Intercropping with short-term crops provides a significant additional income during the long immature period of rubber tree
growth when no latex is produced. Much previous evidence has demonstrated that the growth of young rubber trees is unaffected
by the presence of an intercrop. However, few, if any studies have however been conducted to date to assess the effects of
intercropping on subsequent growth and yield of rubber once the companion intercrop is removed. This study demonstrates for
the first time that intensive intercropping of young rubber with banana may result not only in a sustained increase in growth and
yield of rubber trees but also a reduction in the length of the unproductive immature phase.
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.