Plantaion of rubber plant

1. RECENT ADVANCES IN
CULTIVATION AND
PROCESSING OF RUBBER
SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:
Dr. K. C. Mohapatra Srikanta Kumar Sahu
DEPT. OF FRUIT SC. Adm. No.-05FSC/14
1st Yr M.Sc(Ag)

2. INTRODUCTION:
Rubber is a prominent plantation crop of considerable
significance to the Indian economy. This industrial crop
has since emerged as an icon of small holders’ stake in
the plantation sector of our country. Natural Rubber
tapped from the bark of the tree Hevea brasiliensisis
which is the raw material for an industry manufacturing
about 50,000 products. The consumption pattern of
rubber in our country is highly in favour of natural rubber
(76 %), quite contrary to the global consumption of
synthetic rubber of about 53%.

3. Cont…
ORIGIN & DISTRIBUTION:
Rubber had long been in historical
plant. Since Columbus had discovered
America in 1495 (509 yearsago), Red
Indian , ancient tribe of South of
America, called it ' Caoutchoue ' .
Meaning is ' Crying Tree ' . The reason is
that when it is cut off with knife or
sharpen tools, its natural latex
automatically comes out as a tear of
tree.
A native to Brazil, rubber was
introduced to India in 1873 and its
commercial cultivation started in 1902.
Charles Goodyear

4. AREA & PRODUCTION:
WORLD SCENARIO
Country Production in
lakh tonne
% share in global
production
Thailand 30.6 31.4
Indonesia 28.0 28.8
Malaysia 12.0 12.3
India 8.1 8.3
Vietnam 6.0 6.2
China 6.0 6.2
Others 6.6 6.8
World 97.3
INDIAN SCENARIO
Region Share in Area
( % )*
Share in
Production
(%)*
Traditional
Kerala & Kanyakumari
district ofTamilnadu
83.64 94.14
NonTraditional
a. NE states 11.31 3.75
b.Other nontraditional
states
5.05 2.11
WORLD SCENARIO
SOURCE: Rubber board, Kerla (2011-12)

5. IMPORTANT SPECIES:
Havea brassiliensis
(para rubber)
Ficus elastica
(indian rubber)

6. Cont…
Manihot glaziovii
( ceara rubber)
Castiola elastica
(panama rubber)

7. Cont…
Taxacum sps
dandelion_rubber
Parthenium argentatuma
(guayel rubber)

8. BOTANY
Hevea brasiliensis is
a diploid (2n = 36,
x = 9), perennial,
monoecious and
cross-pollinated
tree species. It
belongs to the
genus Hevea and
the botanical family
Euphorbiaceae.

9. FLOWER:
▪ Flowers are borne in many-flowered, axillary,
shortly pubescent panicles on the basal parts
of the new flush.
▪ Flowers are small, scented, unisexual and
shortly-stalked, with larger bell-shaped
female flowers at the terminal ends of main
and lateral branches, and more numerous
smaller male flowers, with 60-80 males to
each female flower.
▪ Flowering takes place over a period of about
two weeks with some male flowers opening
first, lasting for one day and then dropping,
followed by female flowers open for 3-5 days;
the remainder of male flowers then open.

10. CONT….
▪ FRUITS AND SEEDS
▪ Only a small proportion of female
flowers set fruit and of these 30-50% fall
off after a month, and more fall off later.
▪ The mature fruit is a large, compressed,
3-lobbed capsule, 3-5cm in diameter,
with 3 oil-containing seeds.
▪ The capsule bursts open at the end of the
rainy season with a characteristic loud
bang, similar to a rifle shot. The seeds
are then collected for sowing in the
nursery.

