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

Objective of this study

Define the impact on soil biodiversity of rubber tree plantation

Impact of rubber

plantation on

soil biodiversityAnnual rainfall 1500 mmDry season 4 months

Annual rainfall 1200 mmDry season 5-6 months

Annual rainfall 2000mmDry season 1month

Project funded by

French Institute for Natural Rubber (IFC)

and the companies SIPH, SOCFIN and

MICHELIN

Chachoengsao

Questions of the study

1-3 4-6 6-10 23-25Cas.

What is the temporal dynamic of

macrofauna communities

What are the main drivers of soil

macrofauna biodiversity patterns

Soil type Age

Experimental design

• Chonosequence of rubber plantations : Chachoengsao

4 groups of ages

Cassava fields as previous cropping

• The measurements have been realized in 3 different

zones, each containing one repetition of the age class and one control field

Cassava fieldGroup I

Group II

Group III

Group IV

1-3 cassava

4-6

8-12

20-25

Rubber and Agroforestry

Experimental strategy

Soil physical characteristics

C sequestration and OMSoil microbial characteristics

Soil fauna Biodiversity

0.0

4.0

8.0

12.0

16.0

20.0

Cassava RP 1-3

years

RP 4-6

years

RP 8-12

years

RP 23-25

years

Soil C content (g.kg-1)

TSBF methodology

Eveness index

1-3 4-6 6-10 23-25Cas.

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.

Population structure

B0= 29 g/m²

D0= 674 ind./m²

Cassava

B1=23 g/m²

D1= 417 ind./m²

1-3 y4-6 y

B2= 47 g/m²D2= 183 ind./m²

B3= 67 g/m²D3= 590 ind./m²

6-10 y

B4= 78 g/m²D4= 531 ind./m²

23- 25 y

Eartworms casts in old plantation

What are the drivers of this biodiversity ? Full RDA analysis

Cass

R. 1-3

R. 5-6

R. 23-25 R. 6-10

Same analysis without the age of the plantation (partial RDA)

Cass

R. 1-3

R. 5-6

R. 6-10R. 23-25

Block effect

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

THANK FOR YOUR ATTENTION