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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #334240
Title: High soil Mn and Al, as well as low leaf P concentration may explain for low natural rubb rubber productivity on a tropical acid soil Vietnam

Author
item NGUYEN, BINH THANH - Collaborator
item KIM DO, THANH - Collaborator
item KIM DANG, MUI - Collaborator
item Dell, Curtis

Submitted to: Plant and Soil
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/16/2018
Publication Date: 2/16/2018
Citation: Nguyen, B., Kim Do, T., Kim Dang, M., Dell, C.J. 2018. High soil Mn and Al, as well as low leaf P concentration may explain for low natural rubb rubber productivity on a tropical acid soil Vietnam. Journal of Plant Nutrition. 41(7). doi: 10.1080/01904167.2018.1431674.

Interpretive Summary: The growth and productivity of natural rubber can be limited by deficiencies of potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus and toxicities of aluminum, manganese, and iron. This study correlated soil acidity and rubber tree nutrient status with rubber production in plantations in southeastern Vietnam. The results indicated that aluminum and manganese toxicity were primary reason for reduced rubber production on acidic upland soils. Soil acidity reduced availability of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus to the rubber plants, but availability of those nutrients did not appear to limit rubber productivity. Reducing acidity should be a high priority for sustained rubber production in the region.

Technical Abstract: Acid soils have been reported to restrict crop growth and productivity by creating unhealthy conditions for crops including deficiencies of K, Ca, Mg, and P and toxicities of Al, Mn and Fe. The current study was conducted with natural rubber (NR, Hevea brasiliensis Mu¨ll. Arg) plantations grown on an acid upland Acrisols soils in southeastern Vietnam. The aims of the current study were to (1) examine the relationship between soil pH and NR productivity and (2) identify major reasons, including nutrient deficiencies and toxicities due to low soil pH, accounting for the reduction of NR productivity on the Acrisols. The study was conducted on 20 plots, evenly distributed over 200 ha of NR plantation. In addition to NR productivity, soil samples were taken to measure pH; particle size distribution; total C, N, P, and K; exchangeable K, Ca, Mg, Al, Mn, Fe, and Zn; and available P. Leaf samples were also taken for Mn measurement. The studied soils had low pH, varying from 4.2 to 5.4. There was a positive and significant relationship between soil pH and NR productivity. While exchangeable concentrations of soil Al, Mn, Ca, and Mg and available P were strongly correlated with soil pH, only Al and Mn were significantly related to NR productivity. Those results indicate that Al and Mn toxicity may be the direct reason for reductions in NR productivity in acidic upland soils. Mn contents in soil and in leaf tissue were strongly related to each other and with NR productivity, confirming Mn toxicity to NR trees. There were no significant relationships between NR productivity and exchangeable Ca and Mg, or available P, although these concentrations were well related to soil pH. As soil acidity is possibly the primary cause of reduced NR productivity in the acidic upland soils, practical management to revert soil pH to neutral levels should be a higher priority for sustainable production.