Plantation Crops

Cover cropping

• It is always suggested to maintain the ground cover in rubber plantation in view of maintenance of soil as a permanent productive asset. Cover crops which can be grown in rubber plantations are;

  1) Pueraria phaseoloides : Features A popular cover crop in India
  ?  Vigourous twiner and creeper that can be propagated by seeds and cuttings,
  ?  Can stand strong sun
  ?  Smothers weeds
• Seed rate: 3 to 4.50 kg per ha.
• Other cover crops includes

  2) Calopogonium muconoides : A twiner and creeper and dies off during dry months.
  3) Centrosema pubescens : Climber and can be grown in shade. However, it can not be grown under wet conditions.