Sustainable Development of Quality Bamboo Resource
for Employment Generation and Socio-Economic
Development in NE India
PROJECT COMPLETION REPORT
Y.C. Tripathi
Pawan K Kaushik
T.C. Bhuyan
RAIN FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education
(An Autonomous Body of MoEF, Govt. of India)
Jorhat – 785001, Assam (INDIA)
2011
-2© ICFRE (2013)
All rights reserved. No reproduction without permission.
Published by
Director,
Rain Forest Research Institute
Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education
PB 136, Jorhat – 785001, Assam (INDIA)
Telephone: 91 376 2305101 Fax:
E-mail: dir_rfri@icfre.org website: http//rfri.icfre.gov.in
This report is published with the financial support from National Bamboo Mission, Ministry of
Agriculture & Cooperation, Govt. of India
Tripathi Y. C., Kaushik, P. K., Bhuyan, T.C. 2013. Sustainable development of quality bamboo
resource for employment generation and socio-economic development in NE India. Rain Forest
Research Institute. Jorhat, Assam, India
Front cover:
Initial Stages of Bamboos and intercrops under Agroforestry
(Photo credit: Pawan K Kaushik & R. Bhattacharyya)
Back cover:
Bambusa tulda and Bambusa balocooa
Bordumsa R & D Plot under National Bamboo Mission Project of RFRI
(Photo credit: R. Bhattacharyya)
Cover page Design: Pawan K Kaushik
-3-
CONTENTS
Preface
Acknowledgement
Overview
1.
Introduction
1.1 Phytogeography of Northeast Region
1.2 Distribution of Bamboos
10
11
14
14
14
1.3 Species Diversity in India and Northeast
15
1.4 Demands as Timber Substitute
16
1.5 Augmenting Bamboo Production
17
1.6 Promoting Bamboo cultivation outside Forest Area
18
Sub-Project – I: Development of suitable agroforestry models for promoting bamboo cultivation
outside forests in NE region
18
2.
Objectives
2.1 The Statement of Problem
18-19
2.2 Objectives of Sub-Project-I
19
20
3.
Review of Literature
3.1 Bamboo Production under Agroforestry
20
3.2 Bamboo based Agroforestry for Restoration of Degraded Lands
21
3.3 Bamboo based Agroforestry for Sustainable Landuse
21
3.4 Growth & Yeild of Bamboo under Agroforestry
22
3.5 Management of Bamboo Agroforestry Plantations
22-23
4.
Plan of work
24
4.1 Work Plan of Sub-Project-I
4.1.1 Species Selected
24
4.1.2 Activities
5.
Methodology
5.1 Methodology for Sub-Project-I
5.1.1 Site Selection
24
26
26
5.1.2 PRA for selection of Bamboo and intercrop species
27
5.1.3 Field lay out and Plantation designs
28
5.1.4 Training and onsite field demonstration
29
5.1.5 Establishment of Nursery for Planting Stock
29
5.1.6 Production of Planting Stock of Bamboo and Intercrop
30
5.1.7 Ground work and field preparation at trial sites
35
5.1.8 Establishment of Agroforestry trial Plantations
38
5.1.9 Observations, Data Recording and Performance Appraisal
39
6.
Results & Discussion
Sub-Project – I: Development of suitable agroforestry models for promoting bamboo
cultivation outside forests in NE region
40
-46.1 Performance of French bean under different bamboo species
6.1.1 First year observations
40
6.1.2 Second year observations
42
6.2 Performance of Bhindi under different bamboo species
6.2.1 First year observations
6.2.2 Second year observations
6.3 Performance of Turmeric under different bamboo species
6.3.1 First year observations
6.3.2 Second year observations
6.4 Performance of Colocasia under different bamboo species
6.4.1 First year observations
6.4.2 Second year observations
6.5 Performance of Ginger under different bamboo species
6.5.1 First year observations
6.5.2 Second year observations
44
46
48
50
52
53
54
55
6.6 Observations on growth parameters of different bamboo species under various crop
56
associations
6.7 Studies on shoot emergence in Bambusa balcooa
58-60
BIBLIOGRAPHY
61-63
Sub-project–II: Development of clump management practices for economically important bamboo
species for enhanced production of quality culms and edible shoots
1. Introduction
65
2. Objective
67
3. Work Plan
68
4. Methodology adopted
68
4.1 Site Selection
68
4.2 Species selected for the experiments
68
4.3 Soil Analysis
69
4.4 Design
69
4.5 Soil mounding, Soil loosening, Mulching
70
5. Review of Literature
71
6. Results and Discussion
76
1. Fertilizer effect
A. Experiment of fertilizer as treatment at Palashbari
76
B. Experiment of fertilizer as treatment at Titabor
83
C. Experiment of fertilizer as treatment at Sotai
90
2. Effect of soil Mounding, Soil loosening and Mulching
97
A. Palashbari
97
B. Titabor
98
C. Sotai
99
7. Conclusion
100
-5PLATES
REFERENCES
101-105
106-108
LIST OF TABLES
Table
Description
Page
Sub-Project – I: Development of suitable agroforestry models for promoting bamboo cultivation
outside forests in NE region
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
Site Location in the four N. E. States
Site- specific selection of Bamboo and Intercrop species through PRA
Yield of French bean under 1 year old Bamboo at Boko
Yield of French bean under 1 year old Bamboo at Satra
Yield of French bean under 2 years old Bamboo at Boko
Yield of French bean under 2years old Bamboo at Satra
Yield of Bhindi under 1 year old Bamboo at Boko
Yield of Bhindi under 1 year old Bamboo at Satra
Yield of Bhindi under 2 years old Bamboo at Boko
Yield of Bhindi under 2 years old Bamboo at Satra
Yield of Turmeric under 1 year old Bamboo at Boko
Yield of Turmeric under 1 year old Bamboo at Satra
Yield of Turmeric under 2 years old Bamboo at Boko
Yield of Turmeric under 2 years old Bamboo at Satra
Yield of Colocasia under 1 year old Bamboo at Boko
Yield of Colocasia under 2 years old Bamboo at Boko
Yield of Ginger under 1 year old Bamboo at Boko
Yield of Ginger under 2years old Bamboo at Boko
26
28
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
Sub-project–II: Development of clump management practices for economically important
bamboo species for enhanced production of quality culms and edible shoots
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Experiment
a.
of Fertilizer at Palashbari
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B tulda (2009) over control ( T1)
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B nutans (2009) over control ( T1)
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B balcooa(2009) over control ( T1)
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B tulda (2010) over control ( T1)
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B nutans (2010) over control ( T1)
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B balcooa(2010) over control ( T1)
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B tulda (2011) over control ( T1)
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B nutans (2011) over control ( T1)
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B balcooa(2011) over control ( T1)
Data (change in percentage) of Bamboo species on overall response of treatments
a.
Experiment
of Fertilizer at Titabor
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B tulda (2009) over control ( T1)
Data of different parameters of B nutans (2009) over control ( T1)
Data of different parameters of B balcooa(2009) over control ( T1)
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B tulda (2010) over control ( T1)
76
76
76
78
78
78
80
80
80
82
83
83
83
85
-615.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B nutans (2010) over control ( T1)
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B balcooa(2010) over control ( T1)
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B tulda (2011) over control ( T1)
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B nutans (2011) over control ( T1)
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B balcooa(2011) over control ( T1)
Data of Bamboo species on overall response of treatments in comparison to control
a.
Experiment
of Fertilizer at Sotai
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B tulda (2009) over control ( T1)
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B nutans (2009) over control ( T1)
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B balcooa(2009) over control ( T1)
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B tulda (2010) over control ( T1)
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B nutans (2010) over control ( T1)
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B balcooa(2010) over control ( T1)
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B tulda (2011) over control ( T1)
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B nutans (2011) over control ( T1)
Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B balcooa(2011) over control ( T1)
Data of Bamboo species on overall response of treatments in comparison to control
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure
Description
Page
Sub-Project – I: Development of suitable agroforestry models for promoting bamboo
cultivation outside forests in NE region
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
Conceptual Designs of Agroforestry field trials
Layout of Bordumsa (AP) Field trial site
Layout of Rupa Field trial (Dukumpani) site
Layout of Satra Field trial site
Layout of RMRS,Boko Field trial site
Layout of RMRS,Boko Project site
Layout of Mongsemyimti Field trial, Nagaland
Layout of Jalukie Field trial site at Nagaland
Layout of Nowagang site at Tripura
Layout plan of Demonstration plot , Rangbonghat
Yield of French bean under 1 year old bamboo at Boko
Yield of French bean under 1 year old bamboo at Satra
Yield of French bean under 2 years old bamboo at Boko
Yield of French bean under 2 years old bamboo at Satra
Yield of Bhindi under 1 year old bamboo at Boko
Yield of Bhindi under 1 year old bamboo at Satra
Yield of Bhindi under 2 years old bamboo at Boko
Yield of Bhindi under 2 years old bamboo at Satra
Yield of Turmeric under 1 year old bamboo at Boko
Yield of Turmeric under 1 year old bamboo at Satra
Yield of Turmeric under 1 year old bamboo at Boko
28-30
31
31
32
32
33
33
34
34
35
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
85
85
87
87
87
89
90
90
90
92
92
92
94
94
94
96
-722.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
Yield of Turmeric under 2 years old bamboo at Satra
Yield of Colocasia under 1 year old bamboo at Boko
Yield of Colocasia under 2 years old bamboo at Boko
Yield of Ginger under 1 year old bamboo at Boko
Yield of Ginger under 2years old bamboo at Boko
52
53
54
55
56
57
Diameter of Bamboo after 12 months of transplanting
28.
57
Culm height of bamboo after 12 months of transplanting
29.
58
Collar diameter of bamboos in different spacing after 15 months
30.
58
Culm height of bamboos in different spacing after15 months.
Sub-project–II: Development of clump management practices for economically important
bamboo species for enhanced production of quality culms and edible shoots
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
Experiment of Fertilizer at Palashbari
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B tulda (2009)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B nutans(2009)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B balcooa(2009)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B tulda (2010)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B nutans(2010)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B balcooa(2010)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B tulda (2011)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B nutans(2011)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B balcooa(2011)
Overall performance of treatments on bamboo species in comparison to control (%)
a.
Experiment
of Fertilizer at Titabor
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B tulda (2009)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B nutans(2009)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B balcooa(2009)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B tulda (2010)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B nutans(2010)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B balcooa(2010)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B tulda (2011)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B nutans(2011)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B balcooa(2011)
Overall performance of treatments on Bamboo species in comparison to control
(average change in percentage)
a.
Experiment
of Fertilizer at Sotai
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B tulda (2009)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B nutans(2009)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B balcooa(2009)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B tulda (2010)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B nutans(2010)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B balcooa(2010)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B tulda (2011)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B nutans(2011)
Percentage increase /decrease of treatment over control for B balcooa(2011)
77
77
77
79
79
79
81
81
81
82
84
84
84
86
86
86
88
88
88
89
91
91
91
93
93
93
95
95
95
-830.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
Overall performance of treatments on Bamboo species in comparison to control (%)
a.
Effect
of management practices at Palashbari
Effect of management practices on Bamboo species (2009)
Effect of management practices on Bamboo species (2010)
Effect of management practices on Bamboo species (2011)
a.
Effect
of management practices at Titabar
Effect of management practices on Bamboo species (2009)
Effect of management practices on Bamboo species (2010)
Effect of management practices on Bamboo species (2011)
a.
Effect
of management practices at Sotai
Effect of management practices on Bamboo species (2009)
Effect of management practices on Bamboo species (2010)
Effect of management practices on Bamboo species (2011)
96
97
97
97
98
98
98
99
99
99
-9-
(Bambusa tulda and Bambusa balocooa)
Bordumsa R & D Plot under National Bamboo Mission Project of RFRI
- 10 -
PREFACE
Besides being an important source of livelihood, bamboos find a key role in the
industrial sector providing employment and income to the millions. With the increasing
population pressure, natural stands of bamboo are being indiscriminately cut for
livelihood and commercial purposes. The common practice of jhum cultivation in the
northeastern states has resulted in genetic erosion of several bamboo species, over
exploitation of some species for fuelwood and cottage industry has endangered others.
Flowering of bamboo in a larger part of the northeast India during 2002-2007 has resulted
in loss of natural population of bamboo thus leading to a situation of resource crisis. For
bridging the demand-supply gap there is a need for increasing bamboo productivity
through large-scale commercial plantations has become warrantable and need to be
promoted in outside forest areas. The farmers and other commercial growers may take up
the plantations if bamboo can be cultivated in association with other local crops under
agroforestry or otherwise prefer for block plantations with appropriate clump
management techniques for enhanced productivity.
In view of these facts, the projects proposal entitled “Sustainable development of quality
bamboo resource for employment generation and socio-economic development in NE
India” was put forward which was sponsored by the National Bamboo Mission,
Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, New
Delhi. The project envisaged survey, selection of site, propagation of planting material,
establishment of field trials to study bamboo-crop interactions and response to clump
management techniques. The Project Completion Report comprises the results of various
field experimental trials useful for the farmers and commercial growers. It is hoped that
the research outcomes of the project may serve as a practical guide and would be
extremely useful for all stakeholders.
Project Coordinator
- 11 -
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
On behalf of the Principal Investigators and other members of the project implementing
team, I take this opportunity to convey our sincere thanks to the Director General, Indian Council of
Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun for his kind endorsement to this important and
interesting project. We solemnly acknowledge the generous attitude of the National Bamboo
Mission, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, New
Delhi for granting approval and sanction to the project thus providing us an opportunity to carry out
studies on „Sustainable development of quality bamboo resource for employment generation and
socio-economic development in NE India‟.
We offer our honest gratitude to Shri N K Vasu, the then Director, Rain Forest Research
Institute (RFRI), Jorhat for providing all necessary facilities, valuable suggestions and
encouragement throughout the work and Dr. N S. Bisht, the present Director of the institute for kind
perusal and creative suggestions for the improvement of the manuscript. It is our pleasant duty to
thank Ms. Imtienla Ao, the then Group Coordinator (Research), RFRI for her help and constant
support during the course of the project work.
The progress of project work had been monitored from time to time by the officials visiting
from National Bamboo Mission. We acknowledge the Deputy Director General, NBM and the Sr.
Forestry Consultant who periodically examined and suggested to improve the work.
We heartily thank the research and field supporting staff viz. Shri Bibhuti Deka, Shri G.
Thakuria, Shri Niren Das, Shri Bhabesh Gogoi, Shri Kumud Bora, Shri Navajyoti Borah, Shri
Rajarshi Bhattacharyya, Shri Arnob Gogoi, Shri Simanta Saikia, for their hard and sincere efforts in
execution of various project activities and assistance extended in collection, tabulation and Analysis
of field data.
We also extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Vishavjit Kumar, Scientist C, Praveen Verma, RO,
Shri Alok Yadav, Scientist C, Dr. Tara Chand, Scientist C for extending their cooperation in
organizing trainings and field activities. We express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Thiru Selvan for
his support extended during preparation of the manuscript.
Our sincere thanks to the farmers who consented to establish field trials in their farmlands,
provided land and participated in planning of field trials under the project.
We wish to express our sincere thanks to all the technical and para-technical staffs of the
RFRI, Jorhat for their help and cooperation throughout the implementation of the project works.
Y.C. Tripathi
Project Coordinator
- 12 -
OVERVIEW
Bamboos generally dominate secondary vegetation developing after shifting cultivation and
clearing of forests and are grown in homesteads, community lands, crop fields, bamboo gardens and
stream banks in north eastern states. Common species grown in Bamboo Gardens are B. tulda, B.
nutans, B. pallida, B. balcooa, B. longispiculata, Oxytenanthera abyssinica, O. albociliata,
Dendrocalamus giganteus. The clump forming species Dendrocalamus hamiltonii is the dominant
bamboo species in the lower plains and mid hill slopes of most of the NE states. Bambusa pallida is
the dominant bamboo species at higher elevations of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. Non
clump forming bamboos (Meloccana baccifera and Schizostachyum polymorphum) are more
prevalent in the plains and lower hills of Mizoram, western Meghalaya, south Tripura, Assam and
Arunachal Pradesh. Arundinaria grows extensively in temperate conifer forest belts in Arunachal
Pradesh and Phyllostachyus sps. is largely cultivated in Ziro (Apatani valley), Twang, Shillong,
Kohima and several other places.
In humid tropics, bamboos occupy large area of land compared to other planted trees. On
farmer‟s land bamboos are planted or allowed to grow along farm boundaries, drainage channels,
courtyards, homesteads or small scale farm lands and managed as groves following some
agroforestry model and uncultivated wastelands. The land near bamboo clump can be effectively
utilized by growing agricultural crops, horticultural crops or forestry species. The uncertain weather
conditions coupled with increasing cost of raising agricultural crops on marginal lands render wide
scope for bamboo based agroforestry.
