Evaluation of Lowland Bamboo Propagation Techniques in West Hararghe Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Bamboo has diverse utility ranging from construction to delicacy in Asia and Africa, and also several desirable qualities that make it a useful resource compared to many other plants. For example; it uses as food and feed preservative, construction, medicine purpose, natural conservation, charcoal and energy, arts and culture, aesthetic value, financial return and environment protection. Bamboo has additional unique characteristic that a fast growing plant than any other tree species and starts to give utility within three or four years of planting time in the exception of bearing fruits. To give fruit full seed takes a long time that after 50 years old. So to get its utilities has to be raised through various propagation methods. In this trial; propagations with culm cut, offsets cut and branch cut on Dendrocalmus membracius, Dendrocalmus hamlitonii and Oxytenanthera abyssinica bamboo species had been executed in RCBD design with three replications, respectively. So that in this experiment, among the methods of bamboo propagation technique; offset cutting (bamboo rhizome) followed by branch cut had been recommended based on consideration of giving adequate planting materials. The outcomes showed highly significant difference at (p<0.001) level between and within treatments as well as interaction effect based on the given parameters. Regardless of this fact; the highest mean value discovered under Dendrocalmus hamlitonii bamboo species with culm cut planting followed by Dendrocalmus memebranceous with branch cut planting, while the least mean value was recorded under Oxytenanthera abyssinica with culm cut planting based on number of new emerging bamboo shoot parameter. Based on root collar diameter, Length of shoot and number of node parameters, the highest mean value recorded under Dendrocalmus hamlitonii and Dendrocalmus memebranceous with offset cut planting, while the least mean value was recorded under Dendrocalmus hamlitonii with branch cut planting, respectively (Table 2). Despite this fact, the recommend that with offset cut plating for Dendrocalmus hamlitonii and Dendrocalmus memebranceous of bamboo species followed by Oxytenanthera abyssinica. The Culm cut planting parts designated higher mean value for Dendrocalmus hamlitonii bamboo species only, while branch cut planting designated higher mean value for Dendrocalmus memebranceous bamboo species only (Table 2). Generally, the study was propagations of lowland bamboo species (Dendrocalmus membracius, Dendrocalmus hamlitonii and Oxytenanthera abyssinica) with culm cut, offsets cut and branch cut techniques under Mechara and for related agro ecology zones is trustworthy so, the research advocated these technologies with further economic and livelihood benefits for different stakeholders through expanding the plantation materials with full package.