Plants diversity in rubber plantations at Segamat, Johor

Due to production activities, species richness in rubber plantations varies considerably. This research was conducted to identify diversity and richness of common plants in rubber plantations at Segamat, Johor. To answer the question of how many species could potentially survive in rubber plantation, quadrat random method with 5m x 5m plotting site was established in three different aged of rubber plantations at Segamat area which are Kg. Sedeng, Kg. Logah and Kg. Jawa. Each of the locations consisted of 10 quadrats sampling which overall were 30 quadrats. The results showed there are a total of 41 species belonging to 36 genera and 24 families in the 30 plots of the three plantations. The most dominant families were Rubiaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Asteraceae. The plants diversity were documented in rubber plantations at different location to record the number of species, the species evenness, similarity index, species richness, abundance parameter and important value index (IVi). As for all three locations, the plants species were moderately diverse as the value of Shannon Diversity Index (H') moving closer to Hmax but all the plotted area within three location showed higher evenness in species distribution. Based the result from density and frequency of abundance parameter, Asystasia gangetica species was the common species in all plantations. For the IVi, there was only one species with absolute dominance (higher than 10%) which was Asystasia gangetica with value 13.62% for overall location at Segamat, Johor. In conclusion, the most common species in rubber plantations at Segamat, Johor was Asystasia gangetica, Bridelict tomentosa, Ageratum conozoides, Calyota mitis and Melastoma malabathricwn. Many plant species grow back in rubber plantations that are minimally managed or called naturally managed. Such a management approach could be useful in maintaining species diversity in rubber plantations.