Authors:Beena Patel, Bharat Gami, Akash Patel, Pankaj Patel
Abstract:Bamboo plantation on marginal land may provide opportunity for short and long-term investments allowing land owner for spreading financial risks. Financial advantages and economic viability are possible if grown under suitable agro climatic conditions with appropriate planting densities. Bambusa balcooa growth and productivity was studied on marginal wasteland of Gujarat in India using four planting densities. On-farm trials were established at densities ranging from 1112 plants/ha, 2223 plants/ha, 2964 plants/ ha and 6175 plants/ha (D1, D2, D3 and D4) in Aravali district of Gujarat. Growth data like survival per cent, clump girth at base and height at 3rd internode, culms/ clump, harvestable culms/ha, fresh and dry matter yield were collected and subjected to statistical analysis using various statistical tools. Survival and biomass yield was significantly higher (p<0.000) in D1 density and therefore same density was used for on-farm field trials. D1 density plantation showed lowest production cost @ 25 USD/Mg biomass as against other densities of B. balcooa plantation. Gujarat state accounts for 2.01Mha of wasteland with dry climate. Bamboo plantation with 1112 plants/ha has potential for maximum economic re turns besides advantages in soil- reclamation and other ecological benefits.
Keywords:Bambusa balcooa, Economic returns, Marginal land, Plantation density