Integrated assessment of the natural conditions on suitability and adaptation of the project of conversion of dipterocarpaceae forest into rubber plantation in Dak Lak province

Abstract

The results of surveys, investigation and assessment show that the climate conditions of dipterocarpaceae forests are relatively suitable for the growth and development of rubber trees. However, there are some rather severe indicators such as seasonal rainfall distribution, low humidity, inundation in rainy season and drought in the dry season; High and low temperatures reach the limit for the requirement of rubber trees. Most of dipterocarpaceae forest area consists of sandy or sandy soil, discrete soil texture, poor humus, poor water and nutrient retention, rapid heat absorption and transfer, at depths away from the surface of 20 - 40 cm is tombstone and gravel layer, under the clay, easily cause local inundation in the rainy season. The proportion of dipterocarpaceae forest land, which suitable for rubber trees is quite low, with the majority of adaptation levels S2 and S3, no suitable area at S1 level. In the first 2 years, the growth of rubber trees in dipterocarpaceae forest is less than that of rubber in upland fields, cleared land from evergreen forest, semi-evergreen forest. From the third year onwards, the difference in expression is clearer, in that the rubber tree’s diameter on the soil of the dipterocarpaceae forest is lower than that of the traditional rubber plantation at the same age.