Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 24: 1535 - 1542. Published December 7, 2009.
Effect of tapping systems and height of tapping opening on clone PB 235 agronomic parameters and it’s susceptibility to tapping panel dryness in south-east of Côte d’Ivoire
Samuel OBOUAYEBA*^, Lacina Fanlégué COULIBALY*, **, Eric GOHET***, Thérèse N’drin YAO*, Séverin AKE**
* Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA), Station de Recherche de Bimbresso, Programmes Hévéa et Ananas-Banane, Opération Agronomie-Physiologie - 01 BP 1536 Abidjan 01, Côte d’Ivoire
**Université de cocody, UFR Biosciences, Laboratoire de Physiologie Végétale, 22 BP 582 Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
*** Cirad - Departement PERSYST, Unité de Recherche "Performance des systèmes de culture des plantes pérennes", TA B-34/02, Avenue Agropolis 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5-France
*Corresponding Author e-mail: obouayebasam@yahoo.fr
ABSTRACT
Objectives: An experiment in southeast of Côte d’Ivoire on the combined effect of tapping systems and height of opening on clone PB 235 agronomic parameters and susceptibility to tapping panel dryness was led in order to determine the best exploitation system.
Methodology and results: The clone was planted at the density of 510 trees per hectare (7 m x 2.80 m) comparing two tapping systems S/2 d3 6d/7 ET2.5% Ba2(2) 2/y(m) (high tapping intensity) and S/2 d4 6d/7 ET2.5% Pa1(1) 8/y(m) (low tapping intensity) and two opening heights (1.20 m and 0.75 m above ground level) using a split-plot lay out. Measurements included yield, growth, and rate of tapping panel dryness (TPD), dry rubber and sucrose contents. Results shown that the opening of clone PB 235 at 0.75 m doesn’t affect significantly growth but gives lower yields and higher rates of TPD mainly with high tapping intensity. Intensive tapping results in a decrease of sucrose content and significant increase in the rate of TPD.
Conclusions and potential application of findings: The opening height has significant effect on clone PB 235 yield but not on it’s growth. Tapping intensity could be the main factor of the appearance of clone PB 235 TPD. Opening trees at 0.75 m above the ground cannot be practical in the exploitation system of this clone. The lower tapping frequency (S/2 d4 6d/7) combined with high intensity of stimulation (8/y(m)) allows a better carbohydrates supply and enhances the maintaining of a better sucrose availability. The low tapping intensity S/2 d4 6d/7 8/y(m) at 1.20 m above ground level is the best one that need to be applied on clone PB 235.
Keywords: clone PB 235, tapping systems, opening height, tapping panel dryness.
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