Content area
Full Text
Abstract
The influence of formula fertilization optimization on dry rubber yield and economic benefits of the rubber plantation in Hainan Longjiang Farm were studied by using "contrast" design method of fertilizer field experiments. The results showed that the actual production rate reached 4.61% and the net production rate of dry rubber reached 3.97% by application of optimized fertilization formula. Analysis of variance showed that the average dry rubber yield in optimization of formula fertilization area was significantly higher than that of conventional area. The results also indicated that the optimization of formula fertilization had obvious economic benefits, and each rubber tree reduced cost and increased 9.95 yuan on average after the test.
Key words Hainan; Rubber plantations; Formula fertilization; Dry rubber yield; Economic benefits
(ProQuest: ... denotes formulae omitted.)
According to scientific experiments and practical production, it is proved that fertilization is closely related to rubber tree growth and rubber producing. Rubber trees would grow fast to obtain high yield and profits only when sufficient fertilizers are provided and nutrient balance is guaranteed. Lu et al. [1] researched that proper fertilization improved produced rubber quantity and increase plant girth, and Pushparajah et al.® pointed out that the rubber yield would be enhanced by 20% and net profits would increase by 50% only by fertilization (excluding soil management investments) in Malaysia. Currently, rubber trees, grown in Hainan with different soils, are still fertilized with exclusive fertilizers as per traditional method in state-run rubber plantations. It is true that the method was effective in early years in increasing rubber yield. However, it is for more than 20 years since rubber exclusive fertilizer was proposed and soils or rubber tree nutrients have undergone significant changes. Therefore, traditional rubber fertilizer is far from satisfaction for improving rubber yield at present any more, and irrational fertilization would not only increase production cost, but also adversely influence rubber tree growth and rubber production, even lowering soil quality. In the research, a fertilization formula of rubber trees was formulated as per soil fertility and leaf nutrient diagnosis in rubber plantations and a contrast experiment of fertilizer efficiency was conducted in a typical rubber plantation in order to select a fertilizer formula suitable for rubber plantations in the area and analyze...