UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

THE EFFECT OF NITROGEN AND POTASSIUM FERTILIZERS AND SOIL TYPES ON RUBBER

(HEVEA BRASILIENSIS MUELL. ARG.)

CHANG AH KOW

FH 1989 4

THE EFFECT OF NITROGEN AND POTASSIUM FERTILIZERS AND SOIL TYPES ON RUBBER

(HEVEA BRASILIENSIS HUELL. ARG.)

By

CHANG AH KOW

Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Degree of Master of Agricultural Science

in the Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Pertanian Malaysia.

November, 1989.

To

Set Chin.

Lee Ming,

Lee Churn and

Lee Yoon .

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The work reported in this thesis was carried out

in the Prang Besar Research Station. Kajang, under

the Research and Development Department of Harrisans

Malaysian Plantation Berhad (HMPB) Group. (The Group

has since been renamed Golden Hope Plantations Berhad

in February 1990.) I wish to thank HMPB and in

particular, Messrs. R. Shepherd and K. H. Yeow the

former Directors of Research, for permission to

pursue graduate programme and to report on the

findings of the research associated with the course.

I take this opportunity to express my sincere

gratitude to my Supervisor, Associate Professor Dr.

Sharifuddin bin Haj i Abdul Hamid for his

encouragement and guidance.

1.

My thanks are also due to the following

Mr. Teoh Cheng Hai. Director of Research and

Development Department, HMPB, at Prang Besar

Research Station for his understanding and for

making my study more challenging.

2. Mr. Poon Yew Chin of HMPB Oil Palm Research

Station, Banting for chemical analyses.

iii

3. Or. Zaharah bt . Abdul Rahman of UPM for her kind

support and encouragement .

4 . Managers and Staff of the estates on which the

trials were sited, for their cooperation and

assistance,

5. Staff of

especially

Prang Besar

Mr. Benedict

Research Station.

Rethual and Ms.

S. Sivaranchitham. Ms . Liau Yon Chin and Ms. Gan

Gim Siw for typing the earlier and final drafts

of the thesis .

iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF FIGURES

LIST OF PLATES

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

ABSTRACT

ABSTRAK

CHAPTER

I INTRODUCTION

I I

I I I

The Environment The Problem The Approach

LITERATURE REVIEW

Early Development Post-War Work Recent Work on Rubber Nutrition

Responses to Nitrogen Responses to Potassium Fertilizer Responses in General

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cultivar Soil Types and Location

Sit iawan Series Soil Rasau Series Soil Durian Series Soil Malacca Series Soil Munchong Series Soil

Page

iii

ix

xvi

xvii

xviii

xx

xxiv

1

1 2 3

5

5 8

1 2 13 16 1 7

2 3

23 2 4 2 4 2 7 2 8 2 9 2 9

IV

Page

Experimental Design 3 0 Plot Size and Arrangement 3 0 Plot Demarcation, Guard Rows

and Recording Trees 3 2 Treatments 3 2 Fertilizer Applications ( Rates ,

Timing and Placement ) 3 5

Field Upkeep and General Maintenance 36 History of Pests and Diseases 38

Rainfall Data 39

Growth and Yield Recording 3 9 Girth Recording 3 9 Yield Recording 4 0

Soil Sampling and Analyses Soil Sampling Soil Analyses

Leaf Sampling and Analyses Leaf Sampling Leaf Analyses

Statistical Analysis

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Soil Properties Sit iawan Series Soil Rasau Series Soil Durian Series Soil Malacca Series Soil Munchong Series Soil Overall Discussion on Changes in

Soil Properties

Growth Performance Growth on Sitiawan Series soil Growth on Rasau Series soil Growth on Durian Series soil Growth on Malacca Series soil Growth on Munchong Series soil

4 1 4 1 4 1

44 44 47

4 6

50

5 1 55 5 7 5 8 5 9 6 0

61

6 2 6 3 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 7

v

Girth Increments (Growth Rates) Girth Increments on Sitiawan

Series Soil Girth Increments on Malacca

Series Soil Girth Increments on Munchong

Series Soil

Girth Increments on RaS8U & Durian

Page

68

68

68

69

Series Soil 71 Growth Rate and Fertilizer

Treatments

Yield Responses Yields on Sitiawan Series Soil Yields on Rasau Series Soil Yields on Durian Series Soil Yields on Malacca Series Soil Yields on Munchong Series Soil

