Soil Health Impacts of Rubber Farming: The Implication of Conversion of Degraded Natural Forests into Monoculture Plantations

Thu Thi Nguyen, Truong Tat Do, Richard Harper, Trang Thanh Pham, Tran Vu Khanh Linh, Thai Son Le, Le Bao Thanh and Nguyen Xuan Giap
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Thu Thi Nguyen: Faculty of Forest Resources and Environmental Management, Vietnam National University of Forestry (VNUF), Xuan Mai, Chuong My, Ha Noi 10018, Vietnam
Truong Tat Do: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ha Noi 00016, Vietnam
Richard Harper: Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
Trang Thanh Pham: Faculty of Forest Resources and Environmental Management, Vietnam National University of Forestry (VNUF), Xuan Mai, Chuong My, Ha Noi 10018, Vietnam
Tran Vu Khanh Linh: Faculty of Forestry, Nong Lam University–Ho Chi Minh City, Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh City 71308, Vietnam
Thai Son Le: Faculty of Forest Resources and Environmental Management, Vietnam National University of Forestry (VNUF), Xuan Mai, Chuong My, Ha Noi 10018, Vietnam
Le Bao Thanh: Faculty of Forest Resources and Environmental Management, Vietnam National University of Forestry (VNUF), Xuan Mai, Chuong My, Ha Noi 10018, Vietnam
Nguyen Xuan Giap: Institute of Forest Ecology and Environment, Vietnam National University of Forestry (VNUF), Xuan Mai, Chuong My, Ha Noi 10018, Vietnam

Agriculture, 2020, vol. 10, issue 8, 1-13

Abstract: High revenues from rubber latex exports have led to a rapid expansion of commercial rubber cultivation and, as a consequence, the conversion of different land use types (e.g., natural forests) into rubber plantations, which may lead to a decrease in soil health. In this study in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam, we determined: (1) the variation of soil health parameters along a chronosequence of rubber tree stands and natural forests and (2) the relationships and potential feedback between vegetation types, vegetation structures and soil health. Our results revealed that: (1) soil health was higher in natural forests than in rubber plantations with a higher values in higher biomass forests; (2) soil health was lower in younger rubber plantations; (3) soil health depends on vegetation structure (with significantly positive relationships found between soil health and canopy cover, litter biomass, dry litter cover and ground vegetation cover). This study highlights the need for more rigorous land management practices and land use conversion policies in order to ensure the long-term conservation of soil health in rubber plantations.

Keywords: rubber plantations; soil health; land conversion; monoculture crops; farm management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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