Apr 01
2010Rubber tree is best grown in tropical climates. It is originated from the Amazon basin and is successfully introduced to other areas. Rubber farming can be a very lucrative business. It requires lots of physical work but there is a very high income potential in this agriculture. Hevea brasiliensis or Para Rubber Tree is simply called as rubber tree. It is a perennial tree of a height of 25 to 30 meters. Life of a rubber tree is more than 100 years, however the economical life of rubber tree is about 32 years. This can be divided into 2 phases. The immature phase is of 7 years and productive life of 25 years.
Rubber trees convert inorganic nutrients from the soil, and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, into organic carbohydrates which are then turned into rubber latex. The latter passes up the tree through millions of capillary vessels or tubes located in the soft outer bark.
At least once a year the leaves of the tree, which are the sites of carbohydrate formation, die and fall off in wintering, and new leaves are formed. During wintering, which lasts for sixteen weeks, the metabolism of the tree and the constitution of its latex are substantially affected. The yield is also reduced, and this, together with other climatic factors, accounts for marked seasonal variations in natural rubber production in producing countries.
Once the latex production becomes uneconomical, the trees are cut and replaced with new ones. Rubber plantation is a sustainable source of rubber as well as timber, contributing positively to the environment.
The wood is susceptible to the attack of fungi and insects. Hence to improve the durability of the wood chemical preservation is carried out. The structure of the vessels in rubber wood permits easy and effective preservative treatment.
Source by Sam Kuruppu
