Authors:Lubina P A . Anil Kumar K S . Viswanath S
Abstract:Dendrocalamus stocksii is a potential multiuse bamboo species that can come up well in moist semi-arid zones of Peninsular India. If it is to be introduced to the realm of cultivation with other crops, accurate scientific data has to be generated for better management plans. Analysing the belowground rooting architecture of bamboo helps in better management decisions. Root architecture study was carried out in 13 year old D. stocksii plantation with the spacing of 5 x 5m and 9 x 9m in Hosekote, Bengaluru Rural District, which experiences moist semi-arid climate under Eastern Dry Zone. To estimate the root distribution pattern, bamboo clumps were selected and excavated using a logarithmic spiral trenching technique. Variation in the number of roots with horizontal and vertical distance from the clump base was done, and the effect of interactions was elucidated by using general linear model univariate analysis. Majority of roots (>95 %) observed were of less than 2 mm diameter in topsoil. The number of D. stocksii roots was significantly higher in 5 x 5m spaced plots compared to that of 9 x 9m plots for the surface horizon of 30 cm depth. Spacing between bamboo clumps played a significant role in the development of root architecture and foraging zone, whichultimately helps in the planning of intercrops to maximize farm output in bamboo-based agroforestry systems of rainfed semi-arid tropics.
Keywords:Dendrocalamus stocksii, intercropping, moist semi-arid tropics, root intensity, spacing regime, spiral trench