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BEEMA BAMBOO (Bambusa Balcooa)

 

            Bamboo belong to the grass family known as Poaceae. Hence, it also known as the giant woody plant with grass and “GREEN GOLD”. They are evergreen and highly versatile trees. Also, bamboos are capable to grow on variety of soils from different parent rocks. It is a form of a grass which differ according to its species varying up to 8 inch in diameter. They also differ according to the size if the culms. Also the size, shape and texture of the culms are different as per the varieties of species, some have thorny culms and others have striping patterns. Similar to the culms, leaves can also be different size, shape and texture (fuzzy or rough i.e., almost dangerous to handle).

            The production of bamboo is highest in China which contributes about 65%of total world production. India stands second after China in bamboo production because bamboo in India is not only grown in the forest region but also in small villages. Assam produces the maximum number of bamboo in India which has capacity to substitute wood in the coming years. It is roughly estimated that about 4.6 million tonnes of bamboo is produced in India annually out of which approximately 1.9 million tonnes is used in the pulp industries.

            It is believed that there are about 1400 species of bamboo all over the world out of which there are 22 genera that has been cultivated in India. From the 22 species grown, 19 are native to India and 3 are exotic species. Though the bamboo is a flowering plant, its flowering frequency depends upon the species. Below are the some of the species that has taken over in India.

 

a)      Bambusa Balcooa:

It is commonly called as the “Beema Bamboo” which is native to Indian sub-continent. It is mostly found in West Bengal and north east region of India. The common name used in Assam as Bhaluka, West Bengal as Balku and Wamnah in Meghalaya. It has a very thick walled tree and culmping bamboo. It is also a fast growing and thorn less tree with high biomass content (energy value-4500 kcal/kg).

Beema bamboo has a capacity to grow up to height of 25 meters (80 feet) and diameter of 8-15 cm (6 inches) with dark green culms. The culms length varies from 12-20 cm and internode length ranges from 20-40 cm. The leaves are on an average 15-30cm long and 25-50 mm broad. Due to its thorn less characteristics it makes harvesting easier.

b)      Bambusa Nutans

c)      Bambusa Polymorpha

d)      Bambusa Vulgaris (common bamboo)

e)      Bambusa Bambos

f)       Bambusa Multiplex

g)      Bambusa Nana

h)      Bambusa Tulda

i)        Dendrocalamus Brandisii

j)        Dendrocalamus Hamiltonii

k)      Dendrocalamus Giganteus

l)        Dendrocalamus Strictus

m)   Gigantochloa Atroviolacea

n)      Melocanna Bambusoides

o)      Schizostachyum Dullooa

p)      Thyrsostachys Oliveri

 

CULTIVATION OF BEEMA BAMBOO

1)      Climatic conditions: Beema bamboo can be grown in a large ranging climatic conditions from tropical to temperate. Nevertheless, it gives maximum production and healthy growth in tropical and sub-tropical climate (approximately 3 inches/day). The altitude for bamboo must be at the sea level up to 600 m. Though beema bamboo is adaptable and hardy plant they have least capacity to tolerant of water stagnation condition during the 1^st year of growth. The amount of rainfall require must not be less than 1200 mm/year. The humidity ought to be between 75-85% with a wind velocity less than 80 km/hr. higher wind velocity can cause problems in development stage.

 

2)      Soil requirement: The best yield of beema bamboo is found in deep, well-drained and fertile soils with good drainage. They usually prefer neutral to acidic soil with pH ranging from 4.5 to 6. However, beema bamboo can be grown in wide range of soils from black cotton soil to degraded soil except for rock-strewn soils. The soil having high water table also works best for bamboo.

 

3)      Land Preparation: The land ought to be free of bushes, grasses and other unwanted plants. In order to get better drainage system the land must be ploughed thoroughly and as deeply as possible. The beema bamboo water requirement is similar to that of sugarcane for maximum growth. Although, it does not like to get submerged in water or in wet feet condition. For sowing the seedlings the land must be prepared with the pits and nutrients. The excavated soil from the pit is filled at the bottom of the pits whereas the top of the pits are filled with FYM (farm yard manure).

