Exploration and Practice of Rubber Based Agroforestry Complex Systems in China

Abstract

Agroforestry ecosystems are constructed by simulating natural ecosystems, applying the principles of symbiosis in nature, and organizing multiple plant populations to coexist, while conducting targeted cultivation and structural control scientifically. Rubber agroforestry complex ecosystems aim for sustainable development in terms of industry, ecology, resource utilization, and the livelihoods of producers. Rubber agroforestry complex ecosystems create a complex production structure system that integrates biology, society, and the economy through species combinations. Rubber trees and associated biological components coordinate with each other, mutually promote growth, and yield a variety of products for producers. Cultivation techniques and patterns of rubber agroforestry are essential components of these ecosystems. This study analyzes the production practices of rubber agroforestry complex cultivation, with a focus on the development and characteristics (complexity, systematicity, intensity, and hierarchy) of rubber agroforestry systems using a literature analysis and a survey approach. It explores the types and scales of complex planting, specifications and forms, and major effects of complex cultivation. This study identifies successful rubber agroforestry cultivation patterns and practical techniques, as well as the potential benefits of developing rubber agroforestry cultivation. It also points out the shortcomings in the development of complex planting, including an emphasis on production practices but insufficient theoretical research, a focus on production but inadequate attention to the market, and an emphasis on yield while overlooking the improvement of standards, brands, and added value. There are various complex patterns for young rubber plantations, but relatively fewer for mature plantations. Based on this analysis, this study suggests that future efforts should focus on in-depth research on interspecies and environmental