11. VARIETIES:
Tjir 1, PB 86, BD 5, BD
10, PR 17, GT 1, RRII
105, RRIM 600, PB
28/59, PB 217, PB 235,
RRIM 703, RRII 5,
PCK-1, 2 and PB 260
RRII-105
(HYV,80
%)

12. SOIL:
Rubber grows well in highly weathered soils consisting of
lateritic soils.
It prefers well drained porous soils which are moderate
to highly acidic in nature.
Soils must have a minimum depth of 1 m without any
intervening hard pan or impenetrable layer.
Water table should be well below 1 m to ensure good
aeration for root penetration.
Ph-4.5-6

13. AGRO CLIMATIC REQUIREMENTS
Can be grown- 10*N to 10*S lattitude
Rainfall->2000mm
Temperature-25-28*C
Humidity-80%
Sunshine-2000hrs/year @ 6hrs/day
Weather condition-warm & moist
Cold weather & high wind speed-affect production

14. PROPAGATION:
Prepare a raised bed by
cultivating and pulverizing the
soil into fine tilth and raising it
to 15 cm high from the ground
level and 10 cm thick fine river
sand or aged sawdust is added
into it. The seeds are spread in
the seedbed. The seeds are
covered by putting a layer of
fine river sand or aged
sawdust to a thickness of
about 1.5 cm.
SEED PROPAGATION

15. Cont…STAGES OF SEED
GERMINATION
Emergence of Radicle Seed starts to develop
spider roots
Emergence of stem
without leaves
Fully developed root
system and
emergence of leaves
FULLY
DEVELOPED

16. GREEN BUDDING
STEPS
Wipe the base of the
stocks with a piece of
cloth
Make two parallel vertical cuts at the base of the
rootstock stem, 7.5 cm long and 1 cm apart, and
about 3 cm from the ground.

17. Cont…
Join the two parallel vertical
cuts by a horizontal cut either
at the upper or lower end.
Strip off bark either upward or
downward depending on
where the horizontal cut was
made.

18. Cont…
Cut away the bark leaving
1 cm as tongue to hold the
bud patch in position
Extract bud patch from the bud stick
by making similar incisions made on
the rootstock but a little bit smaller to
fit in. The inner side of the budpatch
must not be touched, dirtied, bent,
bruised or exposed too long.

19. Cont…
Insert immediately the budpatch in
the budding panel made on the
rootstock, ensuring at the same
time that the budpatch is not places
upside-down.
Secure the budpatch firmly by
tying a piece of transparent
budding tape of about 2 cm
wide and 30 cm in length.

20. Cont…
Open the budding tape 21 days
after budding. Green budpatch
indicates successful budding
operation whereas brown or
black budpatch indicates
budding failure.
Cut-back the rootstock stem 10
cm above the end of the
budding panel seven days after
opening of the budding tape.
The scion is expected to sprout
in two or three weeks.

21. YOUNG BUDDING:
▪ In young budding technique, the seedling
stock is raised in polybags of 18 cm x 38
cm lay flat dimension.
▪ When seedlings are about ten weeks old
having basal stem diameter of 6 mm,
they are ready for young budding
operation.
▪ The buds used are also green but much
younger in age and smaller in size than is
normally used in green budding.

22. NURSERY:
▪ Nurseries are maintained for raising seedlings, budded plants and bud
wood. Beds are prepared 60-120 cm wide and of convenient length with
path ways laid in between to facilitate manuring, watering, weeding etc.
Spacing in the nursery according to the type of planting materials is as
follows:
▪ For raising seedling stumps: 23 x 23, 30 x 30 or 34 x 20 cm
▪ For budded stumps: 30 x 30 cm
▪ For stumped buddings: 60 x 60 cm
▪ For bud wood nurseries: 90 x 90 or 60 x 120 cm

23. Cont…
TYPES OF NURSERY
Bud stick multiplication nursery (ground nursery)
Budded stump nursery (ground nursery)
Budded stump in polybag nursery
Young budding nursery
High budding nursery
Core stump nursery
High density frame nursery (ground nursery)

24. LAND PREPARATION & LAYOUT:
▪ The area selected should be cleared of wild growth.
▪ Silt pits of dimension 120x45x60 cm may be taken along the contour at
suitable intervals to check erosion and to conserve water.
▪ Square planting is suitable for level and near level lands. Rectangular
system with planting lines oriented in the East West direction can be
adopted in flat lands and slopes.
▪ In undulating and hilly areas, planting should be done in rows across the
slope along the contour lines.
▪ The planting density recommended is 420 to 500 plants per hectare.
▪ Standard pits of 75 cm3 are dug in advance and filled with top soil, 12 kg
organic matter and 175 g of rock phosphate. Planting is done in the centre
of the pit with shade and mulch provided.

