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Abstract
Dynamics of Vegetative Growth of Hevea Brasiliensis
in Determining Tapping Norms
A study to
determine norms for the tapping of Hevea
brasiliensis was carried out in Cote d’Ivoire. This was aimed at defining age
and minimum firth for the panel opening of Hevea which takes into account the notion of
physiological maturity. The modelled vegetative growth curve is a sigmoid with
a change in the gradient at the third phase which is a plausible solution to
the problems of this study. Analysis of growth dynamics shows that this point
hardly varies, irrespective of the growth class of the clone, and takes place
at the sixth year after planting. In addition, several observations on the
growth of Hevea under different conditions support the proposal of a minimum
tapping girth linked with the growth class, thus combining the notion of age
and size.

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