Planting and Fertilization

Spacing recommended for mono-specific bamboo plantations is 10 m x 10 m. Propagules can be planted in pits of size 45 cm x 45 cm x 45 cm. Fertilizers may be applied @ 40 g N, 10 g P2 O5 and 75 g K2 O per plant per year in 1-2 year old plantations.

Competitive interactions in bamboobased agroforestry

Being perennial grasses, bamboos have higher root length densities than dicots. Thus in mixed species system, bamboos may outcompete the field crops or other tree crops grown in association. However, interspecific competition in bamboo-based agroforestry systems can be overcome by planting crop 8-9 m away from the bamboo clumps. Trenching (30-40 cm wide and 50-60 cm deep at 5-6 m 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 interspecific competition. Pruning up to a height of 1.5 above the ground is recom-mended in plantations of four year and above. Also remove the dry and dead culms from the centre of the clump to reduce congestion.