Rubber intercropping

a viable concept for the 21st century?

verfasst von

Gerhard Langenberger, Georg Cadisch, Konrad Martin, Shi Min, Hermann Waibel

Abstract

The last decades brought along a tremendous expansion of rubber plantations as well as respective socio-economic transformations. This paper reviews the historical development of rubber cultivation with special reference to intercropping and illustrates the major development steps. The agronomic challenges of intercropping are analyzed and a management classification scheme is suggested. Though the topic of labor always accompanied rubber management, it is nowadays of even higher relevance due to alternative income options, be it due to competing crops such as oil palm, or be it off-farm income opportunities. This development challenges labor intensive permanent intercropping systems. It can thus be concluded that the permanent integration of additional plants needs either to be highly profitable or at least be labor extensive to be adopted on a considerable scale. Given the large area of rubber plantations the latter seems to be more realistic. In this context timber trees might offer promising options if tree selection is properly adapted to site and plantation conditions. Nevertheless, without external interventions, such as land-use planning and implementation, or incentives, the development will be difficult to control.

Organisationseinheit(en)

Institut für Entwicklungs- und Agrarökonomik

Externe Organisation(en)

Universität Hohenheim

Typ

Übersichtsarbeit

Journal

Agroforestry Systems

Band

91

Seiten

577-596

Anzahl der Seiten

20

ISSN

0167-4366

Publikationsdatum

02.06.2017

Publikationsstatus

Veröffentlicht

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Forstwissenschaften, Agronomie und Nutzpflanzenwissenschaften

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

SDG 15 – Lebensraum Land

Elektronische Version(en)

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-016-9961-8 (Zugang: Geschlossen)