ABSTRACT
Rubber, an important agricultural plantation in tropics, is cultivated for natural latex production in all tropical zones, specifically in the 10° either latitudinal side of the equator. The conversion of natural forest to rubber plantations has often been associated with various environmental issues including biodiversity loss, disruption of hydrological processes and nutrient cycles, and soil carbon loss. Since the biomass of the tree varies with the age, the development of biomass model for rubber trees incorporating compound variable of diameter, height, and age of the tree can yield the best predictive model. Biodiversity loss may also lead to reduced total carbon biomass thereby impacting climate change. Rubber plantations are often cultivated between rows in the early years and this practice produces significant erosion on slopes. Promotion of diversified agroforestry systems in which rubber plays an important role, but is not planted as monocultures may be more beneficial.