In NE India, bamboo is the most important income generating crop for local farmers. There
is a high demand of bamboo in different markets. It is normally marketed either as commercial
bamboo (live culms which are more than 2.5 m in length) or as industrial bamboo (culms less than
2.5 m. in length). Bamboo of 2 m and 1 m length, known as bahi and sarava, respectively, are sold
in the northern states. However, in most states, bamboo with lengths varying from 3 to 9 m finds
use in construction of houses. Bamboo based industries provide income, food, and housing to over
2.2 billion people worldwide. There is a 3-5 year return on investment for a new bamboo plantation
versus 8-10 years for rattan. Bamboo shoots provide nutrition for millions of people worldwide.
Bamboo's are extensively used in building small farm houses, goat sheds, piggery enclosures, small
baskets and string making. Large bamboo pipes are used as water conveyers in the farm
irrigation/drainage system.
In view of these versatile uses of the valuable resource, agencies like National Bamboo
Mission, National Mission on Bamboo Application and International Network for Bamboo and
Rattan Research, Beijing among others are promoting bamboo based agroforestry. National
Bamboo Mission, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of
India, New Delhi has launched a scheme for development of bamboo based agroforestry models in
different agro-climatic zones of India.
The project work led to the means for promoting bamboo in outside area with enhanced
productivity through agroforestry and clump management techniques useful for the farmers and
commercial growers.
The project was financially supported by the National Bamboo Mission, Department of
Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, New Delhi.
- 13 -
PROJECT PROFILE
1.
Project No: RFRI/EP/19
2.
Project Title: Sustainable development of quality bamboo resource for employment
generation and socio-economic development in NE India
2.1
Sub-project–I: Development of suitable agroforestry models for promoting bamboo
cultivation outside forests in NE region.
2.2
Sub-project–II: Development of clump management practices for economically important
bamboo species for enhanced production of quality culms and edible shoots.
3.
Funding Agency: National Bamboo Mission, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation,
Govt. of India.
4.
Implementing Institute: Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI), Jorhat (Assam)
5.
Name and Designation of Project Coordinator: Dr. Y.C. Tripathi, Scientist-F, Chemistry
Division, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun
6. Name (s) and Designation(s) of Principal Investigators
Sub Project - I: Pawan K. Kaushik, Scientist-D, RFRI, Jorhat
Sub Project -II: Dr. T.C. Bhuyan, Scientist -B, RFRI, Jorhat
7.
Date of commencement of the project: March, 2008
8.
Date of Completion of the project: March, 2011
9.
Total Budget of the project: Rs. 49.0 lakhs (Budget released from NBM: Rs. 37.07 lakhs
10.
Total expenditure on the project: Rs. 33.96 lakhs
11.
List of equipment procured under the project (with cost):
Sl. No.
Name of Equipment
Quantity
1.
2.
3.
4.
Movie Camera
Handy Saw
Weeder-cum-Rotary Tiller
Printer (Color Laser)
01
01
01
01
Cost (Rs. in
lakh)
0.57
0.30
0.70
0.21
Total 1.78
12.
Other institutional support in terms of equipment and infrastructure: All logistic and
infrastructural facilities available in the institute were utilized.
- 14 -
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Phytogeography of Northeast Region
The forests of northeast India are rich in biodiversity and timber, while the cultural
complexity of the region is extraordinary. The North Eastern region of India covering nearly
2,62,379 sq km area has been divided into two biogeographic zones – Eastern Himalaya and North
East India, based on floristic composition, the naturalness of the flora and the local climate
(Rodgers and Panwar, 1988). The Eastern Himalaya comprising of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim
is more mosaic due to high degree of precipitation resulting from direct confrontation of monsoon
laid wind blowing from Bay of Bengal by abruptly rising hills. The North east India biogeographic
zone (Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura) is most significant one and
represents the transition zone between the Indian, Indo-Malayan, Indo-Chinese biogeographic
regions as well as a meeting place of Himalayan mountains with that of Peninsular India (Rao,
1994). The North Eastern Region of India lies between 22oN and 29o5‟N latitude and 88o00‟E and
97o30‟E longitudes, and shares international border with Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
The region is the geographical „gateway‟ for much of India‟s flora and fauna, and as a result, the
region is one of the richest in biological values with vegetation types ranging from Tropical rain
forest in the foothills to Alpine meadows and cold deserts. The North-East region of India contains
more than one-third of the country‟s total biodiversity. The region represents important part of
Indo-Myanmar biodiversity hotspot, one of 25 global biodiversity hotspots recognized. The region
has at least 7,500 flowering plants, 700 orchids, 58 bamboos, 64 citrus, 28 conifers, 500 mosses,
700 ferns and 728 lichen species. Bamboo is an essential component of forest ecosystem. In the
hilly and mountainous area as well as riverbanks it protects the slopes from erosion as an effective
soil binder.
1.2
Distribution of Bamboos
Bamboo is represented by 75 genera and 1250 species across the world. Bamboos are found
in great abundance in tropical Asia (320 species) and America (179 species) and are unevenly
distributed in the various parts of the humid tropical, subtropical and temperate regions of the
world. Being native to Southeast Asia, countries like, India, China, Myanmer, Thailand and
Indonesia hold prominent bamboo resources. Nearly 138 species of bamboo occur in India, 30 in
Nepal, 33 in Bangladesh, 30 in Sri Lanka, 90 in Myanmar, 50 in Thailand, 31 in Indonesia, 44 in
Malaysia, 55 in Philippines and over 300 in China (Sharma, 1980).
India has abundant bamboo resources of about 24 genera and 138 species. Of these, 3 genera
are exotic and the others are indigenous. The major genera occuring in India include Arundinaria,
Bambusa, Cephalostachyum, Chimonobambusa, Dendrocalamus, Dinochloa, Gigantochloa,
- 15 Indocalamus, Melocanna, Naohouseaua, Ochlandra, Oxytenanthera, Plaioblastus, Phyllostachys,
Pseudostachyum, Schizostachyum, Semiarundinaria, Sinobambusa, Teinostachyum and
Thamnocalamus. The exotic genera Guadua, Pseudosasa and Thyrsostachys are also in cultivation.
India possesses 25% of the species found in the world and 43% of species found in Asia and has
rich species diversity. Thus, India supports world‟s largest reserves of bamboos. Bamboos grow
extensively in the Western Ghats and in the North eastern States. There are about 1,00,300 km 2 of
bamboo forests in India (15.67% of total forest cover) which yield about 4.5 m tons of bamboos per
annum (Gaur 1987). Out of the 138 species found in India, only 13 species including Bambusa
arundinacea, B. balcooa, B. polymorpha, B. tulda, B. vulgaris, B. nutans, Dendrocalamus
brandisii, D. hamiltonii, D. strictus, Melocanna baccifera, Ochlandra scriptoria, O. ebracteata and
O. travancorica are used commercially in various states (Haque, 1984). Most of the species are
monocarpic with the flowering cycle varying from 1-60 years.
1.3
Species Diversity in India and Northeast
In general, the genera Bambusa and Dendrocalamus occur under the tropical conditions,
while Arundinaria occurs in the temperate region. The most important bamboo of the semievergreen forests of the Andaman is Oxytenanthera nigrociliata. In the eastern region comprising
of Assam, West Bengal, and North-East Himalayas, the commercially important bamboos are
Bambusa tulda, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii and Melocanna baccifera. Recently, two new species of
bamboos viz., Dendrocalamus sahnii and Pleoblastus simonii have been identified from Arunachal
Pradesh.
According to an assessment (Bahadur and Jain, 1981) about 26 species found in India are rare
and barring a few intermediate types, these rare/endemic bamboos have been grouped into the
following three categories.
1. Species having restricted distribution but found in large numbers in a few localities or a single
locality: Arundinaria manii, A. ralloana, Bambusa atra, Dinochloa maclellandii, Indocalamus
walkerianus, Ochlandra beddomei, O. ebracteata, O. setigera, O. sivagiriana, O. talbotii,
Phyllostachys assamica etc.
2. Species having wider distribution but found only in very small numbers: Bambusa arundinacea
var gigantia, Chimonobambusa densifolia, C. jaunsarensis, Dendrocalamus strictus var
argentea, Oxytenanthera bourdillonii, Phyllostachys mannii, Semiarundinaria pantlingi,
Sinobambusa elegans etc.
3. Species having very restricted geographical distribution but found only in very small numbers:
Bambusa mastersii, Cephalostachyum capitatum, Dendrocalamus hookeri var. parishii, D.
sahnii, Dendrocalamus strictus, Gigantochloa tekserah, Schizostachyum rogersii etc.
- 16 The first groups of plants are not vulnerable due to their larger populations in nature. But the
second group is more vulnerable than the 1st group due to small number of individuals in their
natural habitat. The third group is highly vulnerable due to very small population over a narrow
geographic range. Any strong disturbance to the habitat may lead to the extinction of the third
group. Therefore, adequate conservation measures of this group are necessary in the in-situ
condition. The first two groups also require protection as their existence is also threatened in the
course of time. Ex-situ conservation measures should be taken up in different locations in order to
raise the gene pool of the rare, endangered and endemic bamboos.
Northeast region of India is very rich in bamboo diversity. It includes as many as 63 species
under 15 genera (Biswas, 1988). Thomas et. al. , (1985) have reported 55 species under 15 genera.
This shows that approximately 50% of the total bamboo species reported from India is represented
from this region. A total of 88 species (including cultivated ones) have been reported from this
region. The Northeastern states together support about 63 species (Sharma, 1992). As far as
bamboo species are concerned, the richest Indian State having species diversity is Manipur with 53
species (Sobita Devi and Sharma, 1993), followed by Arunachal Pradesh with 50 species. The most
widely distributed and economically very important species are Bambusa bamboos and
Dendrocalamus strictus. These species are found growing in the deciduous forests of the southern
tip of the Peninsular India and extending upto the lower Himalayan regions. Among the genera
found in India, Pseudoxytenanthera, Dinochloa and Bambusa grow widely in the Andaman and
Nicobar Islands. The other important genera having lesser distribution in the Western Ghats and the
North eastern region are Arundinaria, Indocalamus, Pseudoxytenanthera and Schizostachyum. The
genera having wider distribution in the Northeastern India are Phyllostachys, Melocanna and
Gigantochloa.
Bamboos find immense importance in every bit and pieces of life in Northeast India having
great variable genetic resource of bamboo grown in almost every place of the region. Among them,
five species viz., Bambusa balcooa, B. tulda, B. pallida, B. nutans and Dendrocalamus hamiltonii
are being used by local population effectively and hence, economically very important. These five
species are widely distributed across the tropical and semi-tropical area of the northeast India. First
four species exclusively grow in homesteads or on-farm while D. hamiltonii grows in forest as well.
Performance of growth characters of these species varies in diverse locality.
1.4
Demands as Timber Substitute
Shrinking resources of forest wood and conservation concerns have highlighted the need to
identify substitutes for traditional timbers. It is in this context bamboo assumes special significance.
Bamboos are long-lived, wood-like evergreen plant belonging to the grass family Graminae or
Poaceae. It is well known for its versatile use. It is known to be one of the fastest growing plants in
- 17 the world and its growth rate ranges from 30–100 cm per day. Sometimes bamboos are called
“Giant grass” (Campbell, 1926) which have rhizomes. They are well represented naturally in all the
continents except Europe. Bamboo can be grown quickly and easily, and sustainably harvested in 3
to 5 years cycles. It grows on marginal and degraded land, elevated ground, along field bunds and
river banks. It adapts to most climatic conditions and soil types, acting as a soil stabilizer, an
effective carbon sink and helping to counter the greenhouse effect.
Since long past human beings have been playing an important role in the distribution and
introduction of bamboos in new areas. Bamboos provide basic necessities of life namely fuel, food,
shelter, clothing particularly to the rural poor. Formerly it was called as poor man‟s timber because
its usages were associated with the economically weak section of societies and indigenous people
but now it is being seen in new perspective not only as an alternative for wood but also as effective
species to sequester carbon due to its fast growth. Different species of bamboo act as a source of
raw material for cottage industry in rural areas and large scale paper and pulp industry. India,
Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaya, Japan, Philippines and New Guinea are some of the important natural
bamboo areas of the world. There have been more than 1500 usage of bamboos being reported,
worldwide.
1.5
Augmenting Bamboo Production
In addition to subsistence and livelihood, the real benefits of bamboo accrue from value-added
products. Handicrafts (mats, baskets, tools, toys and utensils) and furniture are established
possibilities, produced in finished form or supplied as components to small enterprises for further
processing (for example, supply of mats for production of bamboo mat board). There are emerging
industrial and large-scale applications too in the manufacture of wood substitutes and composites,
energy, charcoal and activated carbon. Building and structural components represent vast
possibility for enterprise, value addition, income and employment.
Dependency on bamboos has become more during last few decades due to increase of
population especially in the rural areas and therefore, better and sustainable management of the
existing bamboo forests coupled with higher productivity are needed. Diversion of bamboos from
the rural small industrial sector to the large industries for the manufacture of paper and pulp not
only has affected the livelihood of the rural population but also lead to the depletion of the resource
in the natural forests due to most unscientific large scale extraction. In most northeastern states,
next to agriculture, it is bamboo-based economic activities that generate a large amount of
employment.
Consistent supply of quality bamboo is a key to the growth and development of bamboobased industrial sector. The current demand of bamboo for various purposes is estimated at 26.69
- 18 million tons as against the supply of 13.47 million tons. Even the current supply is largely used for
subsistence purpose. There is in fact a severe shortage of quality bamboo materials. Hence, need for
augmenting bamboo production is stressed to meet the subsistence and industrial demand for which
large scale plantation of commercially significant bamboos would be required. Availability of good
quality planting stock is considered to be an essential pre-requisite for raising large-scale bamboo
plantation and increasing the production of economically important bamboos for various end uses.
In many areas, bamboo resources have dwindled due to overexploitation and poor management.
This issue needs to be addressed through well-organized cultivation, on the lines of homestead,
small-holder and plantation-based cultivation. The role of bamboo in community agroforestry as a
means of generating income for the rural poor is very important.
1.6
Promoting Bamboo Cultivation Outside Forest Area
Continued subsistence use of bamboo by the rural masses, deprives these communities of the
financial benefits which bamboo bestows upon them. As such augmenting bamboo production seem
to be the starting point. Initiatives have been taken at various levels to promote the growth of
bamboo sector with a view to realize its potential in poverty alleviation and creation of sustainable
livelihood opportunities for unemployed youths. In order to achieve the target of enhanced
productivity of bamboos, introducing bamboo outside forest areas and undertaking large scale
scientific cultivation of bamboo on farmlands has become an issue of immediate attention. In this
context, growing bamboo under area specific agroforestry system would be a economically viable
option for the farming communities. Till date, no validated bamboo based agroforestry system has
so far been developed in India. In addition improper management of bamboo plantations results in
very low survival, low productivity, poor culm quality, increased infection by pests, heavy losses of
the harvested culms etc., which can be overcome by adopting proper clump management practices.
Hence, improving the yield and quality of the bamboo is of immediate need. Promoting bamboo
cultivation on farmlands by scientifically validated cultivation practices including cultivation under
agroforestry with proper post plantation nurturing and management may prove to be helpful in
optimizing the productivity and economic returns from bamboo cultivation. The project thus, was
aimed at developing the economically beneficial bamboo based agroforestry models and optimum
management practices for promoting bamboo on farmlands in the northeast region thereby
increasing productivity.
2.
OBJECTIVES
2.1. The Statement of Problem
At present bamboo is mainly grown in forest plantations or in different forests as a naturally
regenerating resource which grows in combination with other wild species. The plantations/natural
- 19 forests are extensively managed and the bamboo clumps are continuously subjected to a host of
biotic and abiotic stresses resulting into poor yield and quality of bamboo shoots and culms. The
people of Northeast region depend a lot on bamboo to meet their daily needs of food, shelter and
livelihood. Development of economically viable agroforestry models for growing selected
commercially important bamboos alongwith agricultural/horticultural crops and enhancing
productivity of culm and edible shoots through proper clump management may improve the
productivity and quality of bamboo, increase the economic returns from bamboo cultivation and
encourage farmers to undertake commercial cultivation of bamboo on their farmlands.
Agroforestry models for growing Poplars, Eucalypts, Casuarinas etc. with agricultural crops
have been developed and are popular among farmers throughout India. But suitable area specific
models for growing the prioritized species of bamboo along with agricultural/horticultural crops
grown in Northeastern region are yet to be developed. There is a need of research and
demonstration of location specific agroforestry models for enhanced economic returns and
production of quality bamboo culms and edible shoots on farmlands.
