01337nam a2200121Ia 4500008004100000100002300041245008900064260006500153300001100218520094600229650002301175700001701198220216s9999    xx            000 0 und d  aSamarappuli Lalani 0aSoil management practices in rubber plantations and their effects on the environment  bBulletin of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lankac1997  a18-Jul  aRubber plantations were first established in Sri Lanka at the beginning of the century. Since then many individual plantations have undergone three planting cycles of approximately 30 years per cycle without any great adverse effect on the natural environment. In the mean time the commercial yields of rubber have risen from about 250 kg per ha. to the present level of the modern high yielding trees of approximately 1500 kg per ha. a six fold increase. Rubber cultivation involves soil management practices designed to protect the soil from erosion and preserve its fertility. While conservation measures are being pursued to minimize deterioration and thereby maintain the native soil fertility. Other agronomic practices simultaneously sustain high crop performance through soil nutrient enrichment. From the time of planting to replanting the rubber plantations present and environmentally acceptable replacement for the native forest.  aRubber plantations  aYogaratnam N