Spatial Distribution of Rubber Tree Dendrometrics Variables and Soil Chemical Attributes

Abstract

To know the relations between the developments of the crops and the chemical attributes of the auxiliary soil in their management. This work aimed to examine the spatial and temporal variability of rubber tree dendrometric parameters (Fx 3864 clone) and soil chemical attributes P (phosphorus) and K (potassium) levels. Diameter at breast height (DBH), height (HGT) and volume (VOL) of 200 trees were measured at three different periods. A total of 60.0 soil samples was also randomly collected from soil layers 0.0 – 0.20 m and 0.20 – 0.40 m depth. Data were submitted to descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and geostatistics. The rubber tree height measured at the first and second periods correlated significantly with the P and K levels from the 0 – 0.20 m layer and with the P level from the 0.20 – 0.40 m layer. For the third measuring period, the rubber tree parameters correlated significantly with the K level from the 0 – 0.20 m layer. Dendrometric variables of rubber trees exhibit strong spatial dependence at the early tree growth stage.