Poor stand management and unscientific harvesting of bamboo results in very low percent
survival of plants, low productivity and poor culm quality. Harvesting at longer time intervals
causes yield loss and clump congestion, which leads to twisted culm formation, creates problems
for extraction of bamboo culms and deteriorates their quality. Over-exploitation of clumps causes
poor culm growth and mortality of mother clumps.
The project thus envisaged to develop suitable agroforestry models by including
commercially important bamboos and cash crops to promote bamboo cultivation outside forest
areas for increased production of bamboo ensuring the optimum land use and to standardize proper
management practices for economically important bamboos to attain higher productivity and
quality. Following are the subproject-wise objectives of the project:
2.2
Objective – I (Sub-project – I):
Development of suitable agroforestry models for promoting bamboo cultivation outside
forests in Northeastern region.
- 20 -
3.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Bamboo is not only an ideal economic investment that can be utilized in many different
manners but also has enormous potential for alleviating many problems. The increasing rate of
tropical deforestation makes the search for alternative natural resources important. Immensely
important are the concept of multiple use of land with multipurpose tree species by increasing the
desired level (33%) of tree cover. The characteristics of bamboo make it a perfect solution for the
environment and social consequences of tropical deforestation. Its biological characteristics make it
a perfect tool for solving many environmental problems such as erosion control and CO2
sequestration. On account of extensive rhizome-root system and accumulation of leaf mulch,
bamboo serves as an efficient agent in preventing soil erosion, conserving moisture reinforcement
of embankments and drainage channels etc. (Zhou et al, 2005).
3.1. Bamboo Production under Agroforestry
The basic tenet of agroforestry is that polycultures can share in the resilience of natural
ecologies; possible benefits for the farmer include wider economic opportunity, increased habitat
for beneficial species, and lower management costs. By designing bamboo into mixed-use
agroforestry complexes we can maximize its functionality while integrating it with other production
crops. In agroforestry systems where each plant receives individual care, bamboo shows promising
results. This system is especially important and significant for developing country like India. Under
this system because of using various intercrops, products are obtained even in the early stages of
plantation and the income is much higher than any other system.
Information on cultivation of bamboo under agroforestry systems is scanty. Bamboo
(Bambusa bambos) is reported to hold the second position in terms of profitability (Benefit-Cost
ratio) among the crop groups when cultivated in mixed cropping home gardens in Kerala,
(Krishnankutty, 2004). The high B/C ratio of bamboo was due to negligible inputs and high farm
price. Seshadri (1985) observed that growing of soybean as an intercrop of bamboo during the first
six years is technically feasible and economically viable. He also reported that the period of
intercropping can be extended further in wider spacing of the bamboo culms and judicious
manipulation of the bamboo canopy. Balaji (1991) reported that the scope of bamboo in
agroforestry is very wide because of the uncertain weather condition and increasing cost of labour
involved in agriculture these days. In an investigation on systematic bamboo plantation
intercropped with mango, cashew nut, jack fruit, kokum and rubber in the konkan region of
Karnataka, bamboo is reported to be the most profitable among the crops studied and cashew nut
and mango ranked next to bamboo (Wagh and Rajput, 1991).
- 21 -
- 22 -
3.2
Bamboo based Agroforestry for Restoration of Degraded Lands
In order to restore degraded agricultural lands in central India, Behari (2001) developed
successful seven agroforestry models with three bamboos (B. bambos, B. nutans and D. strictus).
The inter crops are: Soybean (Glycine max), Niger (Guizotia abyssinica), Moong (Phaseolus
aureus), Wheat (Triticum aestivum), Urad (Phaseolus mungo), Pigeon pea (Cajanas cajan) and
Mustard (Brassica campestris). Shanmughavel and Francis (2001 & 2002) recommended
intercropping of Pigeon pea, Soybean and Turmeric in bamboo (B. bambos) plantations based on
comparative growth and yield. The Land Expectation Value (LEV) i.e., the land area in sole system
required to produce the same yield as in one ha of intercropping, for bamboo-turmeric system is
1.2. However, pigeon pea and soybean provided most benefits in terms of productivity
(Shanmughavel and Francis, 2001). Intercropping ginger under three fertilized edible clump
forming bamboos was beneficial for both the components under degraded soil condition of N E
India (Jha and Lalnunmawia, 2004) The feasibility of bamboo (D. brandisii) in abandoned paddy
fields in Coorg, Karnataka have shown that bamboo at 6m x 6m spacing intercropped with ginger
had the highest NPV (Net Present Value) and LEV (Land Expectation Value). This may be
attributed to low input costs associated with bamboo farming and higher market value of the
produce over a longer period (Viswanath, Dhanya, and Rathore, 2007).
3.3
Bamboo Based Agroforestry for Sustainable Landuse
Agroforestry system with bamboo species constitute a sustainable land use option for the
Dong Cao Catchment in Northern Vietnam where bamboo (56% of which are B. bluemeana),
Acacia mangium and Tephrosia candida were chosen as test species for simulating and comparing
filter effects of different agroforestry systems with intercropping, hedgerows or fallow rotation
(Nguyen, 2004). In that study bamboo accounted for a higher percentage of the income than did
trees in the total household economy. It made up 7-14 % of the income compared to 1-10% from
trees. Intercropping with bamboo showed reduced run-off and lower erosion in comparison to
similar agroforestry systems with Acacia mangium and Tephrosia candida. Bamboos of different
heights and growth characters may be used as windbreaks and thereby protect gardens and other
agricultural systems from the damaging effects of either winds or the frosts that roll off the hillside.
Increased crop productivity can be achieved by carefully arranging bamboo hedgerows in the
landscape. Application of bamboo in agroforestry is economically rewarding when vermin-compost
was produced under edible bamboo (D. asper) stand (Anon, 2006) (Table 3-5). The Merino Farm at
Gahr Mukteswar, UP is one agency that carried out bamboo agroforestry in a scientific manner.
After 6th year of operation by Merino Century Laminating Co. Ltd., the net production was 370 t/yr
and 45.856 t/yr for vermin-compost and bamboo culm with a net revenue of Rs. 2,51,600 and Rs.
- 23 83,667, respectively from 4.0 acres of plantation at 5m x 5m. After deduction of total plantation
establishment and maintenance cost (Rs. 1,92,000), the net profit became Rs. 1,43,267 after 6th
year. The consolidated profit for 7th year onwards was expected to be Rs. 3,35,267 i.e., Rs. 83,817
per acre. Being perennial grasses, bamboos have higher root length densities than the dicots. Thus
in mixed species system, bamboos may out-compete the field crops or other tree crops grown in
association.
3.4
Growth & Yield of Bamboo under Agroforestry
Very little information is available on growth and yield of different species of bamboos
under agroforestry system (Patil & Patil, 1988). In many places, bamboo is grown basically as a
homestead species and is well suited to be grown around houses and compounds. It is also seen in
farmlands in isolation or on farm boundaries, since it finds one use or the other in the daily routine
of the farmer. Its low gestation period, fast growth, diversified uses and easy marketability are
pointers to its potential as an agroforestry species. Different types of integrated farm models using
bamboo have been suggested for different agro situations as given below:

Bamboo + tea (Camellia sinensis)

Bamboo + some viable timber trees like Gmelina arborea and/ or agricultural crops

Bamboo + fish pond and/or poultry

Bamboo + edible fungi and/or medicinal plants
Looking into the vast potential of bamboo for socio-economical development of rural communities,
there is a need to develop suitable bamboo based agroforestry models for the different agroclimatic
zones in India. Most of the R&D efforts on cultivation, harvesting, developing agroforestry models
with bamboo are mainly on D. strictus and B. bambos. In past, practically no research efforts made
on development of bamboo based agroforestry models of bamboos for northeast region.
3.5
Management of Bamboo Agroforestry Plantations
In agroforestry plantations, there are inter-specific competitions that can be overcome by
planting crop 8-9m away from the bamboo clumps. Trenching (30-40 cm wide and 50-60 cm deep
at 5-6m away from the clumps) to spatially isolate bamboo roots from the rest of the crops is
recommended, if crops are to be planted at shorter distances. Bamboo root competitiveness is
usually a function of its rooting intensity with crown radius. Larger clumps have wider foraging
zones usually extending to about 8 to 9 m. Therefore, canopy reduction treatments such as pruning
and culm thinning are appropriate to surmount inter-specific competition. Pruning up to a height of
1.5 m above the ground is recommended in plantations of 4 yr and above. Removal of dry and dead
culms from the centre of the clump to reduce congestion is also recommended. The success under
bamboo system may be ascribed to the nutrient pumping or mining action of the bamboo, slow
decomposition of its silica-rich litter and the extremely high biomass of bamboo fine roots. Bamboo
- 24 recovers much of the nutrients leached deeper into the soil profile and deposits them at or near the
soil surface as above ground litter and dead fine roots. The bio-geo-chemical role of bamboo is
behind the sustainability of this agroforestry system (Christanty et al 1997). The success of bamboo
based agroforestry system in restoring degraded lands lies in the fact that this system is associated
with silvicultural and agricultural operation in continuity and under this system the disturbed sites
can be rejuvenated in successional stages.
- 25 -
4.
PLAN OF WORK
4.1
Work Plan of Sub-Project-I
Different crop combinations along with the species of bamboos mentioned below were tried
in different localities/agroclimatic-zones of the region. Interactions between different species of
bamboo and different agricultural crops were investigated to evolve location specific agroforestry
models that would ensure enhanced productivity and high economic returns.
4.1.1 Species selected: Bambusa balcooa, B. bambos, B. nutans, B. pallida, B. tulda and
Dendrocalamus hamiltonii
4.1.2 Activities
 Survey, Sites Selection and Site preparation: Suitable sites for the R & D Plots were
selected after an extensive survey in the selected states viz., Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, and
Arunachal Pradesh keeping in view the criteria for selection of lands owned by an individual
as well as a community. A total area of 3 ha land in each states was targeted as per the
requirement for the R & D Plots with different geometrical arrangements and crop
associations. Sites were prepared keeping in view the basic and future requirements for
establishment of the R & D Plots. Plots were prepared by following the suitable designs
proposed for the specific field trials.
 By conducting participatory appraisal with regard to suitability of preferred crop
associations, designs for agroforestry models were prepared. Bamboo plants were raised in
nursery and the other plant materials for intercropping were obtained from reliable sources.
Farmers‟ training and demonstration were also organized on bamboo propagation,
cultivation and management. Data sheets were prepared for collection of data on various
parameters in reference to agroforestry research.
The parameters include:



Survival, growth and productivity of crops.
Shoot emergence, shoot mortality, culm production, culm development, and clump
expansion.
Production of bamboo shoot and culm.
 Establishment of R&D Plots of Bamboo based AF models: The R&D Plots were
established as per the proposed designs at different selected sites in the region. various
- 26 bamboo based agroforestry models were established taking into account the preference of
farmers and local demands.
 Assessment of adaptability level of the viable models: Though, the project period of three
years is too short to assess the adaptability level of the models, even though, based on their
current status and future prospects, SWOT Analysis was done to explore views of the
farmers with regard to positive and negative aspects of intercropping under bamboos outside
forest area during a training-cum-workshop organized for the farmers at th end of the project
period. The exercise followed the sessions on experience sharing on bamboo cultivation in
farmlands.
SWOT Analysis
Issue:
Bamboo for Intercropping in Farmlands/Wastelands in NE Region
The issues in relation to management of intercropping trials/practices were discussed
with the farmers during the training-cum-workshop program and their views were recorded in order
to know the reasons for sustaining the practice through exploring likings and dislikes.
After a detailed discussion during „two-way experience sharing‟ sessions, the brainstorming
session was moderated on following points:
-
Willingness to take up bamboo under agroforestry
Unwillingness to spare cultivable farm lands for bamboo plantations
Preference of bamboo to other cash crops
Willingness to continue with intercropping
Willingness to participate in such programmes
The outcome was compiled as below which is an important information documented under the
project:STRENGTHS
Suitable conditions for
bamboo cultivation in
NE Region
Bamboos have the
potential to ensure
income generation
WEAKNESSES
Farmers does not prefer
to spare their cultivable
lands for bamboo
Farmers does not allow
the mixed/block planting
on farmlands, but on
boundaries only
OPPORTUNITIES
Awareness of
propagation and
plantation techniques
Availability of seed
and plant materials of
preferred crops locally.
Short rotation-returns
in less time-Instant
income generation
Being uncultivated
degraded land
intercropping and its
maintenance becomes
expensive.
Availability of market
THREATS
Theft of bamboo plants
after transplanting.
The closer spacing
7mx7m for most of the
species may not allow
crops to yield adequately
after 4 years of
plantation.
The cultivable lands, if
spared, may be spoiled
due to huge rhizome base
of clumps and may be
highly expensive to
- 27 -
Native to many
bamboo species which
are most suitable as
food and preferred by
many ethnic groups
Degraded lands not
preferred for agriculture
are generally located at a
distant place, hence
intensive management
becomes difficult
Many communities are
traditionally associated
with bamboos
Young shoots are
preferred as food
revert back.
Damage to the
plantations by both man
and animal by
removal/destroying of
tender shoots.
Farmers land will be
spoiled if the facilitating
agency discontinue
extending maintenance
and material support as
provisioned
Though the yields are
reduced, additional
income can be
generated by
intercropping of
vegetables etc.
5.
5.1
METHODOLOGY
Methodologies adopted for targeted work plan under the two Sub-projects are detailed as
under:
Sub-project–I: Development of suitable agroforestry models for promoting bamboo
cultivation outside forests in NE region.
5.1.1 Site Selection
Field survey was conducted in all the agroclimatically and phytogeographically distinct
states of northeast India and interaction was done with local farming communities. Based on site
visits and willingness of respective farmers, all together 12 plots comprising 2 ha each were
selected on farmlands in four states namely Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland and Tripura of
northeast region for establishing envisaged bamboo based agroforestry trials. Details of the entire
selected sites are presented in Table-1.
Table-1: Site Locations in the four NE States
States
Arunachal
Pradesh
Assam
Nagaland
Sites Selected
Balemu
Bordumsa
Rupa
Boko
Doither Rongbong Ghat
Satra (Sotai)
Monsenyimti
Jalukie
Peren Village
District
West Kameng
Changlang
West Kameng
Goalpara District
Karbi Anglong District
Jorhat District
Mokokchung
Peren
Peren
- 28 Tripura
Arundhati Nagar, Agri Research Farm
Golirai Bari
Nowagang
5.1.2
West Tripura
West Tripura
North Tripura
PRA for Selection of Bamboo & Intercrop Species
Participatory appraisals were conducted in respective villages of all the selected sites
involving the participating farmers for selection and finalization of bamboo and intercrop species
based on farmers‟ preference, agroclimatic and local needs for establishment of agroforestry
demonstration trials. Details of location-wise selection of bamboo and intercrop species are
depicted inTable-2.
- 29 -
Table-2: Site-specific Selection of Bamboo and Intercrop Species through PRA
Sl.
No.
1
2
3
4
State
Assam
Nagaland
Location of the Bamboo Species
site
Horticultural and
other plants
Agricultural crops in Rotation
Quadrat studies (size 2m x 2m)
Boko, Kamrup
Orange, Som
Ladyfinger ,Coriander and other
seasonal vegetables
Maize, Colocasia and seasonal
vegetables.
Rongbong
Ghat, KarbiAnglong
Sotai, Jorhat
Arecanut & Mango.
Bambusa tulda, B.
balcooa & D. strictus
Mongsemyimti, Bambusa tulda, B.
Mokokchung
balcooa & B. nutans
Jalukie, Peren
B. balcooa
Orange
Zinger, Turmeric and Brinjal.
Arecanut &
Pineapple
Pineapple
Traditional Jhum cultivation
Peren, Peren
B. nutans
Orange, Mango
Mustard and Colocasia
B. balcooa & B. tulda
Arecanut & Orange
Bambusa tulda & B.
nutans
Bambusa tulda & B.
nutans
SARS, Agartala Melocanna baccifera,
W. Tripura
B. tulda
Nowagang, N
Melocanna baccifera
Tripura
Goliraibari, W. Melocanna baccifera
Tripura
Arecanut & Orange
Seasonal crops & vegetables
preference given by local farmers
Seasonal crops & vegetables
preference given by local farmers
Tomato, maize, cucumber.
Balimu , West
Kameng
Arunachal Bardumsa,
Changlang
Pradesh
Rupa, Bomdila
Tripura
Bambusa tulda, B.
balcooa & B. nutans
B. balcooa & B. tulda
Kiwi & Orange
Arecanut & Mango
Arecanut &
Pineapple
Arecanut & Mango
Turmeric & Zinger
Seasonal crops & vegetables
preference given by local farmers
Millet, Maize and paddy
Millet, Maize and paddy
5.1.3 Field Layout and Plantation design:
In line with the outcome of the participatory appraisal exercise, field layout and conceptual
plantation designs were prepared for the agroforestry trials to be followed at all the selected sites
with minor modifications suited to site conditions. As per design, the planting stock requirement of
selected bamboo and intercrop species were worked out.
