trees as shown by girth sizes or range across the treatments
(Table 3); trees in the intercrops showed faster rate as measuerd
in per centages over time with most of the sampled trees attain-
ing ≥ 50 cm girth at end of the 5 th year compared to the sole.
The attainment of tappability amongst the rubber trees in the
intercrop increased as the spacing of CB within the avenues
narrowed, with approximately 85% of the sampled trees in the
plot with CB at 2 × 2 m spacing attaining > 50 cm girth at the
fifth year after planting. Across the treatments, plots where CB
was spaced 2 × 2 m and 3 × 3 m within the tree avenue, the
proportion of trees attaining the tappable girth size exceeded
the standard 60% often recommended for economic tapping and
this occured at the fifth year after planting.