Fertilizer Poaching and Effect on Yield Responses

N-K Interaction Effect

72

73 74 78 79 83 87

89

90

Leaf Analyses 91 Leaf Nitrogen Contents 91 Leaf Potassium Contents 94 Leaf Phosphorus Contents 96 Leaf Calcium Contents 98 Leaf Magnesium Contents 100 Factors Influencing Leaf Nutrient

Contents 102

Rainfall 104 Mean Yearly Rainfall 104 Effects of Rainfa11 on �ie1dB 106 Effects of Rainfall on Growth,

Soil and Leaf Analyses 108

Nutrient Cycle of a Rubber Plantation 110 Addition of Nutrients to the Cycle 110 LOS5 or Leakage of Nutrients

from the Cycle III

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 115

VI

A.

B .

c.

D .

E .

BIBLIOGRAPHY

APPENDICES

Soil Profile Description

Analyses of Soils at Commencement and at End of Trials

Fertilizer Application Rates 1977 - 1 9 8 7

Growth Measurements - Girth o f Stem of RRI M 6 0 0

Cumulative Girth Increments o f RRIM 6 0 0

Page

119

130

1 3 7

143

1 4 5

151

F . Tapping Programme for RRIM 6 0 0 1 57

G . Mean Test Tapping Yields 1 5 9

H . RRIM 6 0 0 Crop Production ( Extrapolated ) 165

I. Leaf Nitrogen Contents of RRI M 6 0 0 1 7 1

J . Leaf Potass ium Contents of RRIM 6 0 0 1 7 7

K. Leaf Phosphorus Contents of RRIM 6 0 0 183

L . Leaf Calcium Contents o f RRIM 600 189

M . Leaf Magnesium Contents of RRIM 6 0 0 195

N. Rainfall Data 201

CURRICULUM VITAE 207

Table

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1 0

1 1

1 2

1 3

1 4

1 5

16

LIST OF TABLES

Critical Leaf Nutrient Contents for Hevea

Total Nitrogen Needs of Rubber

Effect of N and K on Growth and Yield of Rubber on Rengam Series Soil During Six Years of Treatment and Recording

Nutrient Drained on Stimulation and s/2 d / 2 Tapping

Particulars of Fertilizer Trials

Treatment Potassium

Rates of Nitrogen and

Application Rates of Phosphorus and Magnesium

Soil Productivity Classification and Expected Rubber Yields

Nutrient Levels of Soils in Peninsular Malaysia

Soil Rating According to Productivity and Nutrient Contents

Range of Soil Properties at Commence­ment and End of the Trials

RRIM 600 yields in Commercial Plantings

Leaf N Contents according to Grouped Treatments on Sitiawan Series Soil

Ten-Year Mean Leaf N Levels ( % )

Leaf K Contents According to Grouped Treatments on Sit iawan Series Soil

Ten-Year Mean Leaf K Levels ( %)

ix

Page

1 1

1 4

18

2 0

2 6

34

3 5

5 2

53

54

56

74

9 3

9 3

9 4

9 5

Table

17

18

1 9

20

2 1

2 2

23

24

25

2 6

Al

A2

A3

M

AS

Leaf P Contents According to Treatments on 5itiawan Series

Ten-Year Leaf P Levels (%)

Grouped Soil

Leaf Ca Contents According to Grouped Treatments on Sitiawan Series Soil

Ten-Year Leaf Ca Levels ,%)

Leaf Mg Contents According to Grouped Treatments on Sitiawan Series Soil

Ten-Year Leaf Mg Levels (i)

Ten-Year Mean Annual Rainfall and Yield

Years with at least 3 consecutively Dry Months

Amounts of Nutrients Added to the Nutrient Cycle

Amounts of Nutrients Leaked or "Lost" from the Nutrient Cycle

Tables in Appendices A to N

Sitiawan Series Soil Profile Description

Rasau Series Soil Profile Description

Durian Series Soil Profile Description

Malacca Series Soil Profile Description

Munchong Series Soil Profile Description

x

Page

97

98

99

100

101

101

105

109

1 1 2

113

122

133

134

135

136

Table

B1

B2

B3

B4

B5

c

01

02

03

D4

D5

El

E 2

E3

Analyses of Sitiawan a t 0 - 1 5 cm depth, S g .

Series Soil Wangi Estate

Analyses at 0 - 1 5 em

of Rasau Series Soil depth, Victoria Estate

Analyses o f Durian Series Soil at 0 - 1 5 em depth. Sg. Senarut Estate

Analyses of Malaeca Series Soil a t 0 - 1 5 cm depth. Linsum Estate

Analyses o f Munchong at 0 - 1 5 em depth, Sg.

