Hainan Rubber-backed fertiliser technology boosts latex yields

Haikou, China — A fertiliser management technology developed with the participation of Hainan Rubber has increased dry rubber yields by an average of 7.45kg per mu (111.8kg/ha) while reducing fertiliser and labour costs, according to the company.

The technology centres on "soil improvement and soil fertility enhancement, targeted fertilisation and organic fertiliser substitution, and the efficient application of controlled-release fertilisers," the company said 16 July.

Led by Hainan State Farms Academy Group, the project involved Hainan Rubber, the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences' Rubber Research Institute and other research and production organisations.

Work began in 2014 to address declining soil fertility and low fertiliser-use efficiency in China's main rubber-growing regions.

The technology has been adopted across 942,700 mu (62,850ha) in Hainan, Yunnan and Guangdong provinces, according to Hainan Rubber.

Over the past two years, it has been applied on 610,200 mu, increasing dry rubber production by 4,263.6 tonnes.

According to the company, the technology increased dry rubber yields by 7.45kg per mu, while reducing fertiliser costs by YuanB4.5 (€0.6) per mu and fertiliser application labour costs by YuanB22 per mu.

The new process also generated Yuan55.7 million in additional sales and Yuan71.8 million in economic benefits, Hainan Rubber added.

The project has been awarded a second prize in China's National Agriculture Technology Extension Achievement Awards for 2022-24, presented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.