Distribution, Growth and Biological production of Bamboos in lower and Mid hills of Himachal Pradesh

The present investigation was carried out in the low and mid hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh where bamboo occurs naturally and also raised by the farming community in abundance. The study revealed that only two genera viz., Dendrocalamus and Bambusa are present in the entire study area with a total of five species D. hamiltonii, D. hookeri var. parishii, D. strictus, Bambusa arundinacea and B. nutans from 300 m asl to 1700m asl. Culm and total biomass was highest at the 500-900 m asl elevation range for D. hamiltonii, D. strictus, D. hookeri var. parishii and B. nutans. However, in B. arundinacea, culm and total biomass was highest at 900-1300 m asl elevation range. All the species recorded their highest culm biomass at the 500-900 m asl elevation range.