Plantation Crops

Mulching

• Bases of young rubber plants must be weeded cleanly to avoid weed competition.

  Ø Mulching with
  Ø dry leaves,
  Ø Water weed (Salvinia spp),
  Ø Grass cuttings,
  Ø Cover crop loppings etc
• Around the plant is recommended to prevent soil degradation due to severe climatic conditions.
• Aquatic weed = Salvinia spp (African payal) is spreding as a menace in the water ways and can be applied @ 5 kg per m2 as sun dried material.
• Season of mulching: After monsoon i.e., November

Weed control in rubber
Until cover crops is established regular weeding is necessary. About 4 to 5 rounds of hand weeding are required during first 2 years. Once the cover crops are established or after the canopy has closed there is a little weed growth.