- 30 -
5.1.4 Trainings and On-site Field Demonstrations:
In-house Training programme on Bamboo Propagation, Cultivation and Management was
organized on May 12-14, 2008 for the participating farmers from different sites selected under the
project. Lectures were delivered by experts besides conducting practical sessions for field
demonstration on propagation, cultivation and management aspects of important bamboo species.
This was followed by a series of on-site training programs for the farmers of the respective
sites/villages.
Motivation of farmers through Organizing On-stations training and On-site field Demonstrations:
5.1.5
Establishment of Nursery and Production of Planting Stock
- 31 A central nursery was established at Sotai village, Jorhat with active participation of local
farmers and technical support of the project team. The bamboo plants were raised in nursery and the
other plant materials for intercropping were obtained from reliable sources in the locality to fulfill
the requirement of the particular design. Culm cuttings of different bamboo species viz., Bambusa
balcooa, B. nutans, B. tulda, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii were collected from the Bamboo
Germplasm Bank of RFRI and used for multiplication and production of required planting stock.
Propagules (seeds, cuttings,etc.) of selected intercrop species were arranged from local
market/private nurseries and various other sources and brought to the central production nursery for
propagation and multiplication so as to raise required number of planting stock.
Dr. Mohinder Pal, Sr. Forestry Consultant, NBM, New Delhi on visit to the Nursery
5.1.6 Designing of Agroforestry Field Trials
Based on the appraisals, designs of agroforestry field trials for different locations were
prepared.
- 32 -
LAYOUT OF BORDUMSA (A.P)
- 33 N
LAYOUT OF RUPA (DUKUMPANI)
W
E
s
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
Bamboo Species –
Bambusa tulda (T)
Bambusa nutans (N)
8m
N
8m
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
6m
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
5m
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
7m
6m
5m
5m
10m
6m
T
T
T
7m
T
T
T
T
T
T
5m
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
5m
6m
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
8m
8m
m represent meter
N
LAYOUT OF SATRA/NBM/01 SITE
W
E
8X8M SPACING
N
N
N
N
N
S
5X7M SPACING
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
6M
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
10M
10M
N
N
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
8M
T
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
5M
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
3X3 M SPACING
4X4M SPACING
B
-Masumbi
-Orange,seeded
-Orange, beeded
-
Kinnu
-Guwava
- 34 -
(Machilus bombycius)
- 35 -
- 36 -
Layout of Nowagang Site in Tripura
= Meloccanna.baccifera
= Bambusa tulda
= Areca nut
= Mango
= Assam lemon
= Mousumbi
= Lime
= Banana
- 37 Intercropping trials were also conducted under an existing Bambusa balcooa plantation
systematically planted in 2007-08 by RFRI
5.1.7 Ground Work & Field Preparation at Trial Sites
Clearance of land, ploughing, demarcation of plots/subplots, etc. were done on all the selected
sites in the four northeast states for lying out of targeted agroforestry trails. As the farmers were not
intended to provide their cultivable lands for raising bamboos, the project team had to select the
unutilized wastelands as the trial site in most of the cases. The selected sites were prepared for
bamboo planting by cleaning of bushes and preparing lands to make them suitable for
intercropping. Being at distant places, the sites were prepared in phases and trials were established
in all the sites.
By the end of first year, seven field trials for intercropping with bamboo could be established
suitably for conducting agroforestry research. In spite of full efforts to motivate the farmers to
continue the trials and managing the situations, the remaining five sites were abandoned due to the
reasons beyond control like switching over of the farmers to rubber plantations at Village
Nowagang and Village Golirai Bari, due to damage by the villagers for the want of pasture land
near Agartala Agriculture Farm in Tripura; land slide at Balemu in Arunachal Pradesh and
unwillingness shown towards intercropping by one farmer at Peren in Nagaland even after planting
of bamboos.
- 38 -
Field preparation and Layout
- 39 -
Boko site
Bordumsa Site
- 40 -
5.1.8. Establishment of Multi-location Bamboo Plantations under Agroforestry
Trial plantations were established at all the selected sites taking bamboo as tree component
and horticulture species as intercrops in accordance with the species preferences emerged out of the
participatory appraisal exercise. Seasonal intercropping was also done as per experimental plan and
plantation schedule.
Jaluki, Nagaland
- 41 5.1.9
Observation, Data recording and Performance appraisal
Data on growth and productivity of bamboo and intercrop in reference to agroforestry were
collected on the data sheets prepared for the purpose. The parameters include:
 Physicochemical status of soil including texture, permeability, moisture, pH and nutrient
profile.
 Survival, growth and productivity of crops, rooting patterns of different crops.
 Shoot emergence, shoot mortality, culm production, culm development, and clump
expansion.
 Production of bamboo shoot/culm/mix of shoot and culm.
 Performance and yield of seasonal intercrops.
Monitoring and Data Recording
Data on various biophysical interactions and growth and yield parameters were collected
using suitable sampling techniques and following quadrat methods.
- 42 -
6. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Sub Project – I
The data collected from various field trials under intercropping were tabulated and
interpreted for performance of different bamboo-crop associations, as detailed below:6.1 Performance of French bean under different bamboo species
6.1.1 First year observations
At Boko (Assam) a study was conducted on production of French bean under 1 year old
bamboos planted at different spacing. From the results, it was observed that the productivity of
French bean was found highest with 1.2 Kg/sq m in control.
Table 3: Yield of French bean under 1 year old bamboos planted in different spacing at Boko
(Assam)
Bamboo species
Spacing
Bambusa nutans
5mx5m
R1
0.63
Bambusa nutans
5mx7m
0.55
Bambusa balcooa
5mx5m
0.41
Bambusa balcooa
5mx7m
0.45
Bambusa tulda
5mx5m
0.72
Bambusa tulda
5mx7m
1.15
Control
0.95
Yield per sq m (Kg)
R2
R3
Mean
0.70
0.38
0.57
0.67
0.58
0.60
0.35
0.35
0.37
0.49
0.35
0.43
0.57
0.79
0.70
0.73
0.82
0.90
1.15
1.50
1.20
It is observed from Table 3 that there is a significant variation in the productivity of French
bean under different bamboos planted at different spacing. Among the three species of bamboos,
production of French bean was found highest under Bambusa tulda (5mx7m). followed by
Bambusa nutans (5mx7m) and Bambusa balcooa (5mx7m). The table is also explained through a
histogram depicted in Fig. 11.
- 43 -
Fig – 11: Yield of French bean under 1 year old bamboos planted in different spacing at Boko
(Assam)
Similarly a study was conducted at Satra (Sotai, Assam) on production of French bean under
1 year old bamboos planted at different spacing. From the results, it was observed that the
productivity of French bean was found highest with 1.4 Kg/sq m in control. However, among the
three species of bamboos, French bean yields better when intercropped with Dendrocalamus
strictus (8mx8m) followed by Bambusa tulda (8mx8m) and Bambusa balcooa (4mx4m) (Table-4)
Table 4: Yield of French bean under 1 year old bamboos planted in different spacing at Satra
(Sotai, Assam)
Bamboo species
Spacing
Yield per sq m (Kg)
R1
R2
R3
Mean
Dendrocalamus strictus
5mx7m
0.70
0.75
0.71
0.72
Bambusa balcooa
4mx4m
0.30
0.38
0.40
0.36
Bambusa tulda
5mx7m
0.70
0.72
0.62
0.68
Bambusa balcooa
3mx3m
0.30
0.29
0.37
0.32
Dendrocalamus strictus
8mx8m
0.95
0.90
1.09
0.98
Bambusa tulda
8mx8m
0.95
0.98
0.89
0.94
1.58
1.42
1.20
1.40
Control
- 44 It is observed from Table 4 that there is a significant variation in the productivity of French bean
under different bamboos planted at different spacing. It is also explained through a histogram (Fig.
12).
Fig. 12: Yield of French bean under 1 year old bamboos planted in different spacing at Satra (Sotai,
Assam)
6.1.2 Second year observations
On the basis of the trial at Boko (Assam) observations were recorded on production of
French bean under 2 years old bamboos planted at different spacing. From the results, it was
observed that the productivity of French bean was found highest in control with 1.25 Kg/sq m.
However, among the three species of bamboos, French bean yielded better when grown under
Bambusa tulda (5mx7m) followed by Bambusa nutans (5mx7m) and Bambusa balcooa (5mx7m)
(Table -5).
Table 5: Yield of French bean under 2 years old bamboos planted in different spacing at Boko
(Assam)
Bamboo species
Spacing
Yield per sq m (Kg)
R1
R2
R3
Mean
Bambusa nutans
5mx5m
0.40
0.35
0.51
0.42
Bambusa balcooa
5mx5m
0.20
0.23
0.26
0.23
Bambusa tulda
5mx5m
0.22
0.27
0.26
0.25
Bambusa balcooa
5mx7m
0.30
0.25
0.32
0.29
Bambusa nutans
5mx7m
0.42
0.49
0.44
0.45
Bambusa tulda
5mx7m
0.82
0.70
0.73
0.75
1.15
1.33
1.27
1.25
Control
- 45 It is observed that there is a significant variation in the productivity of French bean under
different bamboos planted at different spacing (Table-5). The above table is explained through a
histogram in Fig. 13.
Fig – 13: Yield of French bean under 2 years old bamboos planted in different spacing at Boko
(Assam)
At Satra (Sotai, Assam) also observation were recorded on production of French bean under
2 years old bamboos planted at different spacing. From the results, it was observed that the
productivity of French bean was found highest in control with 1.46 Kg/sq m.
Table 6: Yield of French bean under 2 years old bamboos planted in different spacing at
Satra (Sotai, Assam)
Bamboo species
Spacing
Yield per sq m (Kg)
R1
R2
R3
Mean
Dendrocalamus strictus
5mx7m
0.61
0.63
0.59
0.61
Bambusa balcooa
4mx4m
0.27
0.26
0.28
0.27
Bambusa tulda
5mx7m
0.53
0.55
0.51
0.53
Bambusa balcooa
3mx3m
0.25
0.24
0.26
0.25
Dendrocalamus strictus
8mx8m
0.84
0.86
0.82
0.84
Bambusa tulda
8mx8m
0.82
0.80
0.84
0.82
1.46
1.49
1.43
1.46
Control
- 46 It is observed that there is a significant variation in the productivity of French bean under
different bamboos planted at different spacing (Table 6). Among the three species of bamboos
intercropped with French Bean, production of French bean was found highest under
Dendrocalamus strictus (8mx8m) followed by Bambusa tulda (8mx8m) and Bambusa balcooa
(4mx4m). The result of the trial is also revealed through the histogram in Fig. 14.
Fig. 14: Yield of French bean under 2 years old bamboos planted in different spacing at Satra
(Sotai, Assam)
6.2 Performance of Bhindi under different bamboo species
6.2.1 First year observations
Based on the data collected from the field, it is observed that there is a significant variation
in the production of Bhindi under 1 year old bamboos planted at different spacing. From the results,
it was observed that the productivity of Bhindi was found highest with 2.0 Kg/sq m in control.
Among the three species of bamboos, Bhindi yielded better when grown with Bambusa tulda
(5mx7m) (1.6 Kg/sq m) followed by Bambusa nutans (5mx7m) (1.4 Kg/sq m) and Bambusa
balcooa (5mx7m) (1.2 Kg/sq m).
Table 7: Yield of Bhindi under 1 year old bamboos planted in different spacing at Boko
(Assam)
Bamboo species
Bambusa nutans
Bambusa balcooa
Bambusa tulda
Bambusa balcooa
Bambusa nutans
Bambusa tulda
Control
Spacing Yield per sq m (Kg)
R1
R2
R3
Mean
5mx5m
1.30
1.10
0.90
1.30
5mx5m
5mx5m
5mx7m
5mx7m
5mx7m
1.10
1.50
1.20
1.40
1.60
1.65
0.80
1.60
0.90
1.30
1.40
2.50
1.40
1.40
1.50
1.50
1.80
1.85
1.10
1.50
1.20
1.40
1.60
2.00
- 47 -
It is observed from Table 7 that there is a variation in the productivity of Bhindi under
different Bamboos planted at different spacing. The data in Table 7 is depicted by a histogram in
Fig. 15.
Fig – 15: Yield of Bhindi under 1 year old bamboos planted in different spacing at Boko (Assam)
At Satra (Sotai, Assam) the production of Bhindi under 1 year old bamboos planted at
different spacing revealed that the productivity of Bhindi was highest with 2.2 Kg/sq m in control.
With regard to three species of bamboos, Bhindi yielded better under Dendrocalamus strictus
(8mx8m) followed by Bambusa tulda (8mx8m) and Bambusa balcooa (4mx4m) (Table -8). The
histogram also depicted significant variations in the productivity of Bhindi under different Bamboos
planted at different spacing (Fig. 16).
Table 8: Yield of Bhindi under 1 year old bamboos planted in different spacing at Satra
(Sotai, Assam)
Bamboo species
Spacing
R1
Yield per sq m (Kg)
R2
R3
Mean
Dendrocalamus strictus
5mx7m
1.70
1.00
1.80
1.50
Bambusa balcooa
Bambusa tulda
Bambusa balcooa
Dendrocalamus strictus
Bambusa tulda
Control
4mx4m
5mx7m
3mx3m
8mx8m
8mx8m
1.00
1.60
0.90
1.75
2.00
2.00
1.25
1.30
0.94
1.90
1.90
2.50
1.05
1.30
1.16
1.81
1.35
2.10
1.10
1.40
1.00
1.82
1.75
2.20
- 48 -
Fig. 16: Yield of Bhindi under 1 year old bamboos planted in different spacing at Satra (Sotai,
Assam)
6.2.2 Second year observations
The data collected from the field during the 2nd year also observed significant variation in
the production of Bhindi intercropped with different bamboos planted at different spacing. From the
results, it was observed that the productivity of Bhindi was found maximum in the control (2.1
Kg/sq m) followed by Bambusa tulda (5mx7m) and Bambusa nutans(5mx7m) and minimum under
Bambusa balcooa (5mx5m) (Table 7). The same is also evident in Fig. 7.
Table 9: Yield of Bhindi under 2 years old bamboos planted in different spacing at Boko
(Assam)
Bamboo species
Bambusa nutans
Bambusa balcooa
Bambusa tulda
Bambusa balcooa
Bambusa nutans
Bambusa tulda
Control
Spacing Yield per sq m (Kg)
R1
R2
R3
Mean
5mx5m
0.89
0.95
1.16
1.00
5mx5m
0.95
0.87
0.88
0.90
5mx5m
1.00
1.35
0.95
1.10
5mx7m
1.30
0.75
0.95
1.00
5mx7m
1.18
1.30
1.12
1.20
5mx7m
1.25
1.50
1.45
1.40
1.19
2.25
2.86
2.10
- 49 -
Fig – 17: Yield of Bhindi under 2 years old bamboos planted in different spacing at Boko (Assam)
The data collected at Satra (Sotai, Assam) also showed that there is a significant variation in
the production of Bhindi under different Bamboos planted at different spacing. The results, showed
that the productivity of Bhindi was found highest with 2.1 Kg/sq m in control followed by
Dendrocalamus strictus (8mx8m) and Bambusa tulda (8mx8m)with lowest under Bambusa balcooa
(5mx7m) (Table 10). The histogram in Fig. 18 has also shown significant differences.
Table 10: Yield of Bhindi under 2 years old bamboos planted in different spacing at Satra
(Sotai, Assam)
Bamboo species
Dendrocalamus strictus
Bambusa balcooa
Bambusa tulda
Bambusa balcooa
Dendrocalamus strictus
Bambusa tulda
Control
Spacing Yield per sq m (Kg)
R1
R2
R3
5mx7m 1.30
1.50
1.34
4mx4m 0.94
0.98
1.08
5mx7m 1.32
1.39
1.31
5mx7m 0.95
0.99
0.82
8mx8m 1.64
1.82
1.58
8mx8m 1.65
1.58
1.63
2.15
1.95
2.20
Mean
1.38
1.00
1.34
0.92
1.68
1.62
2.10
- 50 -
Fig. 18: Yield of Bhindi under 2 years old bamboos planted in different spacing at Satra (Sotai,
Assam)
6.3 Performance of Turmeric under different bamboo species
6.3.1 First year observations
Based on the data collected at Boko (Assam), it is observed that there is a significant
variation in the production of Turmeric under 1 year old different bamboos planted at different
spacing. The results, revealed that the productivity of Turmeric was found highest with 1.13 Kg/sq
m in control. The intercropping of three species of bamboos with Turmeric yielded best under
Bambusa tulda (5mx7m) (1.09 Kg/sq m) followed by Bambusa nutans (5mx7m) (0.85 Kg/sq m)
and Bambusa balcooa (5mx7m) (0.80kg/sq m). The data collected from field are tabulated
hereunder in Table11.