25. TYPES OF PLANTING:
i. Seed-at-stake planting: Planting seeds in situ is not found very successful in the country.
ii. Stump planting: Seedlings raised in nurseries are transplanted after pruning the stem at a height of
45-60 cm from the collar.
iii. Polybag plants: These plants are raised in two ways.
(a) Raise stock seedlings in polybags and afterwards green bud them at the appropriate stage and
transplant.
(b) Green budded stumps are planted in polybags of appropriate size and transplanted.
In both the cases, transplanting can be done when the plants attain either 2-3 whorls or 6-7 whorls of
leaves.
iv. Budded stump planting: Seedlings raised in nurseries are budded and transplanted after pruning
the stem at about 8 cm from the bud patch.

26. SPACING:
Planting material Spacing (m) Population / ha
Budded plants
Hilly areas 6.7 X 3.4 445
Plains 4.9 X 4.9 420
Seedlings
Hilly areas 6.1 X 3.0 539
Plains 4.6 X 4.6 479

27. MANURING:
For immature rubber trees at pre-tapping stage
Apply 12 kg of compost or FYM and 120 g of rock phosphate in each pit before planting.
Apply 10:10:4:1.5 NPK andMg as per schedule given below:
Months after planting
Period of application
Quantity per plant
10:10:4 12:12:6
3 September/October 225 g 190 kg
9 April/May 445 g 380 kg
15 September/October 450 g 380 kg
21 April/May 450 g 480 kg
27 September/October 550 g 480 kg
33 April/May 550 g 380 kg
39 September/October 450 g 380 kg
Apply 400 kg of mixture/ha in 2 doses, once in
April/May and another in September/October
from the 5th year till the tree is ready for tapping.

28. Cont…
Matured rubber trees under tapping
For matured rubber trees under tapping apply NPK
10:10:10 grade mixtures at the rate of 900 g/tree (300
kg/ha) every year in two split doses. Add 10 kg commercial
Magnesium sulphate for every 100 kg of the above mixture
if there is magnesium deficiency.

29. PRUNING:
▪ Pruning to a height of 2.0-2.5m allows the
development of a smooth trunk without branches or
large scars.
▪ In polybag budding; allow the plant to grow without
branches until 2.0- 2.5 m from union, then prune.
▪ Pruning also allows the development of a balanced
canopy.
▪ Maintain 4-5 well-spaced branches to avoid wind
damage.

30. IC OPERATION:
Inter-cropping
In the first two years the land area is not
fully occupied by the rubber plants and the
inter spaces can be utilized for growing
inter crops which do not interfere with the
growth of rubber plants
▪ The common inter crops cultivated in
rubber plantations are banana, pineapple,
tuber crops, ginger, turmeric, vegetables
and medicinal plants.
▪ Fig:Rubber inter-cropped with cassava

31. Cont…
Cover cropping
▪ Cover cropping is desirable in sloppy areas as it helps
to prevent soil erosion. This practice also assists in
enhancing the soil fertility, suppresses weed growth
and controls the soil temperature.
▪ Although, any leguminous crop with spreading habit
can be grown, it is preferable to use 'Pueraria' which
establishes a thick ground cover. The other legumes
used are 'Calapagonium’, 'Mucuna', 'Centrosema'.

32. Cont…
Mulching
▪ The young rubber plants need to be mulched by spreading dry leaves, grass
cuttings and cover crop loppings around the plants. This is usually done in
the month of November to protect the plants from the adverse effect of any
possible drought.
Weed Control
▪ The weeds commonly found in the rubber plantations are Eupatorium,
Chromolaena, Borreria, Lantana, Mimosa, Clerodendron, Mikania, Sida,
Pennisetum, Axonopus, Paspalum, Digitaria, Cynodon and Imperata.
▪ Control- Diuron, Simazina, Alachor, Paraquat and Glyphosate

33. DISEASES:
Abnormal leaf fall
(Phytophthora meadii)
Symptoms
During southwest monsoon period, the fruits rot.
Later, infected leaves fall in large number
prematurely either green or after turning coppery
red with a drop of latex often coagulated in the
centre of a black lesion on the petiole.
Control
Prophylactic spraying of the foliage prior to the
onset of southwest monsoon with 1% Bordeaux
mixture (3000-4000 l/ha) or oil based copper
oxychloride (30-40 litres of CDC-oil mixture / ha
mixed in 1:5 proportion) is recommended.