Series Soil Klah Estate

Fertilizer 1 9 7 7 -1987

Application rates

Growth of RRIM 600 on Sitiawan Series Soi l . 59· wangi Estate

Growth of RRIM 600 on Rasau Series Soil. Victoria Estate

Growth of RRIM 600 on Durian Series Soil. 59· Senarut Estate

Growth o f RRIM 600 on Malacca Series Soi l . Linsum Estate

Growth of RRIM 600 on Munchong Series Soil. 59· Klah Estate

Cumulative girth increments on Sitiawan Series Soil

Cumulative girth increments on Rasau Series Soil

Cumulative girth increments on Durian Series Soil

xi

Page

1 3 8

1 3 9

1 4 0

1 4 1

1 4 2

1 4 4

1 4 6

1 4 7

1 4 8

1 4 9

1 5 0

1 5 2

1 5 3

1 5 4

Table

E4

E5

F

Gl

G2

G3

G4

G5

HI

112

H 3

H 4

H5

Il

Cumulative Girth I ncrements on Malacca Series Soil

Cumulative Girth I ncrements on Munchong Series Soil

Tapping Programme for RRIM 600

Mean Test-tapping Yields on 5itiawan Series Soil

Mean Test-tapping Yields on Rasau Series Soil

Mean Test- tapping Yields on Durian Series Soil

Mean Test- tapping Yields on Malacca Series Soil

Mean Test- tapping Yields on Munchong Series Soil

Rubber Yields on 5itiawan Series Soi l . 59· wangi Estate

Rubber Yields on Rasau Series Soi l , Victoria Estate

Rubber Yields on Durian Series Soil . 59 · Senarut Estate

Rubber Yields on Malacca Series Soil, Linsum Estate

Rubber yields on Munchong Series Soil . 59· Klah Estate

Leaf Nitrogen Content of RRIM 600 on Sitiawan Series Soil. Sg. Wangi Estate

xii

Page

1 5 5

1 5 6

1 5 6

1 6 0

1 6 1

1 6 2

163

164

1 6 6

167

1 6 6

1 6 9

1 7 0

1 7 2

Table

12

13

14

15

Jl

J 2

J3

J4

J5

Kl

K2

Leaf Nitrogen Content of on Rasau Series Soil, Estate

Leaf Nitrogen Content on

RRIM 600 victoria

RRIM 600 On Durian Series Soil, S g . Senarut Estate

Leaf Nitrogen Content o f RRIM 600 on Malacca Series Soil, Linsum Estate

Leaf Nitrogen Content o f RRIM 600 on Munchong Series Soil, Sg. Klah Estate

Leaf Potass ium Content o f RRIM 600 on Sitiawan Series Soil, Sg. Wangi Estate

Leaf Potassium Content o f RRIM 600 on Rasau Series Soi l , Victoria Estate

Leaf Potass ium Content of RRIM 600 on Durian Series Soil, Sg. Senarut Estate

Leaf Potassium Content o f RRIM 600 on Malacca Series Soil , Linsum Estate

Leaf Potass ium Content o f RRIM 600 on Munchong Series Soil, Sg. Klah Estate

Leaf Phosphorus Content of RRIM 600 on Sitiawan Series Soil, Sg. Wangi Estate ( Percentage on Dry Matter)

Leaf Phosphorus Content of RRIM 600 on Rasau Series Soil, Victoria Estate ( Percentage on Dry Matter)

xiii

Page

173

174

1 7 5

1 7 6

1 7 8

1 7 9

1 8 0

181

1 8 2

1 8 4

1 8 5

Table

K3

K4

K5

L1

L2

L3

L4

L5

M1

M2

M3

Leaf Phosphorus Content of RRIM 600 on Durian Series Soil. Sg. Senarut Estate ( Percentage on Dry Matter)

Leaf Phosphorus Content o f RRIM 600 on Malacca Series Soil. Linsum Estate ( Percentage on Dry Matter)

Leaf Phosphorus Content of RRIM 600 on Munchong Series Soi l . 59. Klah Estate ( Percentage on Dry Matter)

Leaf Calcium Content of RRIM 600 on Sitiawan Series Soil. S g . Wangi Estate ( Percentage on Dry Matter)

Leaf calcium Content of RRIM 600 on Rasau Series Soil. Victoria Estate (Percentage on Dry Mat ter )

