Farmer-friendly technique for multiplication of bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris)

Abstract

Bambusa vulgaris was multiplied by burying whole culms during 2014 and 2015 at the Research Farm of ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi. Two-year-old bamboo culms produced higher number (165) of shoots than 1-year (114) and 3-year-old culms (57). The culm planting method resulted in prolific rooting pattern during monsoon season, and on an average 5.7 rooted plants were obtained from every alternate node. Rooted sprouts were separated from each productive node along with fibrous roots attached to it and were planted in polythene bags as new plantlets. This method of planting was found impressive for developing live bamboo fence and producing a large number of plants from scarce planting material. This technique promises a large number of planting material and readily acceptable technology to the farmers.