Fertility and fertilization issues in rubber plantations: new insights from recent research works

Communication orale + résuméFertilization is a key cultural practice for any crops. However, few research works about the management of fertilization in rubber plantations have been published compared to other crops. Indeed, the relationship between fertilization and latex yield is still a matter of debate. On the other hand, concern about soil fertility of rubber plantations has raised with the extension of plantations in marginal areas and the long-term cultivation of rubber trees on the same lands in traditional areas. Therefore, there is a need to update and complete the knowledge on the management of fertilization and soil fertility in rubber plantations with regards to both the productivity of the plantations and the sustainability of rubber based agro-ecosystems. In this communication, we present a review of the scientific literature on this topic as well as some results from studies recently conducted in Thailand. These works provide a more comprehensive understanding of the effect of fertilization on the latex yield and functioning of a mature rubber plantation. They also highlight the importance of the management of soil fertility during the immature phase of the rubber plantations. As a conclusion, we discuss the alternative strategies to sustainably manage the fertility of rubber plantations

A magnetic resonance imaging investigation of the transversus abdominis muscle during drawing-in of the abdominal wall in elite Australian Football League players with and without low back pain

STUDY DESIGN: Single-blinded quasi-experimental study. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the ability of elite football players with and without low back pain (LBP) to voluntarily draw-in the abdominal wall. BACKGROUND: While there has been considerable debate regarding the contribution of the transversus abdominis (TrA) muscle to control the lumbar spine and pelvis, there is evidence that retraining motor control of the deep trunk muscles is commensurate with decreases in LBP. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used to assess the TrA muscle during the draw-in maneuver, with the contraction of the TrA muscle reducing the circumference of the trunk. Impairments in performance of the draw-in maneuver have been shown in people with LBP. METHODS: Forty-three elite players from a team in the Australian Football League were allocated to 3 groups: those with "no LBP," "a history of LBP but no current LBP," or "current LBP." MRI was used to image the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the trunk at the level of the L3-4 disc at the start and end of the draw-in maneuver. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in the CSA of the trunk with the performance of the draw-in maneuver (