Plantation Crops

Planting and after care

Preparation of land: All preparations should be finished before planting season i.e., June.

Clearing:
New areas
• Old plantation: Old trees may be slaughter tapped.

Lining:
Flat/Slightly undulated areas: Square planting or rectangular planting is followed by making lines in East – West direction to maximize sun light interception.
Hilly areas with moderate ( 10 – 20 %) slope : Contour planting is suggested by marking across the slope.
In hilly areas with steep slopes ( > 20 % slope): Terracing is resorted.

Spacing/Planting distances

Sl No.	Situation/Planting method	Spacing (m)	Plants per ha
1.	Hilly areas	6.7 x 3.4	445
2.	Flat areas- Square system	4.9 x 4.9	420
3.	Triangular system	4.9 x 4.9	470

• Pit size: It varies from 75 cm to 90 cm, depending on ;
• soil type = Hard soil go for wider pits
• Type of planting materials = Stumped buddings wider and larger pits, and in germinated seeds go for smaller pits.

After care
Manuring in rubber:
For rubber trees under tapping (Usually above 7 years of age)

Recommendation
Apply 12: 6: 6 NPK grade mixture at the rate of 400 kg per ha per year in two splits i.e.,
? April – May and
? September – October is recommended.
P2O5 has to be applied to rubber in the form of rock phosphate.

Method of Application
Fertilisers should be applied in square or rectangular patches in between rows, each patch serving four trees. Once the canopy of the plants closes, say, 5 to 6 years after planting, light forking to incorporate the fertilisers into the top soil is necessary.
• In areas where the legume ground cover is present or where the legume cover has died out leaving a thick mulch, it is enough to broadcast the fertilisers between two rows of rubber trees. Deep pocket placement of fertilisers and application too close to the base of the trees should be avoided.