Evaluation of Inexpensive Bedding Materials for Culm Cutting of Bambusa balcooa Roxb. and Its Field Performance

Background: Bambusa balcooa Roxb. is a species with multipurpose utility and economic value. Natural forests are being depleted due to human activities so it is necessary to grow important bamboo species in plantations. Effective propagation methods are required to generate large quantities of material for planting and culm cutting has been found to be very promising modified vegetative method. However, suitable low-cost bedding materials are required to ensure the process is efficient and cost effective. Methods: Five different bedding materials (coarse sand, 50: 50 mixture of coarse sand and soil, soil, vermicompost, vermiculite) were assessed for macro-propagation of B. balcooa Roxb. using a two-nodal culm cutting method during the summer seasons of 2013 and 2014. Results: Coarse sand was shown to be the most economic and easily accessible bedding material for macropropagation of bamboo followed by the mixture of coarse sand: soil. The saplings were withstood in the natural conditions. Conclusions: Coarse sand could be used as bedding material for the successful regeneration of bamboo through macro propagation using Culm with two nodes.