IssuE 8 â ApRIl â JuNE 2011 - Winrock International India
IssuE 8 â ApRIl â JuNE 2011 - Winrock International India
IssuE 8 â ApRIl â JuNE 2011 - Winrock International India
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Alternatives<br />
12 week old Beema bamboosaplings<br />
2 year old Beema bamboo plantation 4 year old Beema bamboo<br />
Considering the world-wide awareness<br />
of the urgent need to develop power<br />
with least harm to atmosphere by way<br />
of green house gases production, this<br />
forest tree has come to the limelight as<br />
a viable alternative. It is propagated<br />
by self sown seedlings in nature. For<br />
converting it into a cultivated crop to<br />
supply feedstock of high yield and<br />
desired quality to the power plant, it<br />
is necessary to develop suitable agro<br />
techniques. For making the cultivation<br />
of this forest tree profitable to<br />
farmers and industry, BM2BP GPI has<br />
conducted research work on:<br />
°° Germplasm collection and<br />
evaluation<br />
°° Production of Polyploids and tissue<br />
culture plants<br />
°° Agro techniques for maximum<br />
biomass production with high<br />
calorific value<br />
Experiments have been conducted by a<br />
team of agricultural experts both in the<br />
laboratory as well as field in scientifically<br />
laid out trials for the first time in <strong>India</strong>.<br />
These trials have given agro techniques<br />
easy for field adaptation. The agro<br />
techniques include seed germination<br />
method, rooting of stem cuttings,<br />
spacing in field, irrigation, pruning<br />
technique, biofertilizers, biocontrol of<br />
diseases etc for large scale cultivation of<br />
this forest tree.<br />
Bamboo<br />
The species of bamboo selected for<br />
energy crops is from the Bambusa<br />
Balcooa family of grasses. After 10<br />
years of breeding and fertilization<br />
programs, this species of bamboo is<br />
now cultivated from tissue culture<br />
and then micro propagated. As a<br />
result, each tissue culture sapling<br />
is identical, asexual, non evasive,<br />
non flowering and has a density of 5<br />
times greater than any other species<br />
of bamboo. It can be cultivated in all<br />
types of soil where there is sufficient<br />
water availability or where climatic<br />
conditions such as in the equatorial<br />
regions offer a natural environment for<br />
cultivation. Bamboo has the potential<br />
as an energy crop of yielding 20 tons<br />
per acre in a year and 35 tons per<br />
acre in three years. By fourth year the<br />
bamboo can be mechanically harvested<br />
and produce on average, up to 65 tons<br />
per acre per annum, with a lifespan of<br />
up to 50 years.<br />
Marjestica<br />
Marjestica is a species of tree that<br />
has resulted from applying the Tree<br />
Adaption Process (polyploidisation)<br />
from the mother stock of Paulownia,<br />
thus increasing its annual growth rate<br />
by up to 28-40%. Clenergen has signed<br />
an exclusive license to the polyploidy<br />
technology for the cultivation of the<br />
species in <strong>India</strong> and Sri Lanka. The<br />
tree will grow to 28 feet high within<br />
the first year from planting and can be<br />
mechanically pruned and harvested<br />
on an annual basis. Marjestica has a<br />
low water requirement and is ideally<br />
suited as an energy crop as it develops<br />
multiple stems after the first harvest.<br />
Marjestica has the potential of yielding<br />
in excess of 40 tons on average per<br />
acre per annum over an 8 year period<br />
before replanting. Its low moisture<br />
Beema bamboo –<br />
tissue cultured bottles<br />
Beema bamboo – tissue<br />
culture laboratory 4 week old Marjestica sapling 1 year old Marjestica plant 2 year old Marjestica tree<br />
April-June <strong>2011</strong><br />
25
Change language