Rubber tree cultivation is booming in Cote dIvoire, making the country rank 1stin Africa. However, plantations are destroyed prematurely due to poor tapping qualities. In order to improve tapping quality and by extension rubber yield, a study was conducted in Cote dIvoire in the towns of Yamoussoukro, Tiassale and Anguededou. This study was conducted on the basis of a survey on the characteristics of the plantations and the tappers of 23 plantations, followed by a tapping quality check. The results showed that tapping commencement of plantations was later in Yamoussoukro (9.2 years) than in Tiassale (6.7 years) and Anguededou (6.8 years). Furthermore, the Yamoussoukro plantations were younger and smaller (1 to 4 years of latex harvesting and 2 ha on average) compared to those of Tiassale and Anguededou (1 to 12 years of latex harvesting and 10 ha on average). The sociological characteristics of tappers showed that they are only men, most of whom have been trained in tapping techniques (91% of tappers). It appears from this study that tapping quality was poor in Anguededou and good in Tiassale and Yamoussoukro. Finally, the correlation analyses showed that tapping quality was not related to tappers but rather to theirtapping knives. The tappers must therefore use a good tapping knife for tapping and perform the tapping in accordance with established tapping standards.

In the face of climate change, the optimization of crop diversification policy in Côte d'Ivoire must go through research and promotion of crops of interest that require little water, including Aloe vera. However, in view of its slow growth in nursery, the improvement of growth substrate fertility by the supply of nutrients is necessary. Thus, this study aims at assessing the effects of six organic matter formulations on Aloe vera growth in nursery. To this end, a completely randomized block experimental design comprising six treatments and three replications was carried out. The amendments tested were cow dung, chicken droppings, charcoal, banana tree stems and ripe plantain and dessert bananas. The results showed substrate pH variability (6.67 to 7.87) depending on the amendments. Leaf emergence speed increased with cow dung from the 80th day after planting. Similarly, the highest number of leaves was obtained with cow dung (9.33 leaves). With 22.89 cm in average length and 1.65 cm in average width, the leaves generated with cow dung were also the longest and widest. This study showed that cow dung promotes rapid Aloe vera growth in nursery.