Influence of the Soil Preparation Method on the Aerial and Root Development of the Clone GT 1 of Hevea brasiliensis, Mull. Arg (Euphorbiaceae) in the South-West of Cote D’ivoire

Abstract

Objective: The study was carried out on the plots of the Southwest Agricultural Civil Society (SCASO) in southwestern Côte d'Ivoire. the objective of this study is to evaluate the aerial and root development of rubber plants of Gondang Tapen 1 (GT 1) clone, through the method of land preparation Methodology and Results: The methodology focused on plougheds soils of the experimental plots according to a toposequence (summit, mid-slope and low-slope). This treatment was compared with control plots on unploughed soil. The results obtained showed that ploughed soil favoured good aerial development of plants of the GT 1 clone, especially in the lower slopes of plots installed on a toposequence gradient. This cultivation technique also allows a good elongation of the main root of the rubber plants of the GT 1 clone, mainly at the summit and bottom of the toposequence, thus ensuring good fixation in the soil, and thus resistance to windthrow and water supply in the dry season. The study indicated a close relationship between the development of the aerial and underground parts of the GT 1 clone plants on undisturbed (unploughed soil) soils. Conclusion and Application: Evaluation of the influence of the mode of land preparation on the aerial and root development of the GT 1 a clone showed that mechanical soil preparation by ploughed soil in rubber cultivation is an appropriate cultivation technique to boost the development of rubber trees in plantations, when soil characteristics require it.