AGR4508

TANAMAN PENGELUARAN

PELADANGAN (GETAH)

REPORT

MANAGEMENT OF PROBLEM SOIL UNDER

RUBBER

NO. NAME MATRIC NO.

1. NOOR JANATUN MAQWA BINTI JEMALI 170199

2. NURLIZA AZAH BINTI IBRAHIM 170091

LECTURER:

PROF MADYA DR WAN MOHAMED NOORDIN BIN WAN DAUD

Introduction

Rubber trees originate from the jungles of the Amazon Basin of South America,

and have now replaced the natural forest in much of the interior uplands of Peninsular

Malaysia, especially on the west coast. Planting began last century, and by 1940 covered

2 million ha, 60% of which was formed by smallholders and 40% by large commercial

estates. To-day, Malaysia is the world's third largest producer of natural rubber.

Rubber cultivation Rubber has been grown commercially in Malaysia since 1903

when the first rubber estate was established in Melaka. Malaysia is the biggest consumer

of pure latex and fifth in the consumption of natural rubber in the world. Asia is the biggest

producer of natural rubber, led by Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Surgical latex gloves and condoms are known for their high quality and accepted

by the consumers. Currently, Malaysia is the biggest exporter of these products. The

export earnings from rubber in 2009 was worth USD 8.3 billion. Demand for natural rubber

is expected to increase and it is projected that there will be a shortage of natural rubber

in the near future. The price of SMR 20 was USD 0.77/kg in 2003 and USD 3.52/kg in

2010 (Malaysian Rubber Board, 2010). Rubber prices reached their highest in decades,

fuelled by strong demand from China’s auto industry. Clones, in the case of rubber, refer

to rubber plants produced from selection breeding process, which have been field-tested.

There are several selection criteria in rubber breeding. These include vigor,

resistance to diseases, resistance to wind damage, fewer and higher branches, bark

thickness and yield. The clones are produced to improve the yield of rubber trees. In

recent time, yield is not only latex but also timber from the trees, which has high demand

in the marketplace. To satisfy for demand in latex and timber, the Malaysian Rubber

Board has conducted research to produce rubber trees that can give high yield of latex

and timber, resulting in the introduction of RRIM 2000 and RRIM 3000 series of clones.

Clone RRIM 3000 is superior to that of RRIM 2000. Clone RRIM 3001, because of its

vigorous growth and high yield, has been assigned a new name, i.e. Klon 1 Malaysia.

Rubber plants exhibit a variety of responses to different water regimes. The ability

of rubber plants to cope with water stress varies across and within clones (Shafar Jefri

Mokhatar & Noordin Wan Daud, 2011). For many years Malaysia was the major exporter

of rubber. Now the country is number three in terms of latex production; Thailand and

Indonesia have overtaken us of late. However, we still export rubber (scrap or solid

rubber) to the world market, although we import some rubber (latex) in order to feed our

own growing rubber industry.

The current area under rubber in Malaysia stands at 1.2 million ha, much less than

what it used to be some 40 years ago. The rubber tree has an economic life cycle of 30-

40 years. This can be divided into two main phases, the immature period of five years

(previously seven years) from planting to tapping, and the mature period during which the

trees are tapped. Although the soil management during these two phases is much the

same, there are marked differences in their fertilizer management.

Nearly all the early plantations were established on land cleared from virgin forest,

and the trees thrived on the high inherent fertility from the organic matter reserves built

up over a long period. Overall growth was generally considered satisfactory, even with

clean weeding, and fertilizers were not used. However, in experiments with nitrogen (N)

and phosphorus (P) fertilizers, better growth was obtained on almost all inland soils but

not on alluvial soils (RRIM 1939). Similarly, response to potassium (K) fertilizer depended

on the soil type. On coastal and heavier inland soils, added K often depressed growth,

especially in the absence of fertilizer N, but on sandier soils, growth was increased. On

most soils there was some response to fertilizer, especially if a combination of N, P and

K fertilizers was used, and this became recommended for general use on rubber, once a

forest tree, in Malaysia (Bolton 1964).

After World War II, high-yielding clones grown on sandier soils showed magnesium

deficiency in the leaves (Bolle-Jones 1954; Bolton and Shorrocks 1961). The fertilizer

recommendations of the Rubber Research Institute (1958) were therefore modified to

include this element. A mixture of sulphate of ammonia (N), rock phosphate (P),

potassium chloride (K), with or without kieserite (for Mg), was recommended for all inland

soils, while fertilizer was not considered necessary on alluvial coastal soils.

