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Journal : Journal of Tropical Crop Science

Cocopeat as Soil Substitute Media for Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg.) Planting Material Cahyo, Andi Nur; Sahuri, Sahuri; Nugraha, Iman Satra; Ardika, Risal
Journal of Tropical Crop Science Vol 6 No 01 (2019): Journal of Tropical Crop Science
Publisher : Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, IPB University

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | Full PDF (190.761 KB) | DOI: 10.29244/jtcs.6.01.18-29

Abstract

To establish rubber plantations smallholders in South Sumatra, Indonesia, plant materials are planted in polybags fi lled with top soil media from the local area. Good quality media is very important to ensure optimal growth of the rubber planting materials. The availability of top soil has become increasingly limited. In order to fulfi ll the need of planting media, cocopeat, which is available in abundance in the area, can potentially be an alternative to top soil. Cocopeat can potentially be used alone, or in combination with other type of media. In this study, cocopeat was mixed with soil at several mixture ratios to determine the best formula of cocopeat based planting media for rubber planting material. The study was conducted from August 2016 to January 2017 in the Nursery of Sembawa Research Centre Experimental Field, Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia. A completely randomized design was employed with six combinations of cocopeat and soil, replicated three times. This study showed that the best mixture ratio is 80% cocopeat and 20% soil, whereas 100% soil or 100% cocopeat is not recommended. The use of cocopeat as planting media should be followed by balanced fertilization in order to provide nutrients that are not available in cocopeat.
Modification of Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.) Spacing for Long-term Intercropping Sahuri, Sahuri; Cahyo, Andi Nur; Ardika, Risal; Nugraha, Iman Satra; Alamsyah, Aprizal; Nurmansyah, Nurmansyah
Journal of Tropical Crop Science Vol 6 No 01 (2019): Journal of Tropical Crop Science
Publisher : Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, IPB University

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | Full PDF (272.445 KB) | DOI: 10.29244/jtcs.6.01.50-59

Abstract

Low prices of rubber has been a serious problem to rubber growers in Indonesia. Rubber-based intercropping systems offers a practical solution to this issue and increasing overall productivity, for example by growing upland rice and maize between the rubber tree rows. This study was aimed to determine the suitable spacing in rubber planting to facilitate long-term rubber-based intercropping systems. A field experiment was established in a smallholder rubber plantation in the Tanah Laut Regency, South Kalimantan with area of 50 ha. Two planting patterns of rubber clone PB260 were tested: (1) single row planting pattern (SR) by 6 m x 3 m, and (2) double row planting pattern (DR) by 18 m x 2 m x 2.5 m. The experiment showed that the girth of the rubber trees with the SR system at the 1st tapping year was slightly larger than that in the DR system, even though statistically it was not signifi cant. The latex yield per tree of SR and DR systems were similar, however, latex yield per hectare of SR system was higher than the DR system due to a higher tree population in the SR system. The DR system was technically suitable for long term intercropping, because when the rubber tree reached 8 to 9-year-old, the light penetration was > 80% at distance of about 4 m from the rubber tree rows. Economically, DR system can increase the added values for rubber farmers because it allows long term intercropping. Rubber-based intercropping with DR system is suitable to be applied, especially by smallholders, with a marginal benefi t cost ratio of around 2.07. Keywords: Hevea, intercropping system, rubber planting pattern, spatial arrangement