34. Cont…
Powdery mildew (Oidium heveae)
Symptoms
Prominently noticed on newly formed tender flush
during the defoliation period of January-March.
Tender leaves with ashy coating curl, crinkle, edges
roll inwards and fall off leaving the petioles attached
to the twigs giving a broom stick appearance. In
later stages on older leaves white patches appear.
Infected flowers and fruits shed.
Control
For young plants, spray wettable sulphur (0.2%) or
carbendazim (0.05%) at fortnightly intervals. For
mature trees, dust with sulphur 3-5 rounds at
weekly to fortnightly intervals. Sulphur mixed with
an inert material like talc (70:30 mixture) is
generally used @ 11-13 kg/ha/round.

35. Cont…
Pink disease (Corticium salmonicolor)
Symptom
The seat of infection is usually at the fork region.
White or pink coloured cobweb mycelial growths
form on the surface of the bark with streaks of latex
oozing out from the lesion; resulting in rotting,
drying up and cracking up of the affected bark.
Control
In the early stages of infection, apply Bordeaux
paste up to 30 cm above and below the affected
region. Tridemorph (2%) incorporated in 1%
ammoniated field latex is also effective. Tridemorph
(1%) or Thiram (0.75%) in pidivyl, china clay and
water mixed in the proportion 1:2:4 by volume is
very effective.

36. Cont…
Bark rot (Phytophthora spp.)
Symptoms
During rainy season, when trees are tapped,
depressions are formed in the tapping panel due to
localized rotting and drying bark. Black vertical lines
running downward into the tapping bark and
upwards into the renewed bark are noticed. The bark
when renewed becomes highly uneven.
Control
The tapping cut and nearby bark should be washed
with mancozeb (0.375%) or phosphorous acid
(0.08%) at weekly intervals. The rotten bark may be
scraped off and applied with fungicide and then
covered with petroleum wound-dressing compound.

37. INSECTS:
TERMITE
Practice good sanitation in plantation.
Destroy early colonies of termites.
Regularly inspect termite tunnel sand
destroy them.

38. Cont…
ROOT-FEEDING GRUBS
Do not apply insecticides since the
grubs have many natural enemies.
Use polybags in raising rubber
seedlings to prevent grub attack.

39. Cont…
MEALYBUGS
Mealy bugs are hosts to many parasitic
wasps of the Family Encyrtidae. The
parasitic wasps have to be conserved in
order to optimize their role in checking
the population of mealybugs.
Newly established population of
mealybugs may be sprayed with soap
solution or natural spray oil. Banana oil
may be spread to coat the mealybugs and
will suffocate them to death.
During severe infestation, dimethoate
may be spread judiciously.

40. Cont…
WHITEFLY
Tiny wasps, Encarsia sp. parasitize
nymphs of whiteflies.
If the population of whitefly is
newly established, soap solution
may be sprayed underneath
rubber leaves. During heavy
infestation, deltamethrin and
lambdacyhalothrin may be used.

41. PHYSIOLOGICAL DISORDERS:
BROWN BLAST BARK BURST

42. HARVESTING & YIELD:
▪ Hevea latex found in the latex vessels contains 30-40% rubber in the
form of particles. Latex is obtained from the bark of the rubber tree
by tapping. The tapping technique is also called as ridley.
▪ During the 6 th year the requisite trunk girth of about 50 cm will be
reached. At this age the tree will be ready for tapping, the yields
increasing gradually upto 11th year when they will stabilise.
▪ The year wise yield parameters considered from the 6 th year to the
11th year is 900, 1300, 1500, 1800 and 2000 kg per ha respectively
beyond which the yield is the same. For working out the
economics, the economic life of a rubber tree is considered as 25
years.

