Abstract

The bamboo multilocational trials in Kerala under NMBA were undertaken by KFRI in the private farm land and Government non-forest lands in Palakkad district. The details of the trials carried out were: 1. Multilocational species trial: Performance of eight species, viz., Bambusa bambos , B. tulda, B. nutans, B. balcooa, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, D. asper, Guadua angustifolia and Ochlandra travancorica. 2. Spacing trials: Effect of different spacing on growth and performance of Ochlandra travancorica 3. Bamboo-based cropping systems: Intercropping in Bambusa bambos plots 4. Clump management: Adoption of different practices for management of congested Bambusa bambos clumps. Plantations were raised in an area of 2.97 ha at different locations in Palakkad district Multilocational species trials: 9600 sq. m. at Vilayannur, Spacing trials: 11463 sq. m. at Dhoni, Bamboo-based cropping systems: 3888 sq. m. at Kinassery and Clump management: 4725 sq. m. at Nellikkad. Observations were recorded at six monthly intervals for a period of four years. When the performance of three different types of planting stock was compared, rooted cuttings (B. balcooa, B. nutans and D. hamiltonii) performed better than seedlings and TC plants. The highest biomass per culm was observed in B. balcooa. From the observations made for three years on spacing trial of O. travancoria, it is clear that the seedlings planted at 9m x 4.5m x 4.5 m and 5m x 5 m produced the highest number of culms and thereby the maximum yield. The intercropping with B. bambos was found to be promising in the initial years. The clump management plots are ready for initiating the management activities and further studies are required for arriving at more meaningful conclusions.