This presentation on the impact of rubber tree plantations on soil functional biodiversity and soil organic carbon was given on February 2013 at the World Agroforestry Congress 2014 in New Delhi by Alain Daniel Brauman.

1. Impact of rubber plantation on
soil macrofauna biodiversity
Brauman Alain Lafaye Marin, Perawatchara Monrawee Gay Frederic,
Chayawat Chompunut, Robain Henri, Choosai Chutinan, Junrungreang
Supaporn, Chantuma Pissamai, Trap Jean, Nopmanee Suvannang

2. Objective of this study
Define the impact on soil biodiversity of rubber tree
plantation

3. Annual rainfall 1200 mm
Dry season 5-6 months
Impact of rubber
plantation on
soil biodiversity
Annual rainfall 1500 mm
Dry season 4 months
Chachoengsao
Project funded by
French Institute for
Natural Rubber (IFC)
and the companies
SIPH, SOCFIN and
MICHELIN
Annual rainfall 2000mm
Dry season 1month

4. Questions of the study
What is the temporal dynamic of
macrofauna communities
Cas.
1-3
4-6
6-10
23-25
What are the main drivers of soil
macrofauna biodiversity patterns
Soil type
Age

5. Group I
Cassava field
Experimental design
1-3
Group II
Group III
cassava
• Chonosequence of rubber plantations : Chachoengsao
 4 groups of ages
 Cassava fields as previous cropping
• The measurements have been realized in 3 different
4-6
zones, each containing one repetition of the age class
and one control field
8-12
Group IV
20-25

6. Rubber and Agroforestry

7. Experimental strategy
Soil physical characteristics
Soil fauna Biodiversity
TSBF methodology
Soil microbial characteristics
C sequestration and OM
20.0
16.0
12.0
8.0
4.0
0.0
Soil C content (g.kg-1)
Cassava RP 1-3
years
RP 4-6 RP 8-12 RP 23-25
years
years
years

8. Eveness index
this index will take
- high values when
all the communities
are close in
number
- low value when
there is a specie
that dominate the
others in number.
Cas.
1-3
4-6
6-10
23-25

9. Population
structure
B0= 29
g/m²
B1=23 g/m²
D1= 417 ind./m²
D0= 674
ind./m²
B2= 47 g/m²
D2= 183 ind./m²
4-6 y
1-3 y
Cassava
B3= 67 g/m²
D3= 590 ind./m²
6-10 y
B4= 78 g/m²
D4= 531 ind./m²
23- 25 y

10. Eartworms casts in old plantation

11. What are the drivers of this biodiversity ?
Full RDA analysis
R. 5-6
R. 1-3
Cass
R. 23-25
R. 6-10

12. Same analysis without the age of the
plantation (partial RDA)
R. 5-6
R. 6-10
Block effect
Cass
R. 23-25
R. 1-3

13. Conclusion
Positive impact of Rubber plantation on soil macrofauna
density and diversity compare to cassava crop in
Chachoengsao province
Strong difference between young and mature
stage for all soil macrofauna descriptors
(density, structure and diversity)- Intercropping
Plantation age rather than soil typology seems the
main driver of soil macrofauna diversity pattern in
rubber plantation

14. THANK FOR YOUR ATTENTION