Xploring Philosophy & Religion: Bamboo Stem Plantation

Monday, January 21, 2013

Bamboo Stem Plantation

The valuable Bamboo plant has many uses. It can be used to carry water, as building material, for making furniture, craft work and to control erosion on riverbanks. But bamboo is always in short supply because it is not usually cultivated by farmers. It just grows wild. Most types of bamboo grow shoots from underground stems called rhizomes. These shoots grow into tall above-ground stems.

If you want to propagate bamboo it is important to follow the correct method. Take cuttings from tall trunks in a clump that is not more than three years old. You will get the best results if you take cuttings from the middle part of the trunk. A trunk 10 metres high will give about four cuttings.

Each cutting should have two full, undamaged internodes and a half internode.

Planting

Plant the cuttings as soon as they are cut because they are sensitive to shock, which can result in poor germination or complete failure. Light sandy loam soils are best for bamboo growing.

Allow plenty of space for the cuttings to develop. Plant them vertically, with the half internode above ground. Apply a seal of moist clay to the top cut edge of the bamboo without covering the hole. The clay will act as a disinfectant. Pour two cups of water into the top of the bamboo cutting. Keep adding water regularly until roots and green shoots develop at the nodes.

Other Method

You can also use longer cuttings with four to six internodes (see diagram below). Plant these horizontally, after making a hole in the middle internode. Keep this hole filled with water until the nodes produce roots and new growth. Cuttings can also be made from aerial shoots that develop on the tall trunks. These cuttings must have at least two and a half internodes.These methods can be used to establish community forests or in reforestation programmes. Let’s keep growing bamboo!