Table11: Yield of Turmeric under 1 year old bamboos planted in different spacing at Boko
(Assam)
Bamboo species
Bambusa nutans
Bambusa balcooa
Bambusa tulda
Bambusa balcooa
Bambusa nutans
Bambusa tulda
Control
Spacing Yield per sq m (Kg)
R1
R2
R3
Mean
5mx5m
0.89
0.72
0.49
0.70
5mx5m
0.57
0.65
0.64
0.62
5mx5m
0.85
0.93
0.92
0.90
5mx7m
0.76
0.85
0.79
0.80
5mx7m
0.90
0.86
0.79
0.85
5mx7m
1.25
1.05
0.97
1.09
1.00
0.89
1.50
1.13
It is observed from Table 11 and Fig. 19 that there is a variation in the productivity of
Turmeric under different bamboos planted at different spacing.
- 51 -
Fig - 19: Yield of Turmeric under 1 year old bamboos planted in different spacing at Boko (Assam)
At Satra (Sotai, Assam) the study on production of Turmeric under 1 year old Bamboos
planted at different spacing depicted that the productivity of Turmeric was found highest with 1.15
Kg/sq m in control. However, among the three species of bamboos, Turmeric yields better under
Dendrocalamus strictus (8mx8m) followed by Bambusa tulda (8mx8m) and Bambusa balcooa
(4mx4m) (0.52 kg/sq m).
Table 12: Yield of Turmeric under 1 year old bamboos planted in different spacing at Satra
(Sotai, Assam)
Bamboo species
Spacing
R1
Dendrocalamus
strictus
Bambusa balcooa
Bambusa tulda
Bambusa balcooa
Dendrocalamus
strictus
Bambusa tulda
Control
Yield per sq m (Kg)
R2
R3
Mean
5mx7m
0.85
0.70
0.79
0.78
4mx4m
5mx7m
3mx3m
8mx8m
0.50
0.72
0.45
1.25
0.65
0.73
0.50
0.90
0.41
0.80
0.49
1.12
0.52
0.75
0.48
1.09
8mx8m
1.20
1.00
1.05
0.95
0.96
1.50
1.07
1.15
It is observed from Table 12 and Fig. 20 that there is a significant variation in the
productivity of Turmeric under different Bamboos planted under different spacing.
- 52 -
Fig. 20: Yield of Turmeric under 1 year old bamboos planted in different spacing at Satra (Sotai,
Assam)
6.3.2 Second year observations
Data collected from the field showed that there is a significant variation in the production of
Turmeric under 2 year old bamboos planted at different spacing. From the results, it was observed
that the productivity of Turmeric was highest with 1.15 Kg/sq m under control. Turmeric when
intercropped with bamboo yielded best under Bambusa tulda (5mx7m) followed by Bambusa
nutans(5mx7m) and Bambusa balcooa (5mx7m). The data obtained the field are tabulated in Table
13. The results are also presented in Fig 21.
Table 13: Yield of Turmeric under 2 year old bamboos planted in different spacing at Boko
(Assam)
Bamboo species
Spacing Yield per sq m (in Kg)
R1
R2
R3
Mean
Bambusa nutans
5mx5m
0.72
0.65
0.67
0.68
Bambusa balcooa
5mx5m
0.55
0.68
0.57
0.60
Bambusa tulda
5mx5m
0.95
0.82
0.69
0.82
Bambusa balcooa
5mx7m
0.80
0.82
0.75
0.79
Bambusa nutans
5mx7m
0.75
0.80
1.06
0.87
Bambusa tulda
5mx7m
0.95
1.25
0.83
1.01
1.30
1.15
1.00
1.15
Control
- 53 -
Fig.21: Yield of Turmeric under 2 year old bamboos planted in different spacing at Boko
(Assam)
Based on the data collected from the field, it was observed that there is a significant
variation in the production of Turmeric under 2 years old different bamboos planted at different
spacing at Satra (Sotai, Assam). From Table 14, it was observed that the productivity of Turmeric is
highest with 1.10 Kg/sq m (control) followed by turmeric under Dendrocalamus strictus (8mx8m)
(0.98 Kg/sq m) followed by Bambusa tulda (8mx8m) (0.95 Kg/sq m) and Bambusa balcooa
(4mx4m) (0.45 Kg/sq m) (Table 14). Fig 22 also depicts the same variation pattern.
Table 14: Yield of Turmeric under 2 years old bamboos planted in different spacing at Satra
(Sotai, Assam)
Bamboo species
Dendrocalamus
strictus
Bambusa Balcooa
Bambusa tulda
Bambusa Balcooa
Dendrocalamus
strictus
Bambusa tulda
Control
Spacing Yield per sq m (Kg)
R1
R2
R3
5mx7m 0.60
0.65
0.67
Mean
0.64
4mx4m
5mx7m
3mx3m
8mx8m
0.43
0.55
0.35
0.95
0.48
0.60
0.31
0.99
0.44
0.59
0.30
1.00
0.45
0.58
0.32
0.98
8mx8m
0.97
1.00
0.92
1.25
0.96
1.05
0.95
1.10
- 54 -
Fig. 22: Yield of Turmeric under 2 years old bamboos planted in different spacing at Satra (Sotai,
Assam)
6.4 Performance of Colocasia under different bamboo species
6.4.1 First year observations
The field trial at Boko (Assam) conducted on production of Colocasia under 1 year old
bamboos planted under different spacing showed that the productivity of Colocasia was maximum
in control with 1.2 Kg/sq m. The intercropping of Colocasia with bamboo was best under Bambusa
tulda (5mx7m) (0.92 Kg/sq m) followed by Bambusa nutans (5mx5m) (0.86 Kg/sq m) and
Bambusa balcooa (5mx7m) (0.56 Kg/sq m) (Table -15 and Fig. 23).
Table 15: Yield of Colocasia under 1 year old bamboos planted in different spacing at Boko
(Assam)
Bamboo species
Bambusa nutans
Bambusa balcooa
Bambusa tulda
Bambusa balcooa
Bambusa nutans
Bambusa tulda
Control
Spacing
5mx5m
5mx5m
5mx5m
5mx7m
5mx5m
5mx7m
R1
0.65
0.57
0.70
0.50
0.83
0.95
1.00
Yield per sq m (Kg)
R2
R3
Mean
0.72
0.67
0.68
0.44
0.52
0.51
0.65
0.81
0.72
0.55
0.63
0.56
0.88
0.87
0.86
0.91
0.90
0.92
1.50
1.10
1.20
- 55 -
Fig. 23: Yield of Colocasia under 1 year old bamboos planted in different spacing at Boko (Assam)
6.4.2 Second year observations
The observations recorded in 2 years old bamboo planted at different spacing with
Colocasia revealed that the productivity of Colocasia was found highest with 1.20 Kg/sq m in
control. The intercropping of Colocasia with bamboos yielded best under Bambusa tulda (5mx7m)
followed by Bambusa nutans (5mx5m) and Bambusa balcooa (5mx7m) (Table 16). The histogram
Fig. 24 also revealed the variation pattern.
Table 16: Yield of Colocasia under 2 years old bamboos planted in different spacing at Boko
(Assam)
Bamboo species
Spacing
Bambusa nutans
Bambusa balcooa
Bambusa tulda
Bambusa balcooa
Bambusa nutans
Bambusa tulda
Control
5mx5m
5mx5m
5mx5m
5mx7m
5mx5m
5mx7m
Yield per sq m (Kg)
R1
R2
R3
Mean
0.60
0.55
0.68
0.61
0.42
0.38
0.43
0.41
0.63
0.75
0.57
0.65
0.43
0.50
0.45
0.46
0.73
0.75
0.80
0.76
0.84
0.80
0.85
0.83
1.18
1.40
1.02
1.20
- 56 -
Fig.24: Yield of Colocasia under 2 years old bamboos planted in different spacing at Boko (Assam)
6.5 Performance of Ginger under different bamboo species
6.5.1 First year observations
As per Table 17 and Fig. 25 significant variation is observed in the productivity of Ginger
under different Bamboos planted under different spacing at Boko (Assam). Among the three species
of Ginger planted with bamboos it was observed that highest yield is obtained under Bambusa tulda
(5mx7m) followed by Bambusa nutans (5mx5m) and Bambusa balcooa (5mx7m). While the
highest yield of 1.80 Kg/sq m was recorded with control crop of Ginger.
Table 17: Yield of Ginger under 1 year old bamboos planted in different spacing at Boko
(Assam)
Bamboo species
Spacing
Bambusa nutans
Bambusa balcooa
Bambusa tulda
Bambusa balcooa
Bambusa nutans
Bambusa tulda
Control
5mx5m
5mx5m
5mx5m
5mx7m
5mx5m
5mx7m
Yield per sq m (Kg)
R1
R2
R3
Mean
0.98
0.92
0.95
0.95
0.84
0.84
0.84
0.84
1.10
0.96
1.03
1.03
0.87
0.87
0.87
0.87
1.31
1.21
1.26
1.26
1.5
1.3
1.40
1.40
1.71
1.90
1.79
1.80
- 57 -
Fig 25: Yield of Ginger under 1 year old bamboos planted in different spacing at Boko (Assam)
6.5.2 Second year observations
At the end of 2nd year on the basis of observations it was known that there is profound
variation in production of Ginger at Boko (Assam) (Fig. 26). From the results, it was also observed
that the productivity of Ginger was highest with 1.85 Kg/sq m in control. Among the three species
of bamboos, Ginger yielded better under Bambusa tulda (5mx7m) (1.49 Kg/sq m) followed by
Bambusa nutans (5mx5m) (1.32 Kg/sq m) and Bambusa balcooa (5mx5m & 5mx7m) (0.86 Kg/sq
m) (Table 18).
Table 18: Yield of Ginger under 2 years old bamboos planted in different spacing at Boko
(Assam)
Bamboo species
Spacing
Yield per sq m (Kg)
R1
R2
R3
Mean
Bambusa nutans
5mx5m
0.97
0.92
0.95
0.97
Bambusa balcooa
5mx5m
0.86
0.87
0.85
0.86
Bambusa tulda
5mx5m
1.2
1.17
1.23
1.2
Bambusa balcooa
5mx7m
0.87
0.85
0.86
0.86
Bambusa nutans
5mx5m
1.32
1.30
1.34
1.32
Bambusa tulda
5mx7m
1.45
1.52
1.52
1.49
1.85
1.87
1.83
1.85
Control
- 58 -
Fig. 26: Yield of Ginger under 2 years old bamboos planted in different spacing at Boko (Assam)
6.6
Observations on growth parameters of different bamboo species under various crop
associations
The average diameter of culms varied from 0.7 to 1.25 cm when grown in combination to
different crop associations being minimum with Bambusa balcooa (3mx4m) +Kesseru and
maximum under the control with B. balcooa. The average diameter of culm was found to be
significantly higher with B. balcooa (10mx10m) + Som; Bambusa nutans (5mx5m) + Orange. It
was found that in all the controls with B. balcooa , B nutans and B tulda , the average diameter of
the culm was quite significant. The Litchi and Kesseru in combination with B. balcooa and B. tulda
respectively did not favour the increase in the diameter of culm.
- 59 -
Fig.27: Diameter of Bamboo after 12 months of transplanting
Fig.28: Culm height of bamboo after 12 months of transplanting
The culm height was recorded to be maximum with B. balcooa in control and B. balcooa
(10mx10m) with Som while minimum culm height was observed with B. tulda when grown with
Litchi. It was also observed that B balcooa performed better in all the spacing and combinations
followed by B. nutans. B tulda showed somewhat poor culm height in all the combinations.
Observations were recorded for different bamboo species namely B tulda, B nutans & B
balcooa for their collar diameter at different spacing of 5mx5m; 5x6m; 5x7m and control
(10mx10m). There was significant variation with regards to collar diameter in all the spacing. The
collar diameter ranged from 2.8mm for B nutans at 5mx5m. spacing to 7 mm for B balcooa in
5mx7m. spacing and control. It was seen that larger spacing favoured the growth of B. tulda.
- 60 -
Fig.29: Collar diameter of bamboos in different spacing after 15 months
On the basis of the field trial carried out in three species of bamboo namely B. tulda, B.
nutans and B balcooa it was found that the height was maximum (2.60 m) for B balcooa at a
spacing of 5mx6m followed by B. tulda at the spacing of 10mx10m (2.50m) In all the spacing B.
balcooa performed the best, while B. tulda performed better at higher spacing.
Fig 30: Culm height of bamboos in different spacing after15 months.
6.7
Studies on shoot emergence in Bambusa balcooa
Data were recorded from Rongbong Ghat field trial, at the monthly interval from March to
September in two consecutive years i.e. the current year and the last year. However, one more year
has to be considered to study in details.
- 61 Observations:
1. Shoot emergence in B. balcooa starts in the month of March and lasts up to the month of July. It
is also observed in the month of August but is very rare.
2. June - July is observed as the peak period for Shoot emergence
3. Only young Culms (generally one year old) are responsible for Shoot production.
4. One individual clump give rise to maximum 3 shoots.
5. No. of shoots emerged in a clump depends upon the no. of Culm in the Clump. Shoot emergence
is directly proportional to no. of culms in a clump. However, up to certain limit it decreases
probably due to increase in Culm density i.e. the no. of Culms per unit area).
6. The nos. of shoots can be considerably increased when the clumps are managed by putting soil
over the rhizomes of the clumps and is found to be maximum when treated with soil mounding with
FYM. Even the season of emergence can be increased (last up to the end of August).
Treatment
Control (C
)
Soil
mounding
(S1)
Soil
mounding
+FYM
(S2)
Av. No.
of Culms
/ per
clump
Av. No. of Shoots/ per clump
Av. Nos
of
damaged
Shoots/
per clump
Total no of
Shoots
emerged /
per clump
5.75
Mar
0
Apr
0.37
May
0.81
June
1.43
July
1.37
Aug
0.31
Sept
0
0.17
4.46
5.87
0
0.5
1.31
2.18
2.18
0.37
0
0.11
6.65
6.18
0
1.12
1.87
2.87
2.87
0.12
0
0.23
8.96
Based on the data collected from the field in 2008, it can be observed that there is a
significant variation of shoot emergence under different treatments. The average no. of shoots per
clump is higher in soil mounding + FYM (S2) method as compared to soil mounding (S1) method
and Control.
Similarly, in case of month-wise, average no. of shoots per clump is higher in Soil
Mounding + FYM (S2) method as compared to soil mounding (S1) method and Control in the
month from April to July. However, in August, the average no. of shoots per clump is higher in Soil
Mounding (S1) method as compared to Control and Soil Mounding +FYM (S2) method. The
figures of the above table are depicted in the following charts: -
- 62 VARIATION OF SHOOT EMERGANCE IN DIFFERENT
TREATMENTS IN 2008
Month wise Shoot emergence in 2008
Av. No. of Clum
10
Mar (a)
9
8
April (b)
Mar (a)
6
May ( c)
April (b)
5
June (d)
May ( c)
3
July (e)
June (d)
2
Aug (f)
7
4
July (e)
Aug (f)
1
Sept (g)
0
Control ( C )
Soil filling (S1)
Soil filling +
FYM (S2)
Sept (g)
Av. Nos of damaged Shoots
TREATMENTS
Total no of Shoots emerged
In the year 2009, a similar study was conducted and it was observed that there is a
significant variation of shoot emergence under different treatments. The average no. of shoots per
clump is higher in Soil Mounding + FYM (S2) method as compared to Soil Mounding (S1) method
and Control.
Treatment
Av. No.
of Culms
Av. No. of Shoots
Av. Nos
of
damaged
Shoots.
Total no of
Shoots
emerged.
