MORTALITY OF BAMBOO ( DENDROCALAMUS STRICTUS) IN RELATION TO WATERLOGGING AND SALINITY BUILD UP IN CHAMBAL RAVINE

Abstract

N THE CAUSE OF BAMBOO MORTALITY IN CHAMBAL RAVINES AROUND KOTA WERE INVESTIGATED . THE HYDROLOGICAL STUDIES REVEALED THAT THE WATER TABLE IN RAVINE SYSTEM I WAS RISING AND THERE WAS AN AVERAGE RISE OF 71cm IN WATER TABLE WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TWO YEARS, 1970-72 . SOIL INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE SALINITY WAS FAST BUILDING UP IN RAVINE SYSTEM I AS A RESULT OF THE RAVINE BED LEVEL BEING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE WATER- TABLE AND DUE TO THE CAPILLARY FRINGES, A LOT OF WATER EVAPORATED FROM THE SOIL PROFILES, THUS ACCUMULATING LARGE QUANTITIES OF SALTS IN VARYING PROPORTIONS IN DIFFERENT HORIZONS. EC VALUES WERE MORE THAN 20 MMHOS/CM WHERE COMPLETE MORTALITY OF BAMBOO PLANTATIONS WAS OBSERVED. FROM THE VARYING BAMBOO GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF BAMBOO PLANTATION AT DIFFERENT SITES OF RAVINES SYSTEM I WITH VARYING ECe VALUES IT WAS OBSERVED THAT BAMBOOS ( DENDROCALAMUS STRICTUS)APPEAR TO TOLERATE SALINITY UPTO 10mmhos/cm WHEN THE AVERAGE SALINITY LEVEL OF THE SOIL PROFILE DOES NOT GO BEYOND THIS LIMIT.