Leaf Calcium Content o f RRIM 600 on Durian Series Soil. Sg. Senarut

Page

1 8 6

1 8 7

1 8 8

190

191

Estate ( Percentage on Dry �atter) 192

Leaf Calcium Content of RRIM 600 on Malacca Series Soi l . Linsum Estate ( Percentage on Dry Matter)

Leaf Calcium Content of RRIM 600 on Munchong Series Soil. S 9 . Klah Estate ( Percentage on Dry Matter)

Leaf Magnesium Content of RRIM 600 on Sitiawan Series Soi l , S g . Wangi Estate ( Percentage on Dry Matter)

Leaf Magnesium Content of on Rasau Series Soil . Estate ( Percentage on Dry

RRIM 600 Victoria

Matter)

Leaf Magnesium Content of RRIH 600 on Durian Series Soil, Sg. Senarut Estate ( Percentage on Dry Matter)

xiv

1 9 3

194

196

1 9 7

1 9 8

Table

M4

M5

N1

N2

N3

N4

N5

Leaf Magnesium Content of RRIM 600 on Malacca Series Soil . Linsum Estate ( Percentage on Dry Matter)

Leaf Magnesium Content of on Munchong Series Soi l . Estate ( Percentage on Dry

59· Wangi Estate Monthly

RRIM 600 59. K1ah Matter)

Rainfall Data ( No. o f Days Rained and Amount i n mml Victoria Estate Monthly Rainfall Data ( No. o f Days Rained and Amount in nun)

59· Senarut Estate Monthly Rainfall Data ( No. of Days Rained and Amount in mm)

Linsum Estate Monthly Rainfall Data ( No . o f Days Rained and Amount in mml

59· Klah Estate Monthly Rainfall Data ( No . o f Days Rained and Amount in mm)

xv

Page

1 9 9

200

2 0 2

2 0 2

204

2 0 5

2 0 6

Figure

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

LIST OF FIGURES

Map o f Peninsular Malaysia Showing the Location of the Five Fertilizer Trials

Position of Guard Rows and Recording Trees of Two Adjacent Plots

Sampling of Shade Leaves in the Mid­canopy of a Mature Rubber Tree

Selection of Leaflets Leaf Sample

for a Bulked

Growth of RRIM 600 on Sitiawan Series Soil ( 1 977 - 1987 )

Growth of RRIM 600 in 1 9 8 7 on Various Soils

Cumulative girth on Various Soils

Increments in 1 9 8 7

Yield o f RRIM 600 o n Sit iawan Series Soil

Yield of RRIM 600 Soil

Yield of RRIM 600 Soil

on Rasau Series

on Durian Series

Yield of RRIM 600 on Malacca Soil

Series

1 2 Yield o f RRIM 600 on Munchong Series Soil

1 3 Rainfall on various Trial Locations

xvi

Page

2 5

3 1

45

4 6

65

66

7 0

7 6

8 0

8 2

8 4

8 8

107

Plate

1

2

LIST OF PLATES

Depth of Tap Root of 15 -year-old RRIM 600 Tree

Extent of Lateral Roots in a 15-year-old RRIM 600 Tree

xvii

Page

8 5

8 6

ANOVA

Approx

CEC

CIRP

C mol

DRe

FELDA

GML

HMPB

Lee

LSD

MOP

Me %

OPRS

RISOA

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

Analysis of Variance

Approximate

Cation Exchange Capacity

Chris tmas I s land Rock Phosphate

Centi molar

Dry Rubber Content

Federal Land Development Authority

Ground Magnesium Limestone ( Dolomite )

Harrisons Malaysian Plantation Berhad

Leguminous Cover Crops

Least Significant Difference

Muriate of Potash ( KCl)

Milliequivalent percent

Oil Palm Research Station, Banting. Selangor

Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority

xviii

RRIM

SAS

S g

SIRIM

Yr

Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia ( formerly Rubber Research Institute of Malaya)

Statistical Analysis Systems

5unga!

Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia

Year

xix

ABSTRACT

Abstract of thesis submitted to the Senate of Universiti Pertanian Malaysia

in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science

THE EFFECT OF NITROGEN AND POTASSIUM FERTILIZERS AND SOIL TYPES

ON RUBBER (HEVEA BRASILIENSIS MUELL. ARG.)

By

CHANG AH KOW

November, 1989.

Supervisor : Associate Professor Dr. Sharifuddin bin Haji Abdul Hamid

Faculty Agriculture

Five fertilizer trials were conducted from 1977 to

1987 to evaluate the effects of different rates of

nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) fertilizers on rubber

grown on five types of 80ils in Peninsular Malaysia.

