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Rubber Tree Soil
Name: Kimeng
Status: other
Grade: 12+
Location: Outside U.S.
Country: Cambodia
Date: Summer 2011
Question:
How many types of soil for growing rubber tree?
Replies:
Rubber trees grow in most tropical soils:
http://www.socfinal.lu/Public/Page.php?ID=1530&ancestor1=1079
but not wet, boggy, peaty, or rocky soils.
Sincerely,
Anthony R. Brach, PhD
Missouri Botanical Garden
Harvard University Herbaria
The following website provides a good synopsis of the soil types suitable for rubber tree cultivation in Cambodia:
http://www.utafoundation.org/utacambod/msc99thes/meanlitr.htm
Any given soil is comprised of three fractions: sand, silt, and clay. The relative proportions of these three (in % terms) indicate the soil texture. Soil texture describes the overall properties of the soil, such as water retention/drainage, nutrient holding capacity, and tendency to compact, etc.
The term “loam” indicates a relatively equal proportion of sand, silt, and clay. A clay loam would denote a slight clay bias.
Note that it is very beneficial to intercrop with starchy vegetables and legumes during the "lag phase", the time it takes rubber trees to reach maturation. During this phase, rubber trees provide no economic return (~8 years). Intercropping can enhance fertility and provide a useful alternative income stream.
Dr. Tim Durham
Instructor, Office of Curriculum and Instruction
University Colloquium
Department of Biological Sciences
Florida Gulf Coast University
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Update: June 2012
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