Journal of Forest and Environmental Science

Institute of Forest Science, kangwon National University (강원대학교 산림과학연구소)
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Diversity, Interspecific Interaction and Abundance of Undergrowth in Monocultures and Integrated Systems of Natural Rubber Plantation in Danzhou, Southern China

  • Chima, Uzoma Darlington (Rubber Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences/Danzhou Investigation ＆ Experiment Station of Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs) ;
  • Qi, Dongling (Rubber Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences/Danzhou Investigation ＆ Experiment Station of Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs) ;
  • Wu, Zhixiang (Rubber Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences/Danzhou Investigation ＆ Experiment Station of Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs) ;
  • Lan, Guoyu (Rubber Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences/Danzhou Investigation ＆ Experiment Station of Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs) ;
  • Chen, Li (Rubber Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences/Danzhou Investigation ＆ Experiment Station of Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs)
  • Received : 2021.07.18
  • Accepted : 2022.03.23
  • Published : 2022.06.30
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Abstract

The negative impact of monoculture rubber plantations on biodiversity and associated ecological processes/ecosystem services has led to suggestions on the use of integrated land use systems for rubber cultivation and production in order to ensure environmental sustainability. However, there is paucity of information on the effect of such integrated land use systems on the diversity and abundance of the rubber plantation undergrowth. We evaluated and compared undergrowth plant species composition, richness, abundance, diversity and interaction, in three integrated systems (Rubber-Strelitzia reginae Integrated System - RSrIS, Rubber-Podocarpus nagi Integrated System - RPnIS & Naturally Managed Rubber Plantation - NMRP) with three Rubber Monoculture Plantations (RMP1, RMP2 & RMP3) adjacent to the integrated systems, respectively, at the Investigation and Experiment Station of Tropical Crops, Danzhou, Hainan, China. Undergrowth species density was higher in the rubber monocultures than in the integrated systems except in RSrIS. Species richness and diversity were also higher in the monocultures except in NMRP. Species similarity/interaction between the monocultures and the integrated systems was highest between RMP3 and NMRP. The NRMP proved to be the best model of natural rubber integrated system for the conservation of undergrowth species richness, diversity and interspecific interaction. However, the conservation of undergrowth species in other forms of integrated natural systems can be enhanced by considering the ecology of species to be integrated in terms of their growth characteristics, competitive nature, and ability to grow in association with other species.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to the Science and Technology Exchange Centre of the Ministry of Science and Technology, People's Republic of China, for funding Dr Uzoma Darlington Chima's research fellowship at the Rubber Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (RRI-CATAS), under the auspices of the Talented Young Scientists' Programme (TYSP-Nigeria-18-002). Dr Uzoma Darlington Chima is equally grateful to the Management of the RRI-CATAS for providing a good work environment for him during the research work, and to his host, Dongling Qi, for effectively handling the associated logistics. Chuan Yang and Qing Mao Fu, are deeply appreciated for their invaluable assistance during the field work.

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