Control (C )
8.68
Mar
0
Apr
0.12
May
0.56
June
2.62
July
2.43
Aug
0.81
0
0.08
5.62
Soil
Mounding
(S1)
Soil
Mounding
+FYM (S2)
11.56
0
0
0.47
2.37
2.56
1.6
0
0.04
7
13.5
0
0
0.68
2.81
2.73
1.12
0
0.05
7.34
Sept
Similarly, in case of month-wise, average no. of shoots per clump is higher in Soil
Mounding + FYM (S2) method as compared to Soil Mounding (S1) method and Control in the
month from May to August. However, in August, the average no. of shoots per clump is higher in
Soil Mounding (S1) method as compared to Control and Soil Mounding +FYM (S2) method. The
figures of the above table are explained through the following charts: VARIATION OF SHOOT EMERGANCE IN
DIFFERENT TREATMENTS IN 2009
16
Av. No. of Clum
Month wise emergence of shoots in 2009
Mar (a)
April (b)
14
May ( c)
12
Mar (a)
10
June (d)
8
July (e)
6
April (b)
May ( c)
June (d)
4
Aug (f)
2
Sept (g)
0
Control ( C )
Soil filling (S1)
TREATMENTS
Soil filling +
FYM (S2)
Av. Nos of
damaged Shoots
Total no of Shoots
emerged
July (e)
Aug (f )
Sept (g)
- 63 -
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-------------------------------
- 66 -
Sub-project- II : Development of clump management practices for economically
important bamboo species for enhanced production of quality culms
and edible shoots.
Project Coordinator: Dr Y. C Tripathi, Scientist E
Name of PI: Dr T.C. Bhuyan, Scientist B
Project duration: 3 years
Date of Start: March, 2008
Budget out lay: 6.36 lakh.
Expenditure incurred: 2.92 lakh
Equipments procured: Clinometre, Cliper
- 67 -
1. Introduction:
Bamboo, once considered as „poor man‟s timber‟ is now a product of export in global
market. Bamboo could be a real strength for socio-economic upliftment of rural poor. It has many
remarkable properties, which includes the Strength, Straightness, Lightness Combined with
hardness, Range in sizes, Abundance, Easy propagation, Short maturity period and Variety of uses.
So far, there are about 1500 documented applications of bamboo ranging from medicine, food,
handicraft, building materials, agricultural implements, paper & pulp etc. Therefore, it is rightly
pointed out that the bamboo is the „Wonder plant of the 21st century. Hence, bamboo is considered
as an important resource in the India in the context of socio-economic, cultural – ecological –
climatic – functional amelioration. It is a fast growing, wide spread, renewable, versatile, low or no
cost, environment – enhancing resource with potential to improved livelihood security in the years
to come, in both rural and urban areas. India is one of the richest countries in bamboo resources
with about 145 species under 23 genera out of the total 1250 species under 75 genera found in the
world. More than 50% of the bamboo species occurs in Eastern India. The genera Bambusa and
Dendrocalamus are generally found under tropical conditions, whereas Arundinaria occurs in
temperate region. The principal genera under the bamboos are Arundinaria, Bambusa,
Chimonobambusa, Dendrocalamus, Dinochloa, Gigantochloa etc. Dendrocalmus stictus is
predominantly found in the dry deciduous forests and cover 45% of total bamboo species in India.
The genus Bambusa generally occupies the moist deciduous forests. The most commercially
important species are Bambusa balcooa, B. tulda, B. nutans, B. pallida, B. bambos, B. polymorpha ,
Dendrocalamus brandisii, D.hamiltonii ,D.giganteus D.stictus, Melocanna baccifera, Ochlandra
travancorica, Schizostachyum dullooa, Thyrsostachys oliveri etc. Generally, sandy loams to loamy
clay type of soil derived from river alluvium or the underlying rock are suitable for bamboo
cultivation. Usually bamboo prefers well-drained soils for its luxuriant growth. Most of the
bamboos thrive well between annual temperature ranging from 8.8ºC – 36ºC and annual rainfall of
1270– 4050mm. However, some of the bamboos are found in the higher rainfall zones also. It can
survive even limited frost during winter. Bamboos are generally growing from 0-4000 m.from
MSL.
As per the FSI report 2011, bamboo covers about 13.96 million hectares area in India.
Arunachal Pradesh has the maximum bamboo bearing area (1.6 m.ha.) followed by Madhaya
Pradesh (1.3 m.ha.), Maharashtra (1.15 m.ha.) and Orissa (1.03 m.ha.). It is found in almost all parts
of country from tropical to the temperate regions and alluvial plains to the high mountains except
the Kashmir region where bamboos do not occur naturally. Occurrence of pure bamboo was
observed maximum in Mizoram (226 sq. km) followed by Arunachal Pradesh (217 sq.km.),
- 68 Manipur (192 sq.km.) and Nagaland (101 sq.km.). The dense bamboo forest found maximum in
Arunachal Pradesh (8681 sq.km.) followed by Mizoram (6116 sq.km.) and Manipur (5825 sq.km.).
The total estimated green weight of bamboo at national level is estimated to be 169 million tons.
The bamboos are also abundantly growing in the outside forests and weight come s near to 10.20
million tones. The Eastern plains contribute maximum weight (4.07 million tons) followed by
North East (1.07 million tons) and Eastern Deccan (0.09 million tons).
Due to insufficient supply of wood for different uses, people are in search of a viable
alternative material that can replace wood. Bamboo is such a versatile crop which has multifarious
uses and can act as economic catalyst only when avenues are made available for its extraction and
utilization. However, consistent supply of bamboo is the main key for the growth and development
of bamboo based industrial sector. The National Mission on Bamboo Technology and Trade
Development has assessed the current demand for various applications as 27 million tons against
the existing availability of 13.47 million tons in India. The average per hectare annual productivity
of bamboo in India is about 1MT/ha which is much lesser than the world‟s average. These hardy
woody plants with their multifarious uses are mostly harvested from natural forests and homesteads.
Bamboo sector is currently facing a number of problems like poor management, low productivity
and overexploitation of available stock and loss of bamboo cover due to gregarious flowering. In
modern times however, the pressure exerted by burgeoning populations and expanding industries
such as rayon, pulp and paper has placed considerable stress on resource has been response to this,
and realizing immense potential of bamboos, many states having bamboo resources started
facilitating and encouraging the establishment of the large scale bamboo plantations. Cultivation of
bamboos on large scale in the past has been limited by lack of knowledge concerning satisfactory
technologies on propagation, cultivation and management aspects. The potential scope of bamboo is
very high but it remains largely unrealized in India. As bamboos are now being grown increasingly
and intensively in plantations, the need for a better understanding of bamboos has become essential
and urgent.
The multifarious uses of bamboo that contribute to the income of the rural people
throughout the world, especially in the tropics, are well known. Bamboo shoot production is one of
the major sources of income for farmers in China, Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, Laos and Korea.
Bamboo shoot industry is thriving well and fast expanding in Asian countries. However, edible
bamboo species are not commercially raised for shoot production in India.
Bamboo shoots are young bamboo stems, eaten as vegetable for thousands of years in many
Asian countries. Bamboo shoots form a part of traditional cuisine, fresh, dried, shredded or pickled.
- 69 Edible shoots are rich in vitamins, amino acids, protein and cellulose and low in fat. There is
however also a growing market for processed (fermented, roasted and boiled) and packaged shoots
and an opportunity for establishing commercial processing units on small as well as large
commercial scale.
Bamboo shoots may be harvested at many stages – before they break the surface of the soil,
shortly afterwards or once they have reached a meter or more in height. The stage of harvest
determines their fiber content and tenderness, with younger shoots being more palatable. The fiber
content also determines the way they are handled or processed. The essential requirements for
successful shoot production are availability of bamboo forests and plantations of the right species
for producing bamboo shoots and availability of basic management strategies of the bamboo
clumps among others. By careful management of bamboo plantations a maximum number of shoots
can be encouraged to grow each year.
In India, the short shoot production period may be one of the major hurdles for large scale
processing and consumption. The cultural measures for shoot stand differ from those for timber
stand because the former needs better site conditions in terms of light, heat and water. A shoot stand
also consumes more mineral nutrients from the soil than a timber stand and hence, the application
of organic or chemical fertilizers is important. Shoot cultivation normally requires better soil, water
and light conditions and more intensive management. Irrigation is indispensible for intensively
managed shoot stands in absence of rain during shooting period. The lack of appropriate technology
for enhanced production in shoot and Culm production from the individual species and also
commercialization of processing unit hinders people for taking up large scale bamboo shoot
cultivation.
Keeping these factors in mind an experiment is carried out in three different locations of
Assam considering the different agro-climatic region and availability of bamboos in the area.
2. Objective: Development of Clump Management practices for economically important
bamboo species for enhanced production of quality culm and edible shoots.
- 70 -
3. Work Plan:
 Clump management trial and demonstration will be conducted under 3-4 year old plantation
of selected species of bamboo.
 Accordingly, suitable trials will be laid in three different places in Assam.
 Management trial will be laid out as per experimental detail and treatments.
 Observation and data collection on shoot emergence, culm development, clump expansion
and production of bamboo culm/shoot/mix of shoot and culm will be recorded for all the
treatments.
4. Methodology adopted:
4.1 Site Selection:
Initial survey carried out in different bamboo growing areas of Assam. During the survey, it
was noticed that there is no plantations with known age of the clumps of desired species. Therefore,
uniform diameter clumps were considered for giving treatments with fertilizer. The average
approx.diameter of clumps of selected species are Bambusa balcooa 4.34 m, Bambusa tulda 3.27m
and Bambusa nutans 3.09m.The clumps selected in the farmer‟s field in all the three sites, after
due consultation and consent of the farmers since there were no natural bamboo available for the
selected species.Initial meeting were also held with the farmers in the selected locations and clumps
selected in two to three households which come in a contiguous in a manner.
The sites are:
1) Agchia, Palasbari in Kamrup District (Location-Alt.-155m, N- 26°07´23.8´,
E- 091°34´16.2´´)
2) Madhapur, Titabor, Jorhat District (Location-Alt.-341m, N-26°31.956´,
E- 094°10.853´)
3) Sotai, Jorhat District (Location-Alt.-182m, N-26°45´49.2´´,E-094°18´13.7´´)
4.2 Species selected for the experiments:
Considering the commercial importance and local demand for edible shoots and culms as well as
availability of clumps, the following three species were selected for experimental purpose.
1) Bambusa tulda ( Local Name: Jati)
2) Bambusa balcooa (Local Name: Bhaluka)
3) Bambusa nutans (Local Name: Mokal)
7 treatments in 3 replications in 3 sites have been considered for application of Fertilizer
Urea, SSP and MoP and FYM and also given treatments with soil mounding, Soil loosening and
mulching . The fertilizer applied in a circle that radiates nearly 1.5 m from periphery of the clumps
after mixing the fertilizer at a depth of 6 inches. Watering also done immediately after
- 71 applications. Minimum 5 new culms taken into consideration for data recording. Observation
made on different parameters before and after fertilization in different treatments.
Recorded the initial data for the one year old bamboo viz. Clump diameter, number of
first year culms, culm height, length of internodes (at 5th internodes), and diameter of culms
(at 5th internodes). The first year bamboo marked with single band of white paints and recorded
the numbers. Subsequently, it was marked with two rings and three rings in 2nd and 3rd year. Soil
samples collected from three sites for analyzing the available nutrients particularly NPK and
organic carbon. Application of fertilizer applied during the pre emergence of new shoots during the
year i.e April and May.
4.3 Soil Analysis:
Soil Sample
pH
EC(dsm-1)
% of organic Nitrogen (N)
carbon ©
Potassium
(K)
Phosphorus
(P)
Sotai, Jorhat
5.56
0.57
0.52 %
Titabor,Jorhat 5.69
1.73
0.84 %
Palasbari,
Kamrup
0.71
0.69 %
13.00
(Low)
26.40
(Medium)
19.00
(Low)
228.48
(Medium)
376.32
(Medium)
241.92
(Medium)
5.70
250.00 kg/ha
(Low)
470.00
kg/ha(Medium)
313.60 kg/ha
(Medium)
It is observed that the Nitrogen and Potassium content was poor and phosphorus is medium
in the Sotai site whereas the content of Nitrogen, phosphorus and Potassium are medium except low
in potassium at Polasbari. The organic carbon content shows higher in Titabor site in comparison to
other two sites.
Three replications in each species in all the three sites with seven treatments given as follows:
Total Clumps considered for trial is 21.
4.4 Design: RBD
Fertilizer application (NPK and FYM)
Fertilizer
T1
T2
T3
T4
T5
T6
T7
Urea
0
100 gm
200 gm
300 gm
400 gm
500 gm
1000 gm
SSP
0
50 gm
100 gm
150 gm
200 gm
250 gm
500 gm
MoP
0
20 gm
40 gm
60 gm
80 gm
100 gm
200 gm
FYM
0
10 kg
10 kg
10 kg
10 kg
10 kg
10 kg
After weighing the particular doses of fertilizer, it is mixed with 10kg decomposed cow
dung and applied uniformly in trench around the clumps.
- 72 4.5 Soil mounding, Soil loosening, Mulching
Eight clumps each in three sites are also taken for other management trial with treatment
combination viz.
Factor 1: Soil Mounding and without mounding
Factor 2: Soil loosening and without loosening
Factor 3: Mulching and without mulching
Design: Factorial RBD
Treatments: 3
Treatment combination: 8
F3 with loosening
TC 1
F2 with mulching
F3 without loosening
TC 2
F1 with mounding
F2 without mulching
TC 3
F3 with loosening
Treatment combination
TC 4
F3 without loosening
F2 with mulching
F1 without
Mounding
F3 with loosening
TC 5
TC 6
F3 without loosening
F3 with loosening
F2 without mulching
F3 without loosening
TC 7
TC 8
- 73 -
5. Review of Literature:
A bamboo shoot is the young culm harvested at the time or shortly it appears above the soil
surface. When the bamboo shoot pierces the ground, critical bio-chemical processes start. These
lead to rapid growth, as well as concurrent hardening, as the shoot elongates and turns into a woody
culm. Bamboo shoot has high nutritional value and low fat, and is a good source of fibre. There is,
however, also a growing market for processed (fermented, roasted and boiled) and packaged shoot
presenting an opportunity for establishing commercial processing units.
In Manipur, bamboo based food processing units produce canned bamboo (in brine, in
curried vegetable and in syrups), shoot candies, shoot chutneys, sweet pickles, fermented shoots
(Soibum & Soidon) and bamboo shoot powder for local and overseas markets (Singha et al., 2008).
Most bamboo species produce edible shoots.
The main monopodial species used
commercially in China is Phyllostachys pubescens, known colloquially as „Moso‟. Other widely
used species are: P. praecox, P. propinqua, P. dulcis, P. irridenscens, P. vivax, P. prominens, P.
flexuosa and P. bambusoides. Some of the best sympodial bamboo shoot-species of China are
Dendrocalamus asper, D. latiflorus and Bambusa beecheyana. In Thailand, bamboo shoots are
consumed in fresh, pickled and dried forms. Though most of the species growing there produce
edible shoots, the best ones are D. asper, Thyrsostachys regia (T. siamensis), D. giganteus, D.
merrillianus, B. tulda and Pseudooxytenanthera albociliata. Out of these, T. regia is largely
cultivated rather than a forest plant (Tewari, 1993). In Taiwan, management of P. edulis and D.
latiflorus has reached a high degree of specialization.
In India, the tender shoots of Dendrocalamus giganteus, D. hamiltonii, D. membranaceous
and D. strictus are consumed either as vegetable or as pickle. The tender shoots of Bambusa
balcooa are cooked and eaten, but are also generally preserved after fermenting and drying
(Awasthi and Tewari, 2008). Singh (2006) listed 50 native bamboo species used for edible purpose
from North East (NE) India and accoding to him Bambusa bambos, B. tulda, D. giganteus, D.
hamiltonii, D. membranaceus and Melocanna baccifera are the dominant species from delicacy,
taste and consumption point of view. Kennard and Freyre (1957) studied the edibility parameter of
shoots of 27 species belonging to 10 genera and found Bambusa polymorpha as the best. This
species produces shoots with a distinctly sweet taste in the raw state. In Central and Eastern India,
tribal collect bamboo shoots from natural bamboo forests having mostly pure patches of D. strictus.
Considering market potentiality of young shoots in NE States, M. baccifera has been
identified as most commercial important species in Mizoram; Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, M.
baccifera and B. balcooa in Meghalaya and D. hamiltonii and Chimonobambusa hookeriana in
- 74 (Bhatt et al., 2005). An 2002-2005 estimate (Singha et al.,2008) has shown that 5685 t/yr of fresh
bamboo shoots are sold in markets of NE region excluding Assam and Sikkim with largest value
(2188 t/yr) in Manipur followed by Arunachal Pradesh (1979 t/yr). Among the bamboo species D.
hamiltonii is consumed in largest quantities (1854 t/yr) followed by D. giganteus (1095 t/yr) and M.
baccifera (845 t/yr), lowest quantity (1.7 t/yr) with Schizostachyum dullooa. The net income
appears to be Rs. 18.85 and Rs. 22.90 million for fresh and processed bamboo shoots respectively
in the region. The financial investment and physical efforts in the form of Man Days for collection,
processing, transportation, sale etc, required for merchandising these products in the region
accounts for Rs. 18.91 and Rs. 17.48 million respectively for fresh and processed shoots.
