertilizers on the Growth and Yield of Rubber
Researcher-Meynard P. Abello and Guiaman Manalindo (On-going)
Increase in natural rubber latex productivity is economically imp ortant at any time and any part of the rubber growing areas. High productivity will boost the income of a rubber farmer if there is a decrease in the cost of production such as using low-cost fertilization technology. In the Philippines, due to the continuous fluctuation on the rubber price, fertilization in rubber plantation is also affected, in which, rubber farmers tend limit their application of fertilizers, or to some extent, no longer applying fertilizers. As a result, poor soil fertility and the continuous loss of plant nutrient elements will affect the productivity of natural rubber. Fertilizer application based on soil analysis is one of the suitable fertilizer managements. It was found out that latex yield after fertilizers application based on soil analysis was higher than those of traditional fertilization methods which resulted in higher profit (Kangpisadarn, 2010). Organic fertilizers, which are generally cheaper compared to inorganic fertilizer, are alternatives which also improves the poor soil physical, chemical and nutritional properties. On the other hand, application of mixed organic and inorganic fertilizers is also potential fertilization on rubber plantations given that organic fertilizers were slow-releasing while inorganic fertilizer was fast-releasing type. Soil and water are basic natural resources whose conservation is of paramount importance. There is a conscious need to efficiently manage and conserve these natural resources in a manner that would allow maximum productivity on a sustain able basis. Thus, this study generally aims to determine the effects of conservation pits applied with organo-inorganic fertilizers on the growth and yield of rubber.
Labelling of latex yield
Marking of reperesentative trees
