Rapid multiplication of Bambool (Bambusa heterostachya): the effect of culm age and length of cuttings on sprouting

Abstract

The effect of age and length of bamboo culms on sprouting of culm cuttings was studied in a field experiment at the Oil Palm Research Institute (OPRI), Kusi. The study was conducted as a factorial combination of four age groups (<6 months, 6 months to 1 year, 1 year to 2 years and 2 years to 3 years) and three lengths (1 node, 2 nodes and 3 nodes) of culm cuttings. The 12 treatment combinations were laid out in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. The cuttings made from 1-2 years old culms bearing triple nodes produced significantly (P<0.05) more number of shoot (146) than all the other age group – length of culm combinations. The 1-2 years old culms were found to be superior to the other age groups and produced 69 shoots while 0, 29 and 20 shoots were produced by the less than 6 months old, 6 months to 1 year old and 2 to 3 years old culms, respectively. Whereas only 6 and 24 shoots emerged from the cuttings with single and double nodes, cuttings with triple nodes produced as many as 58 shoots. The study recommends the use of culms cuttings with triple nodes made from 1-2 years old culms for rapid multiplication of bamboo stock.