43. LATEX:
LATEXVESSELS
These are found in the tree’s soft bark. They are modified sieve tubes (cells formed by the
cambium and coalescing when the dividing cell walls disintegrate) running anti-clockwise in
concentric cylinders at an angle of approximately 30° to the vertical axis of the stem (which is
why tapping is done invariably from top left to bottom right in order to cut the vessels at a right
angle). Matrola(latex meter) used to measure % of rubber.
COMPOSITION OF LATEX
Rubber particles (25-40% of total latex volume), variable in shape, but usually pear-shaped or
spherical, and about 6 nm to 5 micron in size;
Lutoids (10-20%), 0.5 nm to 3 micron in size, having an impact on the stability and flow of the
latex;
Frey-Wyssling particles (5%) which play probably a role in the coagulation and oxido-reduction
processes;
Other elements like proteins, resins, sugars, glycosides, tannins, alkaloids, mineral salts, and
secondary metabolites.

44. TAPPING:
TAPPING DIRECTION & SLOPE
Latex vessels run spirally low left to high right at an inclination of 3.7 - 5° from the
vertical. Latex will flow out of the bark, only if the latex vessels are severed or cut. For
budded plants, the slope of cut is recommended at an angled of 30°, while the clonal
seedlings at 25° from the horizontal.

45. Cont…
▪ SPEED OF TAPPING: A rubber tree with a trunk circumference
of 50 cm can be tapped using half spiral for a maximum of 10
seconds only.
▪ DEPTH OF TAPPING: As the number of latex vessel rings are
greater towards inside, tapping must be deep enough to severe
as many latex vessels as possible. However, to avoid damage to
the cambium, 1 mm of the bark should be left untapped.
▪ TIME OF TAPPING:The best month to open new areas for
tapping is March. It is necessary to commence tapping early in
the morning as late tapping reduces the exudation of latex.

46. Cont…
TYPES OFTAPPING
S/2 d/2 (half spiral, alternate day for 6 months and
rested for 3 months)
100% Intensity
S /2 d/2
6m /9
(half spiral, alternate day for 6 months and rested
for 3 months)
67 intensity
S /2d/3 (half spiral, third day) 67 intensity
S/2 d/3
1m/2
(half spiral, daily for one month and rested for
next
month)
100% intensity
S /1 d/4 Full spiral, fourth day 100% intensity
V /2 d/2
12m/16
Half circumstances and cut alternate day for 12
months and rested for the next 4 months
75% intensity

47. PROCESSING:
COLLECTION OF LATEX
DILUTON & STANDARDIZATION:
The separation of fine sand particles and dirt from field latex by stirring alone is
found to be impractical due to high viscosity. By dilution with water, the fluidity of
the latex increases and separation of fine sand and dirt will be facilitated.

48. Cont…
COAGULATION
The latex is coagulated in
metal pans using a dilute
acid. This pan is filled with a
soft cake of coagulated
latex. As many as 20-30
rubber trees were tapped to
fill this pan.

49. Cont…
ROLLING
After coagulation, the cake of raw
rubber must be rolled to remove
the water and washed to remove
the acid. A worker uses a
wooden roller to compress the
rubber and squeeze out the acidic
water. The metal covered table
slopes so the water runs off away
from the worker. Later the cake
will be squeezed through rollers
to finish the process

50. Cont…
DRYING
After rolling is completed, the sheet
of raw rubber is dried on a rack and
smoked(40-60*) over a wood
fire. Here a sheet of raw rubber dries
next to a sheet of smoked rubber
(left). Smoking stablizes the rubber
and in this form it is sold and
transported to manufacturers of
rubber products.

51. Cont…
SORTING, BALING, AND PACKAGING
▪ Upload dried sheets from trolleys.
▪ Fold the unloaded sheets and place them in the working area. Dried sheets
should not be laid down over cement floors to reduce dirt contamination.
▪ Cut trim the undried portion of the rubber sheets for further drying.
▪ Sort according to color.
▪ Pile the dried rubber sheet and weigh to 33.33 kg per bale. Segregate two
to three sheets to bundle the piled sheets and form a bale.
▪ Wrap the bale with transparent plastic sheet showing the name of owner;
bales ready for sale are stored in dry place.