On the basis of terrain alone, which affects drainage and run-off, two broad groups

of soils for rubber were therefore differentiated, and fertilizers are managed accordingly.

Under the high rainfall and highly acidic conditions of inland soils, various types of

phosphatic rocks are widely used, which slowly release available P to plants over time.

Rock phosphates remain a cheap source of P for both rubber trees and leguminous cover

crops. They have a high residual value so that they benefit the crop for a long time

(Middleton and Pushparajah 1966).

Legume cover crops have long been an important part of soil management for

rubber. Initially they were used to provide effective cover against soil erosion in newly

planted or replanted rubber on steep terrain, and later to supply additional nitrogen. Over

the years, field experiments with various types of cover crops and fertilizers have shown

that the amount of fertilizer, especially N, required by young rubber trees can be reduced

after the third or fourth year from planting if a good legume cover is maintained. However,

regular top dressing with rock phosphate during the first few years is required to establish

and maintain the legume cover (Watson 1966). With good management of cover crop

and fertilizer, trees can be brought into production at only four or five years, reducing the

immature, unproductive period by one or two years. Cover crops also protect the soil, and

at the same time maintain or even increase its overall fertility.

These management practices represent the basic principles for managing

cropping systems in the humid tropics. To maintain soil fertility and sustained crop

productivity, soils in Malaysia and other countries of the humid tropics have to be kept

moist, covered, cool and undisturbed most of the time. These conditions follow closely

those found in the original forest environment which is now occupied by the present

rubber plantations.

Most of our rubber are grown on Ultisols and Oxisols with little problem. Rubber

seems to grow quite well on soils under well drained condition. Like oil palm it is acid

tolerant and pH of 4-5 does not affect its growth. Under normal fertilizer input, rubber

grows very well, giving high yield and contributing to the country’s economic growth. Like

oil palm, the P-fertilizer for rubber cultivation is phosphate rock. This fertilizer has been

applied in rubber estates for as far as we could remember. The benefit of phosphate rock

has been clearly explained before which have high residual value. It works very well under

acidic condition prevailing in the highly weathered soils of Malaysia.

The preferred N-fertilizer in rubber estates is (NH4)2SO4. The ammonium from

this fertilizer undergoes nitrification which releases H+ and hence, its long-term

application would increase soil acidity slightly. Beside nitrogen, this fertilizer supplies S to

the soils, which is another macronutrient. Rubber plant is said to be acid tolerant and so

the acidity so produced by the application of the fertilizer would not affect its growth much.

Unlike oil palm, Kedah and Perlis are quite suitable for rubber cultivation. If the rainfall is

too high it will affect latex production because farmers are reluctant to tap rubber trees.

Soil and condition

Rubber is grown in literate or loamy soil, mostly in slope and undulated land or

slightly high elaborated flat land where there is no possibility of water stagnation, and

having well drainage facilities. Rubber will do well on a wide variety of soils, some of which

would be too poor for many crops. Deep, friable, well-drained soils are ideal as they

promote root development, and acidic soils are also suitable. The plain or gently

undulating land is suitable for rubber plantations. This land is generally obtained from

clearing of forests. The soil erosion is often a problem in tropical areas, when the original

forest cover is removed. Sometimes terraces are used to control soil erosion.

Many rubber estates in the country are located on undulating or steep land, which

are prone to soil erosion during rainy season. As such, contour terraces are needed to be

constructed to prevent or reduce soil erosion, very much the case of oil palm estate. If

this practice is carried out coupled with modern tapping technique there is no reason why

Malaysia should not be a great rubber producer again, like it once was. Right now the

price of rubber in the marketplace is very good and many farmers have since returned to

the industry, for the good of the country.

Rubber estates are practicing zero-burning technology without fail. Malaysia is now

in the forefront in promoting this eco-friendly technology for the good of us all. As has

been said, practicing zero-burning in rubber estate management has reduced the cost of

production and improved or protected the environment. This technology has won

worldwide recognition and as such other countries are learning from us. Zero-burning

technology is Malaysia’s contribution to the world in reduction of global warming.

