BAMBOOS OF INDI A

Introduction
rooted and pre- rhizomed branches are removed from the main culm by hack-saw and planted in the fibreglass tents
without mist for development (Banik, 1984).
7. Branch cuttings and nodal bud chips: The branches which are trimmed off while processing bamboo culms are
used for propagation. Up to 50 per cent rooting can be obtained by providing proper environmental conditions and
growth regulator treatments. Similarly, trials with the meristematic portion of the node (nodal bud chips) have also
indicated the possibility of rooting (Surendran and Seethalakshmi, 1985).
8. Tissue culture: Tissue culture has been found successful for different bamboo species. The various explants used
are seeds, seedling, embryo, stem and leaves. The success rates vary with the species and cultural conditions. Many
successful protocols are used for commercial production of planting stock by various research organisations and
private enterprises in India. The work on micropropagation of bamboos has recently been reviewed by Rao et al.
(1990) and Zamora (1994).
Planting: For field planting of bamboos, pits are prepared two months in advance. The spacing and size of the pits
depend on the species and the type of planting material. The time of planting is a very critical factor in the establishment
of plantations. Planting should be done soon after the onset of the monsoon. Cultural operations like soil working,
tending and fertilizer application increase the yield considerably (Lakshmana, 1990; Patil and Patil, 1990; Thomas,
1991). It is also reported from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu that irrigation increases productivity. In a comparative study
with other tree crops, Wang and Rajput (1991) reported that bamboo plantations have higher rates of return than
rubber and cashew.
Management: The important factors for consideration of management of bamboo forests are felling cycle, felling
intensity and method of felling. Most of the recommendations on management practices of bamboos are based on the
observations on Bambusa bambos and Dendrocalamus strictus which are widely distributed in India. The general
felling rules are:
1. Culms should be cut, according to a thinning out principle so that the culms left are distributed around the young
shoots in order to prevent their bending.
2. Immature culms should not be cut unless they are damaged or infected.
3. The oldest and deteriorating culms which cannot last for another cycle should be removed first before any of
the good culms are felled.
4. Cutting along the periphery should be avoided as far as possible in accordance with the principle of thinning.
Cutting of clumps at the periphery restricts the outward growth of the clump.
5. Culms should be cut at a height of about 15-30 cm from the ground.
6. Cutting at heights more than 60 to 90 cm above ground level should be avoided, as this results in wastage and the
stump later causes congestion due to the sprouting of buds.
7. Flowering culms and clumps should not be cut before seed fall is completed.
8. Tending operations should be done along with the felling by cutting any malformed, dead, diseased or otherwise
useless culms, stumps and climbers.
9. No clump is considered mature for exploitation unless it contains more than eight mature culms.
10. In a mature clump, culms of current season and eight culms of the previous year should be retained.
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