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Performance of low-frequency tapping systems

By: Contributor(s): Material type: TextTextPublication details: Proceedings: Workshop on Exploitation Technologies to Addewss Current Labour Problems in the Rubber Industry, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 5-6 December 1994.p47-67.Subject(s): Summary: The recent increase in NR price has brought fresh hope to the rubber industry. However, the acute shortage of skilled tappers and the spiraling cost of production in the NR industry remain critical. Thus, there is a continued pressing need for the adoption of low-frequency tapping systems, which can reduce both the requirement of tappers and cost of production. Most of the reported thousands of hectares of mature rubber trees that remain untapped could become productive with the adoption of low-frequency tapping systems. Recruitment of foreign labour to solve tapper shortage probelm without adopting new technologies provides only a temporary solution as its associated social problems eventually negate the intended purpose. A more durable solution requires the adoption of appropriate technologies derived through the process of research and development (R&D). This paper presents available alternative solution that is based on R&D. Results show that low-frequency tapping systems, namely 1/2S cut tapped on d/3, d/4 and d/6 frequencies, can reduce tapper requirement by 33 to 67;an increase land-man ratio up to a maximum of 12 ha per man with d/6 tapping. Results from most clones indicated that there was progressive increase in yield in grammes per tree per tapping (g/t/t0 as the tapping ferquency was decreased from d/2 to d/3, d/4 or d/6. Yields as high as 70, 80 and 100 g/t/t, representing 20 to 126;gain over the d/2 control, have been recorded for the respective stimulated d/3, d/4 and d/6 tappings. During the period of tapper shortage, yield in terms of g/t/t is an important parameter as it can be translated into productivity measure. Higher yield in g/t/t means higher tapper productivity, better income for tapper, and lower production cost to management. Most Class I and Class II clones tapped with the various low-frequency tapping systems yielded more than the national average yield of 1400 kg/ha. The absolute yield of d/3 ET tapping of most clones exceeded 1800 kg/ha, while those of d/4 and d/6 ET tappings exceeded 1500 kg/ha. Some new clones from block and hedge plantings yielded between 1000 and 1500 kg/ha. Yield responses have been used to indicate the viability of low-frequency tapping systems, with the breakeven point around 90;. This criterion was useful when there were enough tappers to maximise land productivity. The d/3 ET tapping was viable for most clones, as their responses were mostly over 90;. However, d/4 and d/6 ET tappings were less viable for most clones as their responses were mostly below 90;. The breakeven percentage may be irrelevant in situation of zero option with absolutely no tappers. A target yield-per-hectare (YPH) concept was developed to assess the performance on absolute yield rather than relative percentage. This target YPH is sight-specific and adjustable according to years in tapping, differences in tappable stand, management style and tapper variation. With this site-specific target YPH as the basis, low-frequency tappings, especially the d/4 and d/6 ET systems, will compare more favourably in terms of yield viability. The paper also presents other relevant factors influencing the yield of various low-frequency tapping systems, d.r.c values and incidence of dryness.
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The recent increase in NR price has brought fresh hope to the rubber industry. However, the acute shortage of skilled tappers and the spiraling cost of production in the NR industry remain critical. Thus, there is a continued pressing need for the adoption of low-frequency tapping systems, which can reduce both the requirement of tappers and cost of production. Most of the reported thousands of hectares of mature rubber trees that remain untapped could become productive with the adoption of low-frequency tapping systems. Recruitment of foreign labour to solve tapper shortage probelm without adopting new technologies provides only a temporary solution as its associated social problems eventually negate the intended purpose. A more durable solution requires the adoption of appropriate technologies derived through the process of research and development (R&D). This paper presents available alternative solution that is based on R&D. Results show that low-frequency tapping systems, namely 1/2S cut tapped on d/3, d/4 and d/6 frequencies, can reduce tapper requirement by 33 to 67;an increase land-man ratio up to a maximum of 12 ha per man with d/6 tapping. Results from most clones indicated that there was progressive increase in yield in grammes per tree per tapping (g/t/t0 as the tapping ferquency was decreased from d/2 to d/3, d/4 or d/6. Yields as high as 70, 80 and 100 g/t/t, representing 20 to 126;gain over the d/2 control, have been recorded for the respective stimulated d/3, d/4 and d/6 tappings. During the period of tapper shortage, yield in terms of g/t/t is an important parameter as it can be translated into productivity measure. Higher yield in g/t/t means higher tapper productivity, better income for tapper, and lower production cost to management. Most Class I and Class II clones tapped with the various low-frequency tapping systems yielded more than the national average yield of 1400 kg/ha. The absolute yield of d/3 ET tapping of most clones exceeded 1800 kg/ha, while those of d/4 and d/6 ET tappings exceeded 1500 kg/ha. Some new clones from block and hedge plantings yielded between 1000 and 1500 kg/ha. Yield responses have been used to indicate the viability of low-frequency tapping systems, with the breakeven point around 90;. This criterion was useful when there were enough tappers to maximise land productivity. The d/3 ET tapping was viable for most clones, as their responses were mostly over 90;. However, d/4 and d/6 ET tappings were less viable for most clones as their responses were mostly below 90;. The breakeven percentage may be irrelevant in situation of zero option with absolutely no tappers. A target yield-per-hectare (YPH) concept was developed to assess the performance on absolute yield rather than relative percentage. This target YPH is sight-specific and adjustable according to years in tapping, differences in tappable stand, management style and tapper variation. With this site-specific target YPH as the basis, low-frequency tappings, especially the d/4 and d/6 ET systems, will compare more favourably in terms of yield viability. The paper also presents other relevant factors influencing the yield of various low-frequency tapping systems, d.r.c values and incidence of dryness.

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