In Kerala, six bamboo species viz, Bambusa bambos, B. tulda, B. brandisii, Dendrocalamus
hamiltonii, D. longispathus and D. strictus produce shoot during June to September. If regularly
irrigated, the duration of shoot emergence can be increased. In B. bambos and D. hamiltonii, the
average number of shoots and production were 23 and 30-50 kg and 53 and 20 – 40 kg respectively
per clump in 4 yrs.
The INBAR (International Network on Bamboo and Rattan) has selected six species which
are most suited for the development of bamboo shoot industry in India. These are: Bambusa
balcooa, Dendrocalamus giganteus, D. hamiltonii, D. strictus and Melocanna baccifera (Nath et
al., 2008). Other promising edible shoot producing species are: D. sikkimensis, Chimonobambusa
hookeriana, D. longispathus, B. bambos, B. tulda, Phyllostachys bambusoides etc. D. asper is the
introduced species highly regarded for culinary purposes.
There are presently three large scale processing units at Dimapur, Nagaland, (900 t/yr),
Jorhat, Assam (200 t/yr), Bongaigoan, Assam (300 t/yr) with clustered level processing
technologies and also branding and marketing support. Shoot industry holds the promise of rapid
growth. Bamboo shoots carry the potential of value added economic activity and provide
employment and income generation at rural and community level through cultivation and
processing. The 900 TPA processing unit in NE costs at Rs. 1.20 crore with IRR estimates to be
30%. According to the Planning Commission estimate bamboo shoot market was around 5.0 crore
in 2001 and with potential of 25% growth per annum it captured a market worth 300 crores. If
adequately exploited and implemented, the bamboo edible shoot farming may guarantee the
livelihood support to a vast population of our country. Zhaohua and Yang (2004) elaborated the
quick development of bamboo shoot sector in Lin‟an County of China and how it became one of
the pillar industries that had significant impacts on the local socio-economic and rural development
from 1985 to 2002. In that County of 3126 km2, the shoot species bamboo plantation have been
enhanced to 6700 ha through 10 years efforts and upto 20,000 ha i.e., 10.7 times in 2002 with
- 75 Phyllostachys praecox and P. vivax. The total shoot production was 144481 tons in 2003 excluding
dried bamboo species and P. pubescens. The corresponding production value also increased from
2.19 to 328.05 million Yuan in 2002 and 418.37 million Yuan in 2003 (i.e., 191 times more)
excluding the processed shoot values. By that time year-round full-time workers in the processing
factories of the County have also been raised to 30,000.
Bamboo comes into production in 3 to 4 yr and reaches maximum productivity in 7 to 8 yr.
In USA, Oregon Bamboo Co. in Myrtle Creek, OR produced 2 to 10 t shoots per acre and the
distributors pay upto $2 per lb which retail for about $6 per lb (Anon, 1997).
As stated earlier, during late nineties, China produced 3.2-4.0 and 0.27-0.30 million tons of
bamboo shoots from plantation (Phyllostachys pubesense, Phyllostachys bambusoides etc.) and
natural forests respectively. There is report on large scale consumption also (10,000 – 20,000 t/yr)
in China, Japan and Thailand. Total export from Thailand and China were 29.5 million $ in 1994
and 540.0 million $ in 1998 respectively. United States imported 30,000 tons of canned shoots each
year during early nineties from Taiwan, Thailand and China. It would generally take 30,000 acres
of badly managed or 3000 acres superbly managed land to produce 30,000 tons (Lewis, 1996).
The short shoot production period is the major constraint for large scale processing factory
and marketing. The availability of tender shoots in NE India varies from 42 to 84 days in a year.
Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) is working on extension of the duration of shoot emergence
through diverse means so as to maximize the supply duration to the processing units.
Management of bamboo groves aims at maximizing the yield of one product or alternatively
to optimize yield of individual products to increase their combined monetary output. All clump
management practices must also aim to sustain long-term productivity of the stand (Virtucio, 1996).
Inappropriate or inadequate culm management jeopardizes bamboo resources worldwide
(Yao, 1994; Fu and Banik, 1995; Perez et al., 1999). Congestion of clumps stresses bamboo plants
to the extent that they may flower and finally die. Even simple management practices such as
removal of dead and dying culms found to have increased productivity of congested clumps
(Sharma, 1980; Lakshmana, 1994).
Optimum standing-culm density varies with bamboo species and is usually much higher for
smaller diameter species than for medium and bigger-diameter species (Kleinhenz and Midmore,
2001). Optimum standing-culm densities for individual species also vary with growing conditions.
In commercial bamboo forests of P. pubescens and P. makinoi in Taiwan, growers maintain greater
standing-culm densities under „poorer‟ conditions to promote higher culm yields and lower
standing-culm densities under „richer‟ conditions to promote greater culm diameter. Siddiqui (1994)
and Shi et al. (1993) recommended standing-culm densities of 1700 – 1900 culms/ha under
- 76 standard conditions but Patil et al. (1994) suggested a standing-culm density of 15000 – 21000
culms/ha on marginal land.
Like total and above ground biomass, shoot biomass may also vary substantially within
individual species, even when cultivated at the same site. Due to high genetic variability, shoot
production may vary enormously. Kiang et al. (1976) measured yields of edible shoots ranging
from 7.4 to 20.3 kg/clump/yr i.e., 0.74 to 2.03 t/ha/yr with 100 clumps/ha in different strains of D.
latiflorus growing in one site. Although D. latiflorus may have a yield potential up to 41 t/ha of
edible shoots per year. For a well managed reasonable stands (2225 culms/ha for larger and 900012000 culms/ha for small to medium sized 3-4 yr old), the ranges of production are 10-20 t/ha and
10-30 t/ha in monopidial and sympodial bamboos respectively (Kishwan & Nautiyal, 2008).
It is well known that annual yield of a bamboo clump depends on the number of new culms
produced each year.
Young culms contribute greatly to the health of the clump through
photosynthesis in their new leaves. The foods they synthesize are partly consumed by leaves but
the greater proportion is transported to the rhizomes, stored as energy and is converted into next
year‟s new shoots (Zhaohua and Yang, 2004). Thus a „too old‟ or „too young‟ age structure of a
stand may constrain stand productivity through decreases in the photosynthetic capacity of the
canopy or in the photosynthetic active leaf area, respectively (Kleinhenz and Midmore, 2001).
Lakshmana (1990) showed that 1 year old standing culms contributed 77% to annual production of
new culms in B. arundinacea while 2-yr old culms 20% and culms of above 2 yr old only 3%.
A good clum structure for plantation devoted to shoot production is in the ratio of 4:4:2 for
1st, 2nd and 3rd yr respectively and 50-60% of the shoot can be harvested every year. At harvesting, a
shoot may contain 80-90% moisture and the edible content is typically around 30%.
So removal of all new shoots cause loss of clump vigour and root stock becomes depleted of
nutrients and for larger yields it is advantageous for the intending farmer to have plantations of
varying ages if consistent supply of fresh shoots is required. It is a marketing advantage to have a
number of plantations producing shoots in sequence.
In contrast to other soil physical and chemical properties, nutrient availability can be
managed comparatively easily through fertilization. It is generally agreed that fertilization can have
dramatic impacts on bamboo productivity under „poor‟ site conditions and under minimal
management.
Nutrient management must not only satisfy requirements for yield but also for quality of
harvested parts. Very little research has been conducted on the effects of fertilizer application on
many quality parameters of fresh edible shoots and bamboo timber. There is, however, a general
trend that with more N, P and K applied, total yields of shoots
are higher but their diameter is
- 77 reduced (Hong and Jiang, 1986; Hong, 1994). For edible shoots, higher N decreases but P increases
sugar content in P. pubescens (Hong, 1994). According to Zhu et al. (1991) N, P and K enhances
amino acid content, N increases hydrolytic acids and lower free tyrosine of canned shoots.
As already mentioned, a shoot stand consumes more mineral nutrients than timber stand.
Thus it is also essential to rake away some portion of the leaf-litter and mulch regularly in order to
facilitate penetration of manures, fertilizers and water into the root area around the clump.
Silicon has a special role in the nutrition of bamboo. However, for production edible shoots,
Si may prevent shoot development and reduce quality by increasing fibre content (Hamada, 1982;
Hong, 1994; Fu and Banik, 1995). As for many other crops, bamboo responds more favourably to
split application of nutrients throughout the year than to a single annual dressing (Raina et al.,
1988). Regular heavy fertilization and manuring at least one month prior to the shoot production
period have been suggested by many experts (Zhaohua and Yang, 2004; Thanarak, 1996; Fang et
al. 1997a; Fu et al. 1991b; Farrelly, 1984).
There is no consensus on the preferable fertilizer form for bamboo shoot production.
Although response in bamboo plants is slower immediately after application, organic fertilizers
exert a longer-lasting effect on fertility of bamboo soils than inorganic fertilizers (Wang et al.,
1985). For intensive production of shoots and timber, a combination of organic and inorganic
fertilizers integrated with other crop management practices, may be the optimum solution. Liu and
Pan (1994) reported 14.7 times more output in P. praecox shoot production with high application
rates of inorganic fertilizers @ 750 kg N/ha than untreated plants in China. Lin (1995)
recommended applying fertilizers as spot dressings around clumps for immediate effects before the
shoot season and broadcasting fertilizers away from clumps for longer-term effects after the shoot
season. There is no published diagnostic criterion for nutrient levels in bamboo. However,
monitoring and maintaining certain concentrations of nutrients such as N in leaves may be an
alternative to fertilization schemes based upon fixed fertilizer rates and application schedules. It is
seen that 1-yr old leaves are the suitable test tissues (Zhao and Wu, 1997).
Important management techniques employed in bamboo stands are tillage, use of covers and
mulches, and culm management. These measures are aimed at improvement of soil conditions
mainly. Application of nutrients to the soil through fertilization is another important management
technique which shows remarkable impacts on bamboo productivity in India (Lakshmana, 1994),
Japan (Suzuki and Narita, 1975), China (Hong, 1987), Malaysia (Ahmad and Haron, 1994), and
Indonesia (Widjaja, 1991). Seedlings and young plants require less nutrients than mature plants,
due to their absolute lower nutrient absorption capacity.
- 78 Tapping of available resources, technology development and value addition may lead to
develop huge market potential for bamboo shoots in India for boosting export and socio-economic
upliftment.
6. Results and Discussion:
1. Fertilizer effect:
A. Experiment of fertilizer as treatment at Palashbari
Table1: Data (change in percentage) of different parameters for B. tulda (2009) over control(T1)
TR1T2
TR1T3
TR1T4
TR1T5
TR1T6
TR1T7
CULM HEIGHT
(M)
-0.540540541
2.702702703
0.540540541
0
2.702702703
1.081081081
CULM
diameter (MM)
6.513128474
5.296109372
-6.548265508
0.581358206
0.255542069
3.925765029
Internodal length
(CM)
1.691331924
1.479915433
4.016913319
-0.634249471
0.845665962
8.033826638
Total no. of new culms
71.42857143
85.71428571
64.28571429
142.8571429
114.2857143
128.5714286
Table-2: Data(change in percentage) of different parameters for B. nutans (2009) over
control(T1)
TR1T2
TR1T3
TR1T4
TR1T5
TR1T6
TR1T7
CULM HEIGHT
(M)
-0.558659218
0.558659218
CULM diameter
(MM)
-3.633662029
-2.144400919
Internodal length
(CM)
-1.62469537
4.833468725
Total no. of new
culms
17.64705882
32.35294118
2.234636872
1.117318436
4.469273743
2.234636872
1.958665406
-4.839254356
-7.65568013
-14.03822775
7.75792039
4.752233956
2.640129976
-7.148659626
0
97.05882353
97.05882353
35.29411765
Table-3: Data(change in percentage) of different parameters for B. Balcooa (2009) over
control(T1)
TR1T2
TR1T3
TR1T4
TR1T5
TR1T6
TR1T7
CULM HEIGHT
(M)
-5.14019
-5.60748
-3.27103
-3.73832
-6.07477
-6.07477
CULM
diameter (MM)
0.615751
1.559197
-2.6764
3.366808
-1.40592
-0.53383
Internodal length (CM)
1.983003
-1.983
2.832861
0.283286
-0.56657
0
Total no. of new culms
-33.33333333
-30.3030303
51.51515152
-3.03030303
6.060606061
33.33333333
- 79 -
The initial treatment was applied on 2009 & 2010, therefore the effect will be seen from 2010
onwards.
- 80 Table-4: Data(change in percentage) of different parameters of B. tulda (2010) over control(T1)
CULM
HEIGHT
(M)
CULM
diameter
(MM)
Internodal
length (CM)
Total no. of new culms
TR1T2
7.297297
-1.22486
2.989772
61.29032258
TR1T3
5.945946
-0.99296
10.30685
41.93548387
TR1T4
0.162162
4.374482
2.793076
29.03225806
TR1T5
3.72973
-3.70051
0.236035
122.5806452
TR1T6
4.594595
-2.34091
-1.88828
100
TR1T7
14.05405
1.46469
2.675059
64.51612903
Table-5: Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B. nutans (2010) over control(T1)
TR1T2
CULM
HEIGHT
(M)
-8.98618
CULM
diameter
(MM)
1.579508
Internodal
length (CM)
-2.15272
TR1T3
-8.75576
-2.82394
-3.33063
141.6666667
TR1T4
-12.6728
-6.64536
0.528026
91.66666667
TR1T5
-10.5991
-4.57292
-1.19821
116.6666667
TR1T6
-8.75576
1.206663
4.488221
233.3333333
TR1T7
-12.212
5.878365
1.340374
316.6666667
Total no. of new culms
175
Table-6: Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B. balcooa(2010) over control(T1)
CULM
HEIGHT
(M)
CULM
diameter
(MM)
Internodal
length (CM)
Total no. of new
culms
TR1T2
-3.56698
1.79617
-1.7524
-36.11111111
TR1T3
10.57652
-4.29512
0.62182
-30.55555556
TR1T4
-2.1153
-3.37683
-1.38496
27.77777778
TR1T5
-0.87101
0.47301
0.480497
2.777777778
TR1T6
-9.58109
-1.82945
-0.25438
-5.555555556
TR1T7
-2.94484
-4.22857
3.448276
30.55555556
- 81 -
- 82 Table-7: Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B. tulda (2011) over control(T1)
CULM
HEIGHT
(M)
CULM
diameter
(MM)
Internodal
length (CM)
Total no. of new culms
TR1T2
10.05291
1.641414
1.983471
20
TR1T3
7.407407
2.272727
5.950413
17.5
TR1T4
4.761905
3.146044
5.289256
20
TR1T5
7.936508
-2.61995
-0.66116
85
TR1T6
6.878307
2.304293
0.330579
90
TR1T7
14.28571
4.387626
0.495868
25
Table-8: Data(change in percentage) of different parameters of B. nutans(2011) over control(T1)
CULM
HEIGHT
(M)
TR1T2
CULM
diameter
(MM)
Internodal
length (CM)
Total no. of new
culms
-9.9115
-2.467
122.2222
122.2222222
TR1T3
-8.40708
-1.93903
83.33333
83.33333333
TR1T4
-9.95575
-4.99371
105.5556
105.5555556
TR1T5
-6.19469
-4.19233
116.6667
116.6666667
TR1T6
-3.89381
4.217473
122.2222
122.2222222
TR1T7
-10.8407
7.423004
227.7778
227.7777778
Table-9: Data(change in percentage) of different parameters of B. balcooa(2011) over control(T1)
CULM
HEIGHT
(M)
CULM
diameter
(MM)
Internodal
length (CM)
Total no. of new
culms
TR1T2
-1.98413
-8.6058
-0.41841
-3.125
TR1T3
9.126984
-7.34886
-2.09205
9.375
TR1T4
-2.18254
-9.98612
-0.69735
68.75
TR1T5
-3.96825
-2.77221
2.37099
28.125
TR1T6
-6.54762
-6.19602
-3.48675
18.75
TR1T7
0
-3.71684
-1.67364
68.75
- 83 -
- 84 Table-10: Data(change in percentage) of bamboo species on overall response of treatments
TR1T2
TR1T3
TR1T4
TR1T5
TR1T6
TR1T7
B. tulda
B. nutans
B. balcooa
32.9791271
122.883598
-24.189815
30.5961417
103.571429
-17.161195
16.344086
87.1693122
49.3476431
101.54649
125.396825
9.29082492
95.6862745
156.613757
6.41835017
41.6034156
224.338624
44.212963
Above figure and tables (Table-4,5,6 & Fig-4,5,6) indicates that the parameter “total
numbers of new culms” of B. tulda is significant above control i.e. T1 at the treatment level T5
(122.58%). However, in case of B. nutans and B. balcooa , T7 shows the better result 316% and 30
% respectively than control. It indicates that we expect much better result in case of B. balcooa if
increase the fertilizer level. Table-7,8,9 and figure-7,8,9 shows that increasing rate in B. balcooa is
70 % which is much higher than previous year after application of 2nd dose. However, the effect of
treatments on other parameters is not significant in comparison to control.