The size of pits are according to the areas. For heavy rainfall areas pits of size 60 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm are dug whereas for well rooted seedlings 30cm x 30cm x 30cm size pits are dug. For scanty rainfall pits of size 1m are dug to prevent micro catchment. The spacing between the seedlings ought to be 3 x 1.2 m which accommodates about 2500 plants/ha.

4)      Propagation and Planting: The right season to plant beema bamboo is usually as soon as the monsoon begins, under rain fed conditions. For propagation of bamboo it can be done with seeds, wildings, offsets, cutting and tissue cultured plants. However, it must be first raised in the nursery before transplanting it to the field. As mentioned above bamboo does bare flowers in rare species after 30-40 years of duration due to which propagation with seeds is not practiced for larger areas. Propagation by seeds grows seedling within 8-12 months which needs more water and nutrient supply.

The most common ad traditional method used for propagation is bamboo offset also called as vegetative propagation. The offset is the lower part of the bamboo culms with 3 to 5 nodes, rhizome and roots together. The offset required much care. The offset of 1 year ought to be dug and cut into 1 m size and can be planted.

The culm cuttings and rhizome can also be propagated which are raised in nursery bed for a year and later the seedlings can be transferred to main field. The poly bag having seedlings are carefully cut ensuring that the root ball does not break.

5)      Intercultural Operations: Weed growing in the field prevents the growth of bamboo by absorbing the nutrients. Therefore, regular weeding is recommended. About 60 cm of area around the bamboo should be kept free from weeds. In dry areas or less rainy areas, mulching helps to prevent soil water evaporation. Mulching is also beneficial for the bamboo shoots to prevent from direct sunlight which improves shoot quality.

Also, the unnecessary culms are to be removed to promote the growth of healthy shoots. Intercropping can also be done during the first 3 years of planting bamboo.

6)      Fertilizers, Pesticides and Diseases: Bamboo does require excess nutrients and constant supply. For such constant supply, 13:13:13 special fertilizer is used which gives bamboo a constant supply of nitrogen and potassium slowly into the soil. The nitrogen gives the green color to the bamboo and also the healthy growth of new shoots. To reach the maximum growth of the culmps of bamboo macronutrient silica is used.

The bamboo are mostly attacked by the fungi, which attacks the rhizome and culms of the plants. The most common pests that attack are the defoliators, sap suckers and shoot and culm borers. The regular checking of pest presence is required to control it and prevent the usage of various chemical pesticides harmful for the plant growth.

The disease are categoriesed according to the growth stages of plants:

Diseases in	Diseases	Symptoms	Remedies
Bamboo stands (new culms)	Rot of emerging culms	Causes in high rainfall areas.	Removal of the culmps before the onset of monsoon (March-April)
	Rot of growing culms	Sap oozing out due to more soaking in water. Infection spread results in testing and bending od culms.	§  Spraying insecticide, monocrotophos 0.5% a.i. §  By application of Bavistin or Mancozeb at 0.2% on infected culms.
	Bamboo blight	Premature death of culms which slowly spreads downwards.	§  Cutting and removal of blight bamboo culms. §  Application of carbendazim combined with mancozeb (carbendazim 0.25% a.i. + mancozeb 0.3% a.i.)
Nursery diseases	Damping Off	Emergence while it is succulent.	Adopting proper nursery practices Seeds dressing with fungicides is effective.
	Web Blight	Effects the 20-30 days old seedlings. Seedling stems discoloration and foliage death.	Application of fungicide Carboxin 0.2% a.i.
	Leaf Rust	Death of the seedlings	§  Dusting Sulphur based fungicides §  Avoiding shade over nursery beds.

