IMPROVING RUBBER PRODUCTION AND TAPPING PANEL DRYNESS IN Hevea TREE USING ORGANIC FERTILISER AND MICRONUTRIENTS

Tapping Panel Dryness (TPD) is a condition that affects latex-producing cells, leading to reduced latex flow upon cutting the tree bark. Here, a comparative analysis was conducted to evaluate soil nutrient levels beneath TPD-affected trees and healthy trees. The findings revealed that Calcium (Ca) and Magnesium (Mg) levels were 1.76 and 1.38 times lower, respectively, in TPD-affected trees compared to healthy trees. The application of organic fertiliser on rubber farms significantly improved soil conditions, especially Mg content. Moreover, the use of organic fertiliser significantly enhanced the Dried Rubber Content (DRC) and rubber dry weight compared to untreated soil. Additionally, organic fertiliser mixed with various micronutrients was applied to the soil under the TPD-affected trees. The finding demonstrated that applying Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium to the bark, combined with organic fertiliser, substantially reduced the length of cut dryness in TPD-affected trees from 77.6% to 13%. Furthermore, TPD-affected trees treated with organic fertiliser and 0.5 kg of nine chemical Micronutrient Granules (MGs) exhibited the highest latex output compared to other treatments. This combination of organic fertiliser and chemical MGs provides a balanced nutrient supply, promoting rubber tree growth and optimising latex production.