The Effectiveness of Plant Quality Monitoring Programme on the Condition of the Rubber Clearings

Abstract

The rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg,) is an important plant not only for world economic strategies but also for the use of living of humankind. At present new cultivations of rubber would be qualified for carbon trading as it is directly involved in mitigating the green house effect with sequestering atmospheric C02. Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka (RRISL) is involved in developing rubber nurseries through nursery inspection program with the objective of producing high quality budded rubber plants. This monitoring program was commenced in 2004. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of plant quality monitoring program on the condition of the rubber clearings. Four rubber estates were selected from Kegalle and Ratnapura districts. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaire and girth of rubber trees were measured as a direct measurement. Hapugastenna and Edarapola estates have been categorized to have good nurseries and nurseries at Moralioya and Sunnycroft estates are categorized as bad according to the RRISL recommendation. According to the results, there is a significant difference in achieving the tappable girth before and after the commencement of nursery monitoring programme. Furthermore, RRISL recommended management practices have been applied by these estates. However, tapping has not been possible even after 6 years in any of these estates. By using the proper management practices, the present condition of the fields can be improved.