Rubber is a tropical tree. It requires high temperature throughout the year. The

range between 20°-35°C or average monthly mean of 27°C. Less than 20°C temperature

is detrimental. Similarly, rubber also requires heavy rainfall. The annual average rainfall

of not less than 200 cm is optimum. Rubber tree thrives well when the distribution of

rainfall is uniformly high all over the year. The equatorial regions of the world are suitable

for rubber cultivation.

Among economic conditions labour, capital, transport and market are necessary

for proper rubber plantation. It is required for maintenance of plantations, collection of

latex, preparation of rubber, nurturing of rubber tree, etc. It is a labour-intensive activity.

For cultivation of rubber huge capital is required, especially during first 6-7 years, when

income is more or less nil. Capital requirement is necessary for labour wages, plantation

cost, processing machines, etc. Both internal and external transport network is necessary

for successful rubber cultivation. Internal transport is required for collection of latex and

its transportation up to processing centres, while external transportation network is a pre-

requisite for export. Although, rubber is in great demand but with the development of

synthetic rubber its demand has decreased. Market demand encourages the rubber

plantation.

Problem soils under rubber

1. Bris soils

Bris soils include in group 7. Bris soils is one of the most problem soil in the world

which contain approximately 95% of sand. Because of the sand content is higher, the

water holding capacity is not good. When the temperature is high, the soil temperature

will increase. Bris soils is not a good option to use to plant a rubber.

Bris soil can be found at the beach area and contain a lot of sand so that it have

no structure. The ability to change cation is lower. It has spodic horizon which can

prevent the growth of roots. Water will drained fast because of a lot of sand there and

not suitable for oil palm and rubber crops. But, there are few crops that suitable with

this soil and we can overcome it with put a lot of organic matter and fertilizer.

2. Acid sulphate soils

Acid sulphate soils include in the group 8. The pH is less than 3.5. The content of

soluble sulphate is more than 0.1% with depth of 50cm. The examples are Jawa

series, Sedu, Parit Botak dan Carey. It is not suitable to plant rubber because the

content of acid in soil is too high and it also have the present of high content of

aluminium. Acid sulphate oxidize become jarosite. Jarosite’s pH is between 3 - 4.

To overcome this problem there are few management that can be done such as

by doing flushing system. Flushing system is the method where we remove the acid

from the soil using a lot of water. This method need to have a good drainage system.

And the process have to be taken for a long time. Besides, to manage this problem

by using liming. Liming can help to increase the pH level. The uses of POME, pH 7.7

which contain of K, Mg and Ca. Acid sulphate soil is not suitable for rubber crops.

3. Tanah Gambut (Peat soils or organic soil)

Group 10: Shallow organic soils

- Siri penor

- Siri bakri

Group 11: Moderately deep and deep organic soils

Organic soils forms at area that hold water. The thickness layer of the soils is more

than 50cm. Organic soils is divided to four (4) categories depend on their thickness or

depth of organic soils which are:

a) Shallow (0.5 m – 1 m)

b) Moderately deep (1 m – 1.5 m)

c) Depth (1.5 m – 3 m)

d) Very depth (> 3 m)

Peat soils are not suitable for rubber because the area is easily flooded and have

problem with complex micronutrient. Tree will easily falling down at matured stage.

Although this soils is not suitable for rubber tree, it is suitable for oil palm tree. The

way to overcome this problem is to build complete and effective drainage system,

control the water level between 50 cm to 75 cm. Besides, management of fertilization

should be taken seriously with apply enough and suitable fertilizer.

Conclusion

Rubber is suitable to be grown on Ultisols and Oxisols in Malaysia because the

crops are acid and Al tolerant. However, climate can somewhat affect their production.

With proper soil management practices, the yields of rubber are high, contributing money

that sustains the Malaysian economy. Many ways that can be done to overcome the

problematic soils in Malaysia. The most important and popular way to overcome this

problematic soils is to build drainage system with complete and effective. Lastly, it will

depends on how we manage and control it.

References

1. Soil & Water Conservation Department, Government of Meghalaya. (n.d.). Rubber

Growing. Retrieved from http://megsoil.gov.in/mccdb/rubbergrowing.htm

2. M Anem. September 2, 2011. Tanah Gambut. Retrieved from

http://animhosnan.blogspot.my/2011/09/tanah-gambut.html

3. Craswell, E.T., and Pushparajah, E. 1989. Management of Acid Soils in the Humid

Tropics of Asia. ACIAR Monograph No.13