Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis)

Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) – Detailed Information

Local Indian Name: Hindi: (Rabar ka Ped), Malayalam: (Rabar), Tamil: (Rappar Maram), Kannada: (Rabbar Gida), Assamese: (Rabor Gos)

Scientific Name: Hevea brasiliensis

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Category: Perennial Tree

Subcategory: Latex-Producing Tree

Native Region:

• Originates from Amazon Rainforest (Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia)

• Commercially cultivated in India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka

Introduction:

Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) is an evergreen tree cultivated for its latex, which is used to produce natural rubber. It is an economically significant crop, especially in India’s Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Assam, and Meghalaya regions. The tree grows well in tropical climates and provides sustainable income through latex tapping.

Importance & Benefits:

• Latex Extraction: Used in making tires, footwear, gloves, balloons, and adhesives.

• Eco-Friendly: Natural rubber is biodegradable and sustainable.

• High Demand: Used in automobile, healthcare, and industrial sectors.

• Timber Uses: Rubberwood is used in furniture and plywood industries.

• Carbon Sequestration: Helps in reducing carbon footprint.

• Employment Generation: Provides livelihood to millions of farmers.

Description and Cultivation:

• Height: Grows up to 30–40 meters in the wild; 15–25 meters in plantations.

• Trunk: Straight with smooth, light-colored bark.

• Leaves: Compound leaves with three leaflets, dark green.

• Flowers: Small, yellowish-white flowers that bloom seasonally.

• Fruits: Capsule-like fruits containing three seeds (often called rubber nuts).

• Latex: Milky fluid extracted from the bark of mature trees.

Varieties and Cultivars:

• RRII 105: High-yielding variety developed by the Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII).

• RRII 430 & RRII 414: Suitable for northeastern India.

• RRIM 600: Popular in Thailand and Malaysia.

• PB 235 & PB 260: Fast-growing and widely cultivated in India and Southeast Asia.

Location and Light:

• Requires full sunlight for optimal growth.

• Best grown in tropical climates with high humidity.

• Ideal altitude: Up to 500 meters above sea level.

Soil Preparation:

• Prefers deep, well-drained loamy or clayey soil.

• Soil pH: 4.5 to 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral).

• Organic matter and good drainage are essential.

Planting:

• Best Season: June to September (monsoon).

• Spacing: 4 x 4 meters (approx. 300–350 trees per hectare).

• Pit Size: 75 cm x 75 cm x 75 cm, filled with compost and topsoil.

Watering:

• Requires regular irrigation during the dry season.

• Young plants need watering twice a week.

• Mature trees require watering only in prolonged droughts.

Pruning:

• Minimal pruning is needed.

• Remove weak or diseased branches to enhance latex yield.

Pest and Disease Management:

• Common Pests:

  • Mealybugs

  • Aphids

  • Scale insects

  • Termites

• Common Diseases:

  • Powdery Mildew: Causes leaf shedding; controlled by sulfur sprays.

  • Pink Disease: Fungal infection affecting bark; treated with Bordeaux mixture.

  • Leaf Blight: Prevented using copper-based fungicides.

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM):

  • Use organic pesticides like neem oil.

  • Maintain clean plantations to reduce infections.

Environmental Conditions:

• Climate: Warm, humid, tropical conditions.

• Temperature: 25°C to 35°C is ideal.

• Rainfall: Requires 2,500–4,000 mm annual rainfall.

• Humidity: Prefers 75–85% humidity.

Propagation:

• Budding: Most commonly used commercial method.

• Seeds: Used for rootstock development but takes longer.

• Tissue Culture: Used for high-yielding clones.

Uses:

Industrial Uses:

• Manufacturing of tyres, rubber bands, hoses, gloves, erasers, and balloons.

• Used in automobiles, footwear, sports equipment, and adhesives.

Medical Uses:

• Rubber is used in surgical gloves, catheters, and medical devices.

Timber Uses:

• Rubberwood is used in furniture, plywood, and construction materials.

Environmental Benefits:

• Acts as a carbon sink, helping in climate regulation.

• Prevents soil erosion and improves biodiversity.

Monetary Benefits:

• Latex Yield: 400–500 kg of dry rubber per hectare annually.

• Latex Price: ₹150–₹250 per kg (varies with market demand).

• Timber Price: ₹10,000–₹30,000 per cubic meter.

• Economic Life: 30–35 years per plantation.

• Return on Investment: Profitable after 6–7 years, with continuous income for decades.

References:

1. Rubber Board of India – www.rubberboard.org.in

2. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

3. Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII)

4. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Reports

5. National Agricultural Research Institutes of Malaysia & Thailand