ESTABLISHING PERENNIAL INTERCROPS IN RUBBER PLANTATIONS AFTER REMOVAL OF PINEAPPLE: EFFECT ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF RUBBER, SOIL MOISTURE AND NUTRIENT STATUS

摘要

Though diverse food crops are cultivated with rubber as intercrops during the initial 3 to 4 years of the plantation cycle, in the later phase, other crops are seldom cultivated due to the limited light availability. Two varieties of coffee (Robusta and G x R) and cocoa were established in a three year old rubber plantation in Central Kerala after removal of pineapple. The experiment was laid out in RBD with three replications. Both coffee and cocoa established well after removal of pineapple. Growth and yield of rubber were not influenced by intercropping with these crops. Soil moisture status during summer was higher in the presence of intercrops and soil nutrient status was not influenced. There were other facilitative interactions in terms of higher earthworm castings and rhizosphere alkalinization under mixed planting system. Yield of coffee was poor, but that of cocoa was comparatively better. Crop diversification in rubber plantations without adverse impact on the performance of rubber is important in the current scenario of price uncertainties, increasing environmental concerns about monoculture plantations and as a low input strategy to mitigate drought, which is also a growing concern.