If we consider the overall performance of these bamboo species with regards to fertilizer
response in Palashbari site the B. nutans shows much higher performance than other two species
(Figure-10).
- 85 -
B. Experiment of fertilizer as treatment at Titabor
Table-11: Data(change in percentage) of different parameters of B. tulda(2009) over
control(T1)
TREATMENTS
TR1T2
TR1T3
TR1T4
TR1T5
TR1T6
TR1T7
CULM
HEIGHT
(M)
0.881262
1.113173
2.411874
1.855288
2.96846
4.638219
CULM
diameter
(MM)
0.101606
2.183732
7.924462
3.028331
8.362638
8.648404
Internodal
length
(CM)
-0.95782
6.951989
-1.74431
-6.04637
6.652217
-3.15773
number of new
CULMS
-50
-29.16666667
12.5
37.5
-16.66666667
45.83333333
Table-12: Data of different parameters of B. nutans(2009) over control(T1)
TREATMENTS
TR1T2
TR1T3
TR1T4
TR1T5
TR1T6
TR1T7
CULM
HEIGHT
(M)
-2.05128
-0.51282
-2.5641
-0.51282
-2.05128
0
CULM
diameter
(MM)
11.61185
12.55679
13.42904
6.687261
13.13829
13.89242
Internodal
length
(CM)
2.998696
4.030856
3.650587
-0.04346
2.998696
0.391134
number of new
CULMS
-39.28571429
-32.14285714
-35.71428571
10.71428571
21.42857143
3.571428571
Table-13: Data of different parameters of B. balcooa(2009) over control(T1)
TREATMENTS
TR1T2
CULM
HEIGHT
(M)
CULM
diameter
(MM)
Internodal
length
(CM)
number of new
CULMS
3.9801
13.23229
3.203435
-2.564102564
TR1T3
-0.49751
12.67435
1.486129
89.74358974
TR1T4
2.487562
5.458434
7.001321
17.94871795
TR1T5
-1.49254
6.239539
-1.0568
102.5641026
TR1T6
1.492537
19.695
6.472919
38.46153846
TR1T7
0.995025
20.06695
3.698811
171.7948718
- 86 -
- 87 Treatment was applied on 2009 and 2010 therefore we expect the result from 2010 onwards.
Table-14: Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B. tulda(2010) over control(T1)
TREATMENTS
TR1T2
TR1T3
TR1T4
TR1T5
TR1T6
TR1T7
CULM
HEIGHT
(M)
-34.3101
0.31746
-0.65934
3.687424
-1.48962
-1.88034
CULM
diameter
(MM)
-33.2805
4.471887
5.286082
2.14314
2.34607
7.523263
Internodal
length (CM)
-31.16355
-1.220504
0.895037
0.471928
2.034174
0.634662
number of new
CULMS
-35.29411765
-35.29411765
5.882352941
47.05882353
76.47058824
82.35294118
Table-15: Data(change in percentage) of different parameters of B. nutans(2010) over control(T1)
TREATMENTS
TR1T2
TR1T3
TR1T4
TR1T5
TR1T6
TR1T7
CULM
HEIGHT
(M)
0
1.70068
1.887755
1.581633
3.010204
5.408163
CULM
diameter
(MM)
14.52329
10.99346
12.94111
12.8872
17.43642
13.40315
Internodal
length
(CM)
2.362777
1.126863
0.327154
2.344602
1.308615
2.268266
number of new
CULMS
-58.62068966
-24.13793103
-37.93103448
24.13793103
-20.68965517
50
Table-16: Data(change in percentage) of different parameters of B. balcooa(2010) over
control(T1)
TREATMENTS
TR1T2
CULM
HEIGHT
(M)
CULM
diameter
(MM)
Internodal
length (CM)
number of new
CULMS
9.294032
18.49182
-2.285714
28.57142857
TR1T3
5.414847
14.83924
-6
117.8571429
TR1T4
8.005822
15.42284
1.857143
71.42857143
TR1T5
1.382824
10.60016
-5.428571
128.5714286
TR1T6
0.385735
18.06313
-4.285714
128.5714286
TR1T7
16.47016
19.77786
-6.857143
314.2857143
- 88 -
- 89 Table-17: Data(change in percentage) of different parameters of B. tulda(2011) over control(T1)
TR1T2
TR1T3
TR1T4
TR1T5
TR1T6
TR1T7
CULM HEIGHT
(M)
3.29982259
-0.437610881
2.424600828
3.181549379
0.768775872
0.295683028
CULM diameter
(MM)
-6.474854886
2.2175219
6.539564802
-0.143907127
-10.02424207
-0.29843827
Internodal length
(CM)
-2.376903302
-4.05378683
-0.810757366
-5.477555863
-0.336167688
-1.522641883
NEW
CULMS
-20.8333333
-29.1666667
-4.16666667
25
87.5
41.66666667
Table-18: Data(change in percentage) of different parameters of B. nutans(2011) over control(T1)
TR1T2
TR1T3
TR1T4
TR1T5
TR1T6
TR1T7
CULM
HEIGHT (M)
8.504398827
3.421309873
1.906158358
0.586510264
5.083088954
3.861192571
CULM diameter
(MM)
10.15167136
5.858805391
8.519787864
9.602756648
13.77209358
9.527524683
Internodal length
(CM)
1.552795031
2.443064182
-1.552795031
-0.207039337
-2.070393375
-1.242236025
NEW CULMS
50
3.846153846
7.692307692
15.38461538
61.53846154
92.30769231
Table-19: Data(change in percentage) of different parameters of B. balcooa(2011) over
control(T1)
TR1T2
TR1T3
TR1T4
TR1T5
TR1T6
TR1T7
CULM HEIGHT
(M)
2.271805274
-3.651115619
0
-1.054766734
0.567951318
3.448275862
CULM diameter
(MM)
9.594618517
6.240042485
6.620640821
3.168702425
8.603292618
9.58488228
Internodal length
(CM)
0.229885057
-4.310344828
8.477011494
2.729885057
-2.471264368
-4.195402299
NEW
CULMS
15.78947368
55.26315789
73.68421053
50
105.2631579
228.9473684
- 90 -
- 91 Table-20: Data of bamboo species on overall response of treatments in comparison to control
TR1T2
TR1T3
TR1T4
TR1T5
TR1T6
TR1T7
B. tulda
B. nutans
-35.3758 0.997053
-31.2092 -2.57833
4.738562 -5.60323
36.51961 15.40327
49.10131 17.9957
56.61765 52.0667
B. balcooa
19.197729
61.931551
50.190405
61.603656
84.509861
187.76668
Fig-20: Overall performance of bamboo species with regards to treatment in
comparison to control (average change in percentage)
Considering the above tables and figure (Table-14,15,16& Fig-14,15,16) indicates that the
parameter “total numbers of new culms” of B. tulda is significant above control (T1) at the
treatment level T6 and T7 . However, in case of B. nutans and B. balcooa , T7 shows the better
result than control during 2010. During 2011 it is also observed that the performance over control
increasing in the treatment T7 for B.nutans and B. balcooa.
If we consider the overall performance of among three bamboo species with regards to
fertilizer response in Titabor site the performance of the B. balcooa is higher than other two
species (Figure-20).
- 92 -
C.Experiment of fertilizer as treatment at Sotai
Table-21: Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B. tulda(2009) over control(T1)
CULM HEIGHT (M)
CULM diameter
(MM)
Internodal length
(CM)
NEW
CULMS
TR1T2
0.555555556
-1.523642732
-2.870813397
-35.2941176
TR1T3
1.666666667
-4.527145359
1.275917065
-5.88235294
TR1T4
1.111111111
0.218914186
-5.901116427
20.58823529
TR1T5
1.111111111
0.385288967
2.392344498
0
TR1T6
2.222222222
-1.19089317
-0.318979266
44.11764706
TR1T7
3.888888889
2.101576182
-3.03030303
58.82352941
Table-22: Data(change in percentage) of different parameters of B. nutans(2009) over control(T1)
TR1T2
TR1T3
TR1T4
TR1T5
TR1T6
TR1T7
CULM HEIGHT (M)
0.709219858
-3.546099291
0
3.546099291
1.418439716
-2.836879433
CULM diameter
(MM)
-9.356725146
-19.90971955
-13.27528066
-17.05724164
-9.040850301
6.857472148
Internodal length
(CM)
-0.643776824
-1.716738197
5.579399142
-1.502145923
-7.510729614
11.53433476
NEW
CULMS
-35
-35
-35
35
-10
-5
Table-23: Data(change in percentage) of different parameters of B. balcooa(2009) over
control(T1)
TR1T2
TR1T3
TR1T4
TR1T5
TR1T6
TR1T7
CULM HEIGHT (M)
-3.317535545
-5.213270142
1.421800948
-4.265402844
-3.317535545
-3.791469194
CULM diameter
(MM)
-7.611134192
5.035313668
14.84835895
7.428334026
-2.534275031
8.342334857
Internodal length
(CM)
-4.10044501
-2.320406866
-1.144310235
-0.317863954
-5.944055944
-4.1640178
NEW CULMS
45.45454545
84.84848485
66.66666667
160.6060606
136.3636364
81.81818182
- 93 -
- 94 Table-24: Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B. tulda(2010) over control(T1)
TR1T2
TR1T3
TR1T4
TR1T5
TR1T6
TR1T7
CULM HEIGHT (M)
0
0
-1.081081081
-0.540540541
0.27027027
2.162162162
CULM diameter
(MM)
-5.929103953
2.888943593
-2.377268252
-2.059888873
-1.295892531
-4.408144605
Internodal length
(CM)
-1.956425078
1.704461242
-7.707129094
-1.393211798
-3.497850897
-7.766414703
NEW
CULMS
-30.3030303
-3.03030303
24.24242424
33.33333333
69.6969697
72.72727273
Table-25: Data(change in percentage) of different parameters of B. nutans(2010) over control(T1)
CULM HEIGHT (M)
TR1T2
CULM diameter
(MM)
Internodal length
(CM)
NEW CULMS
0
-3.55350901
0.6301608
TR1T3
16.66666667
2.702702703
2.708663855
6.453715776
-16.6666667
TR1T4
-2.702702703
2.222394201
4.476314646
4.166666667
TR1T5
3.378378378
7.290175289
4.932637983
12.5
TR1T6
2.702702703
2.24303164
3.889613212
-8.33333333
TR1T7
2.027027027
17.52505514
4.954367666
0
Table-26: Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B. balcooa (2010) over
control(T1)
CULM HEIGHT (M)
CULM diameter
(MM)
Internodal length
(CM)
NEW CULMS
TR1T2
-5.479452055
4.778145963
2.352941176
-11.3636364
TR1T3
-5.479452055
13.65877314
1.512605042
47.72727273
TR1T4
2.739726027
12.99361513
3.697478992
11.36363636
TR1T5
-4.566210046
5.51200194
3.697478992
100
TR1T6
-4.566210046
2.238745656
3.630252101
47.72727273
TR1T7
-2.283105023
10.28853148
7.731092437
34.09090909
- 95 -
- 96 Table-27: Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B. tulda(2011) over control(T1)
CULM HEIGHT (M)
CULM diameter
(MM)
Internodal length
(CM)
NEW CULMS
SR3T2
2.233766234
-0.971860509
-0.47355959
-28.5714286
SR3T3
2.337662338
4.246785419
0.078926598
11.42857143
SR3T4
0.987012987
-3.865663651
-4.782951855
22.85714286
SR3T5
6.025974026
4.07074346
2.525651144
34.28571429
SR3T6
0.987012987
-2.136096769
-2.762430939
71.42857143
SR3T7
4.415584416
5.475449406
2.430939227
105.7142857
Table-28: Data (change in percentage) of different parameters of B. nutans(2011) over control(T1)
SR3T2
SR3T3
SR3T4
SR3T5
SR3T6
SR3T7
CULM HEIGHT (M)
3.044776119
10.74626866
8.059701493
17.85074627
11.64179104
11.94029851
CULM diameter
(MM)
1.950994492
6.405177326
7.550267278
20.54785228
7.113396467
14.52391936
Internodal length
(CM)
0.152413209
3.83149873
2.561388654
1.397121084
2.349703641
1.820491109
NEW CULMS
29.16666667
4.166666667
12.5
16.66666667
0
12.5
Table-29: Data(change in percentage) of different parameters of B. balcooa (2011) over
control(T1)
CULM HEIGHT (M)
CULM diameter
(MM)
Internodal length
(CM)
NEW CULMS
SR3T2
-2.429149798
-3.786338572
2.611683849
40.47619048
SR3T3
5.263157895
-2.805056454
3.470790378
90.47619048
SR3T4
4.858299595
-5.88094077
6.013745704
21.42857143
SR3T5
12.79352227
-1.265613864
6.013745704
102.3809524
SR3T6
21.29554656
-8.295885067
10.13745704
64.28571429
SR3T7
11.74089069
0.396113883
4.295532646
28.57142857
- 97 -
- 98 Table-30: Data of bamboo species on overall response of treatments in comparison to control
TR1T2
TR1T3
TR1T4
TR1T5
TR1T6
TR1T7
B. tulda
B. nutans B. balcooa
-31.3895 3.611111
24.8557
0.838638 -15.8333 74.350649
22.5626 -6.11111 33.152958
22.53968 21.38889 120.99567
61.74773 -6.11111 82.792208
79.08836
2.5 48.160173
On comparison it is observed that the performance of “total numbers of new
culms” in 2010 in the species B. tulda increases in the T7. Whereas the culm diameter of B. nutans
increases at T7 and total culm numbers increase in T2 & T5. However T5 shows better result in
case of B. balcooa. ( table-24,25,26 & Fig- 24,25,26).
The performance in 2011 in case of B.tulda increases in “total numbers of new culm” over
the control at T7. However the performance of B.nutans shows better result at T2 and in case of
B.balcooa T5 shows higher over the control.
Considering the overall performance of among three species with regards to fertilizer
response in Sotai site the performance “total numbers of new culm” of the B. balcooa is higher
than other two species (Figure-30).
- 99 -
2. Effect of soil mounding, soil loosening and mulching
A. Palashbari
- 100 -
B. Titabor
- 101 -
C. Sotai
- 102 -
In the other experiment the management trial was laid with the treatment combination of
Soil mounding, Soil loosening & Mulching. Soil mounding & Mulching were carried out during
April- May, whereas Soil loosening was done during December.
Since the data for the culm diameter, intermodal length & culm height shows negligible
difference , therefore only the new culm number is considered for analysis. The performance in
T1 ( with mounding, with mulching and soil loosening)& T2 (with mounding, with mulching
and without soil loosening ) shows better result in case of B. balcooa and B.nutans.
The performance of B. nutans is also showing better result in T5( Without mounding ,With
mulching & without loosening ). The mulching given with rotten thatch grass shows maximum
number of shoot emergence in case of B. nutans .
7. Conclusion:
The response of treatments on growth parameter “new culms” is mostly considered and
other parameters are not significantly important. The performance of bamboo species at three
sites on response of different treatments was varied according to the existing available soil
nutrients. The availability of nutrient at the selected site was of low to medium range. Due to the
low range soil nutrient at Sotai,the growth performance for “ New culms” of B. tulda and B.
nutans is poor in compression to B. balcooa.This may be due to higher intake of soil nutrients
than the other species. B. nutans shows the satisfactory result for all the parameters as it is under
establishment period at Sotai.
The performance of B. nutans is higher than other two species at Palasbari site on the
response of maximum treatment level. In case of B. tulda, response of parameter on T5 and T6
which is nearly 100% than control.
The fig-20 reveals that the performance of B. balcooa is significantly higher on T7 not to
the control but also the other treatments. It may be due to clump structure and initial growth
behavior. Therefore, optimum limit of fertilizer application can be ascertained by giving higher
dose of fertilizer. The combinations of fertilizer application together with management practices
will give increase the culm and shoot production.
The variation of three sites in terms of growth parameters is more although the climatic
condition is almost same except soil nutrient. This may be affecting by some extraneous factor
which cannot be possible to estimate.
- 103 -
Data Recording and Marking
Palashbari, Kamrup District
- 104 -
Titabor, Jorhat district
Sotai, jorhat district
- 105 -
Fertilizer treatments
- 106 -
Soil mounding and mulching
Soil loosening
- 107 -
shoot emergence
- 108 -
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Data Recording and Marking
Palashbari, Kamrup District
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Titabor, Jorhat district
Sotai, jorhat district
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Fertilizer treatments
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Soil mounding and mulching
Soil loosening
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shoots emergence