The growth and yield of rubber at maturity is improved by intercropping with banana during the early stage of rubber cultivation

Rubber was grown either as a sole crop, or intercropped for the first 4 years with banana. The intercrop comprised an additive series of one, two or three rows of banana to one row of rubber. Growth of rubber was monitored for 6 years, i.e. up to the time that tapping for latex began and a logistic growth function was fitted to girth data in order to assess growth. Intercropping had a positive effect on the growth of rubber throughout the 6 years of the study, with the result that trees in the intercrop treatment were ready for tapping 4 months earlier than in the sole crop. Whilst girth and height were greater in the intercrops, bark thickness was similar to that of the sole crop. Intercrop treatments had no effect on latex yield per plant, but yield per hectare was greater in the intercrop than sole crop treatments due to a higher number of tappable trees.