Productivity of highland bamboo (Yushania alpina) across different plantation niches in West Amhara, Ethiopia

Abstract Highland bamboo as part of Agroforestry practice is planted and managed by farmers in various plantation niches. However, the planation niches which are types of management on the productivity of bamboo is not yet understood. The research evaluates the impact of plantation niches on the productivity of highland bamboo in potential bamboo growing areas of West Amhara, Ethiopia. Farta, Banja, Dega Damot, and Sinan districts were selected for the study to represent potential highland bamboo growing areas in West Amhara. In each district, three kebeles (smaller administrative units in Ethiopia) were also selected based on their resource status and prevalence growing niches. Finally, a total of 324 sample plots were randomly selected over study areas for data collection. The Productivity and basal area of the bamboo stand were estimated by using DBH of the culm. Whereas the volume of bamboo stands was estimated using DBH, the height of culm breast, and total culm size. The diameter distribution of bamboo culms along plantation niches shows positively skewed between 4 and 8 cm ranges. The standing stock of culm ranges from 19,188 ± 336 culms ha−1 to 23,129 ± 390 culms ha−1 in woodlot and riverbank niches, respectively. The biomass storage capacity of highland bamboo varies from 92.2 ± 4.2 ton ha−1 to 118.6 ± 4.2 ton ha−1 total dry weight (TDW) from the roadside to riverbank plantation niches. Generally bamboo has a higher potential of accumulating huge dry weight, which is a good indicator of its potential for carbon sequestration and environmental protection. Therefore, it needs great attention from respective stakeholders to get twin benefits of bamboo as production and climate change mitigation.