The treatments consisted of one control (unfertilize d )

and nine factorial combinations of nitrogen and

potassium fertilizers at three levels each. The levels

xx

of fertilizers used were 2 6 . 4 k g . 5 3 . 3 kg and 7 9 . 7 kg N

ha - 1 y r - 1 in combination with 2 6 . 0 k g . 6 0 . 3 k g and 9 7 . 1

kg K - 1 - 1 The rubber ha yr clone used in these trials

was RRIM 600 . The five types of soils used were

Sit iawan series ( Aquoxic Tropudult ) . Rasau series ( Oxic

Oystropept ) . Durian series ( Orthox ic Tropudult ) , Malacca

series ( Tropeptic Haplorthox ) and Munchong series

( Tropeptic Haplorthox ) .

Data on growth . yield and leaf nutrient levels were

recorded throughout the course of the trials . Soil

analyses were undertaken at the beginning and at the end

of the trials .

Soil analyses indIcated that there was an increase

in the organic carbon. total nit rogen and phosphorus

contents in the soil. The higher organic carbon

reflects the build-up of organic matter from the residue

of the leguminous cover crops and leaf litter. The

higher total N and P could be the result of the

accumulation of N and P from the organic matter

decomposition

appl ication .

and perhaps

Generally . there were

some exchangeable bases in

xxi

from

slight

soils.

the fertilizer

decreases

indicating

in

the

utilisation of these nutrients by the plants in excess

of the fertilizer give n . However . this observation was

inconsistent in two o f the trials.

Positive growth and y ield responses to N .and K

fertilizers were detected only after six years o f

fertilizatio n . Better responses were obtained from the

combinations involving the second and third levels of N

and K fertilization . The best growth and yield were

obtained from N and K fertilization at the rate of 5 3 . 3

kg N and 6 0 . 3 kg K per hectare per year.

The lack of responses in the first few years o f the

trials can be attributable to two main factors, i . e . the

substantial recycling of nutrients by the vigorous

leguminous cover crops established during the immature

phase and the fertilizer poaching by the extensive and

intermingling root systems of the rubber trees . Based

on the physical tracing of roots in s i t u , the longest

rQot could exceed 7 m and studies by other researchers

show that lateral roots could reach a

distance of 1 1 m from the tree trunk.

horizon tal

Leaf nutrient contents were related to the inherent

soil properties and were influenced to a s l ight extent

by the respective fertilizer nutrients applied.

xxii

Rainfall could have some effect on growth and leaf

nutrient content but the relationship could not be

quant ified . It appeared that both too little and too

much rain were not conducive for high latex yields . The

most favourable range of rainfall was from 1900 to 2100

mm per annum.

Overall, the results showed that high rates of

fertilizers are necessary to sustain good growth and

yield of rubbe r . These rates are higher than those

applied under c urrent practice.

A supplementary finding from the trials is that, in

designing fertilizer trials involving small plot s ,

adequate guard rows or trenching may b e necessary in

order to reduce fertili�er poaching by roots and to make

the trials more sensit ive to the fertilizer treatments .

xxiii

ABSTRAK

Abstrak tesis yang dikemukakan kepada Senat Universiti Pertanian Malaysia

sebagai memenuhi sebahagian daripada syarat-syarat untuk I j azah Master Sains Pertanian

Penyelia :

Fakulti

KESAN PEMBAJAAN NITROGEN DAN KALIUM DAN JENIS JENIS TANAH KE ATAS TANAMAN GETAH

(HEVEA BRASILIENSIS MUELL. ARG.)

Oleh

CHANG AH KOW

November. 1989

Profesor Madya Dr. Sharifuddin bin Haji Abdul Ha mid

Pertanian

Lima kajian pembaj aan telah dijalankan bag! menila!

kesan kadar pembaj aan nitrogen ( N) dan kalium (K) ke

atas getah yang ditanam di atas lima jenis tanah di

Semenanjung Malaysia. Rawatan terdiri dari satu kawa�an

(tiada pembajaan) dan sembilan kombinasi faktorial baja

N dan K pada tiga kadar tiap-tiap satu. Kadar N

digunakan ada1ah 2 6 . 4 k g , 53 . 3 kg dan 79.7 kg N

yang

- 1 ha

- 1 thn dan kadar K pula adalah 2 6 . 0 kg. 60 . 3 k g dan 9 7 . 1

xxiv