Effect of the Economic Benefit of Ethrel-Palm Oil Mixture and the Conservation Period of the Stimulating Paste on the Rubber Productivity of Hevea brasiliensis in the Efficient Management of Plantation Stimulation in the South-East of Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract

To sustainably maintain and/or increase natural rubber productivity, without risk of overstimulation, of a set of small plantations of Hevea brasiliensis, efficient management of hormonal stimulation of rubber production becomes necessary. This must be controlled from a stimulation preparation and distribution centre. A study was therefore conducted to determine the type of stimulating paste prepared and the period of maximum effectiveness of this paste in the south-east of Côte d'Ivoire, for two years from 2012 to 2014. The study was conducted on the GT 1 clone, according to the one tree plot design of 15 treatments of 30 trees repeated per treatment, corresponding to different conservation periods of the stimulating paste prepared. Two stimulant products, namely Ethrel mixed with palm oil and Almephon (ready to use), were kept at room temperature and left to cool. The prepared stimulating paste was stored for 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42 and 56 days. The results indicated that the rubber yield, radial vegetative growth, physiological profile and health of the rubber trees were not affected by both the conservation of the stimulating paste and the different conservation periods. However, the stimulating pastes prepared could be stored for up to 56 days, both at room temperature and in the cold, without losing their effectiveness. The physiological profile and health of the rubber trees were not as affected by the conservation of the stimulating paste and the different conservation times. These important results make it possible to predict the management of hormonal stimulation of rubber production, without electrical power, from centers that will ensure preparation and distribution to the differents plantations. We conclude that the significantly cheaper Ethrel stimulant paste mixed with palm oil and using palm oil, an important local product and beneficial to the bark of Hevea brasiliensis, would be the best choice.