BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RUBBER TREES

Rubber trees grown in mass production are usually grafted from selected asexual lines to ensure the relativity and uniformity of the garden and stable productivity.

Roots: Rubber trees have both taproots and sedge roots, the taproots penetrate deep into the soil. The sedge root system develops very widely and is mostly concentrated in the cultivated layer.

Trunk: The most economic part of the rubber tree is the trunk with a bark layer containing latex tubes, this is where latex is tapped, followed by timber exploitation.

Leaves: Compound leaves have three leaflets with intact blades, growing alternately and in layers. From the third year onwards, the tree has a period of leaf shedding over winter, concentrated in areas with a distinct dry season.

Flowers, fruits and seeds: Rubber flowers are monoecious, clustered inflorescences growing at the tip of branches after the annual leaf shedding period; The fruit is round and slightly flattened, with 3 compartments, each compartment containing a seed. Rubber seeds contain a fairly high proportion of oil, so the seed storage time before sowing is relatively short.

PERIOD OF BUILDING A RUBBER GARDEN

Seedling stage in the nursery (sowing – planting) / 6-24 months: 1 layer of leaves per month.

Basic construction stage 1-3 years old: can be intercropped, 4-7 years old: canopy 2

Business stage (latex tapping): Young rubber tapping period: 10-12 years, Middle rubber tapping period (12-13 years) is the time when latex yield is highest and stable, Old rubber tapping period: latex yield decreases sharply, no possibility of recovery