ISSN 2375-074X
African Journal of Plant Breeding ISSN 2375-074X Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-009, January, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Low intensity tapping systems applied to clone PR 107 of Hevea brasiliensis (Muell. Arg.): Results of 21 years of exploitation in South-eastern Côte d’Ivoire
Eric Francis Soumahin1, 2* Samuel Obouayeba1, Koulaka Emmanuel Dick2, Denezon Odette Dogbo3 and Abo Pierre Anno2
1Centre National de Recherche Agronomique, Station de Recherche de Bimbresso, Programme Hévéa, 01 BP 1536 Abidjan 01, Côte d’Ivoire.
2Université de Cocody-Abidjan, UFR Biosciences, Laboratoire de Physiologie Végétale, 22 BP 582 Abidjan 22, Côte d’Ivoire.
3Université d’Abobo-Adjamé, UFR Sciences de la Nature, Laboratoire de Physiologie et de Physiopathologie Végétales, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire.
Accepted 15 October, 2019
Abstract
The cultivation of Hevea brasiliensis, which is the main source of natural rubber, is facing a problem of scarcity and/or high cost of skilled labour. One of the means to remedy this constraint is to reduce the intensity of tapping. This work aims at studying tapping systems of low intensity tapping but highly stimulated (S/4 d3 6d/7 8-10/y(m) and S/2 d6 6d/7 8-10/y(m)) which enable to reduce the need for tappers by 10 and 50% compared to a standard or traditional tapping system (S/2 d3 6d/7 4/y(3m), the control), in clone PR 107 of Hevea brasiliensis in south-eastern Côte d'Ivoire. This study was carried out on the basis of agronomic, physiological and economic criteria. The results of 21 years of exploitation have shown that reducing the frequency of tapping is not compensated, in terms of yield, by high stimulations. However, the reduction of the length of tapping cut is compensated, in terms of yield, by hormonal stimulation. Low intensity tapping systems do not adversely affect the growth and physiological profile of trees. They reduce the rate of tapping panel dryness. All tapping systems are profitable. The best low intensity tapping systems (S/4 d3 6d/7 10/y(m) and S/2 d6 6d/7 10/y(m)) may constitute an alternative to the standard or traditional tapping system so as to reduce the need for tappers and thus, make up for a deficit and/or a high cost of tapping labour.
Key words: Hevea brasiliensis clone PR 107, low intensity tapping systems, stimulation, yield, growth, tapping panel dryness, labour, profit margin, Côte d'Ivoire.