MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR ANNUAL HARVESTING OF DENDROCALAMUS STRICTUS NEES. PLANTATIONS IN RAVINES OF AGRA

Abstract

THE PAPER DEALS WITH A STUDY ON ANNUAL FELLING CYCLE WITH 4 NUMBERS OF VIGOUR (OLD) CULMS PER CLUMP VIZ ZERO (N0) AND 6(N6) UNDERTAKEN AT AGRA DURING 1984-89 TO DEVELOP SUITABLE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR BAMBOOS (DENDROCALAMUS STRICTUS) . ABOUT 60 % OF THE STUDY PERIOD SUFFERED FROM CLIMATIC ASSAULTS AS 1986 , 1987, AND 1989 WERE DROUGHT YEARS. THE TREATMENTS OF VIGOUR CULMS DID NOT AFFECT THE NUMBER OF NEW RECRUITS BUT IT WAS RHYTHMIC WITH THE QUANTA OF RAINFALL I.E THE NUMBER OF NEW RECRUITS INCREASED OR DECREASED WITH RISE AND FALL OF ANNUAL RAINFALL. THE VIGOUR OF THE CLUMP WAS DISTINCT AND IMPRESSIVE IN THE GROWTH -IN- HEIGHT OF CULMS. THE CLUMPS UNDER THE TREATMENT OF N0 AND N2 HAD ONLY 42% CULMS BEYOND 5m LENGTH AS COMPARED TO 62 AND 55% OF THOSE UNDER N4 AND N6. THE GROWTH OF 3.9 , 15 AND 21 % CULMS BEYOND 7m LENGTH UNDER THE TREATMENTS OF N0, N2 , N4 AND N6 , RESPECTIVELY VINDICATE THE MERITS OF HIGHER NUMBER OF VIGOUR CULMS. FURTHER THE DESCENDING ORDER OF MORTALITY OF CLUMPS I.E 19.8, 13.2 , 9.9 AND 3.3 % UNDER THE TREATMENT OD N0,N2 ,N4 AND N6 , RESPECTIVELY QUITE DECISIVELY BROUGHT OUT THAT THE BIGGER NUMBER OF VIGOUR CULMS IS ESSENTIAL TO WITHSTAND THE PROLONGED DROUGHTS, A COMMON CLIMATIC PHENOMENON IN THE RAVINOUS TRACTS OF TROPICAL INDIA. DESPITE SUCH HOSTILITIES THE GROSS ECONOMIC RETURN OF ABOUT RS 1600/HA/YR IS FASCINATING ENOUGH TO LURE THE LAND MANAGERS FOR RAISING BAMBOO IN RAVINES.