52. GRADES: INDIAN STANDARD NATURAL RUBBER
(ISNR) / BLOCK RUBBER
Characteristic ISNR 3CV ISNR 3L ISNR 5 ISNR 10 ISNR 20 ISNR 50
Dirt percent by mass (Max) 0.03 0.03 0.05 0.10 0.20 0.50
Volatile matter, percent by mass
(Max)
0.80 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.80
Ash, percent by mass (Max) 0.50 0.50 0.60 0.75 1.00 1.50
Nitrogen, percent by mass, Max >0.60 >0.60 >0.60 >0.60 >0.60 >0.60
Initial plasticity Po (Min) As agreed to
between the
purchaser and
the supplier
30.00
(Min)
>30.00
(Min)
30.00
(Min)
30.00
(Min)
30.00
(Min)
Plasticity retention index, PRI
(Min)
60.00 60.00 60.00 50.00 40.00 30.00
Colour (Livibond scale) - 6.0 - - - -
Mooney viscosity (1+4) at 100 C 60+5
-
- - - - -
Accelerated storage hardening
Po (max)
8.00 - - - - -
Colour code Black Black Green Brown Red Yellow

53. SYNTHETIC RUBBER:
▪synthetic rubbers are made in the
chemical plants, using the raw materials
mostly from the petroleum industry.
▪Important raw materials being used for
the production of synthetic rubber are
butadiene, styrene, isoprene,
chloroprene, isobutylene, acrylonitrile,
ethylene, and propylene.

54. Cont…
▪ Styrene-Butadiene Rubber
(SBR)
▪ Polybutadiene Rubber (BR)
▪ Polyisoprene Rubber (IR)
▪ Ethylene Propylene Rubber
(EPM and EPDM)
▪ Butyl Rubber (IIR)
▪ Nitrile Rubber (NBR)
▪ Chloroprene Rubber (CR)
▪ Silicone Rubber (Q)
▪ Polysulfide Rubber (T)
▪ Polyurethene Rubber (EU/AU)
▪ Chlorosulphonated Polyethylene
(Hypalon) Rubber (CSM)
▪ Acrylate Rubber (ACM)
▪ Fluro Rubbers (CFM)
▪ Ethylene – Vinyl Acetate Rubber
(EVA)
▪ Thermoplastic Rubbers (TP)
COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANT SYNTHETIC RUBBER

55. PROCESSED PRODUCTS FROM RUBBER

56. CONT….

57. CONT…

58. CONT…

59. CONT….

60. CONT….

61. ORGANISATIONAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE
ARRANGEMENTS
The Rubber Board with its head office at Kottayam in
Kerala coordinates the implementation of rubber
development programmes and provides technical
services for new planting, replanting, productivity
improvement, modernisation of processing, exploitation
of large byproducts to augment plantation economy,
marketing, promotion of collective self help amongst
small holders, training, labour welfare financial
assistance in the form of grants and necessary inputs like
improved planting material and supervision.

62. FUTURETHRUST
 Productivity enhancement of existing plantations through
adoption of appropriate agro-management practices,
 Quality upgradation of natural rubber through community
processing,
 Modernisation of rubber and rubber wood processing factories
and effluent treatment,
 Promoting group approach in planting, tapping, processing and
marketing through Rubber Producers Societies and Special
Programmes for doubling rubber area in North East, with the
involvement of concerned state government and North Eastern
Council.

63. CONCLUSION:
Rubber has been used for centuries as the favoured material for
the manufacturing of many products. Manufacturing methods
have evolved considerably towards achieving a greater efficiency,
and overall volume of rubber. Hevea brasiliensis is still a major
source of the world's rubber, raised and harvested in many
plantations centred mainly around Malaysia, Indonesia, and
Thailand. Although petroleum is now by far favoured as the main
source for rubber manufacture, it is a non-renewable resource
which will eventually become depleted. Hevea brasiliensis may
therefore become more important in the future.