Authors:Shanmugavel, P; Francis, K
Abstract:Bamboo is presently one of the dominant species used in India for plantation. The aim of this research was to obtain quantitative data on the biochemical functioning of the bamboo plantation ecosystem and to provide relevant information to foresters. The results presented here concern biomass and nutrient accumulation in an age series of a bamboo plantation. In particular, to obtain information on ecosystem dynamics, an age series of 1 to 10 years was studied because it is possible that these stands will reveal the assimilation characteristics of different ages and different stages of development in a single plantation. The biomass production in an age series of Bambusa bambos plantation were estimated and compared with its inter species and between genera of natural and plantation stands. There was linear increase of the total biomass of all compartments with the age of the plantation up to six years and then it decreased. In the above ground biomass, the relative percentage contributions were: culms (81%), branches (14%) and leaves (1%). The below ground rhizome contribution was 4%. The total biomass increased from 2.3 t/ha (1 year) to 298 t/ha (6 year) and decreased to 16 t/ha (10 year). The percentage of nutrient distribution in different biomass components varied; the order of major element concentrations was K > N > Mg > Ca > P in leaves. The maximum amount of all nutrients per hectare occurred in the culms, followed by branches, rhizomes and leaves. The present results make it possible to evaluate with sufficient accuracy nutrient losses at crop harvest. These results could be introduced in management models.
Keywords:Age series; biomass nutrient content; nutrient distribution.