 

For more information on diseases management visit 

www.frienvis.nic.in/WriteReadData/UserFiles/file/Content-Page/Books/Bamboo/Diseases-of-Bamboos.pdf

7)      Irrigation: On the nursery beds, the irrigation must be done regularly. Irrigate the bamboo immediately after transplanting. It is noticed that water stagnation doesn’t work well for bamboo plants hence draining the soil during heavy rainfall is must. It is suggested to water the plants regularly during the 1^st few months because the plants take time to establish in to the soil. After the plants gets firm, the irrigation can be done at intervals and increase as per time.

 

8)      Harvesting: The harvesting of bamboo plants can be started at the fifth year. In case if the plantation is done for commercial use, harvesting id carried out from the sixth year. At the time of 1^st harvest usually 6 culms can be harvested followed by 7 culms in the second harvest and soon. The harvesting of culms must be done for the center in order to let the new culms produce outward. Also, it is taken care that the strong culms are left so they can support the upcoming new culms and prevent them from bending. Culm cutting is suggested to be done during the dry seasons and not during rains. A sharp knife or saw can be used for harvesting of bamboo.

 

9)      Post-harvesting: Preserving the harvested bamboo becomes necessary to prevent them from decaying and attacking by powder post beetles. There are some chemical and non-chemical ways in order to store the harvested bamboo as mentioned below:

·         Painting the bamboos with water repellents ca prevent it from mould, insects and rots.

·         Also, to avoid fungi, painting bamboo’s with slaked lime is useful which delays water absorption.

·         Soaking the bamboo in mud or stagnant water creates a resistant to the borers. After which it can be dried in shades.

·         To increases the self-life of culms, the bottom part of it ought to be soaked in preservative solution (10% copper sulphate).

 

ECONOMICS:

Assuming the spacing 3 x 1.2m about 1000 plants can be planted per acre.

Cost of bamboo plant= Rs. 100

Amount of manure and fertilizer required = 17kg/plant (approximately)

Cost of manure and fertilizer = Rs. 25 /kg

Including the cost of planting material, fertilizers, drip irrigation, manures, labour charge, harvesting cost and other miscellaneous cost = Rs. 1,50,000 to 2,00,000/ acre.

·         After harvesting:

o   The no of culms from 1 acre of land = 4000-4800 (approximately considering 10 % morality rate)

o   Weight of each culm = 15 kg

o   Tonnes of bamboo in an acre = 60-70 tonnes

o   Cost of each culms = Rs. 70-150 (varies according to place and quantity)

o   Gross income from culms per acre =Rs. 4,00,000-Rs. 5,00,000

o   Net income= Rs. 2,50,000 to Rs. 3,00,000

In the sixth year the no. of culms increases and simultaneously the income increases as compared to the 5^th year. For the following years also the yield increases therefore it is said that bamboo is a cash crop with low gestation period and faster growth, which gives high economic returns every year.

 

USES:

Unlike other trees bamboo also has many construction benefits and other uses. Some of them are mentioned below:

·         Stems used for building houses, roads, bridges, baskets, fishing floats, agricultural implements in villages.

·       Culms are used as raw material in wood chip industries, paper industries and scaffolding.

·         Leaves are used as fodder.

·         In Some parts young shoots are used as vegetable to eat.

·  

       Bamboo used as sustainable biomass energy conversion material.

 

MARKETING:

As per the uses above, it is mainly used in wood and paper industries as raw materials and also biomass conversion. Not only in industries for personal uses in villages is it also used for maintaining the regular lifestyle with the construction of houses, bridges and other implements. Generally it is only used as locally and sold to the local manufacturing companies.

There is a National Bamboo Mission that has been going on across India which has many small business of bamboo products. For more information visit www.nbm.nic.in/

 

REFERENCES:

https://www.agrifarming.in/bamboo-farming-project-report-cost-profit

https://krishijagran.com/agripedia/a-complete-guide-to-bamboo-cultivation/

https://beemabamboo.blogspot.com/p/cultivation-of-beema.html

http://keralabamboomission.org/mob/English/product/bambusa-balcooa/

 

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