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Research on Bamboo planting tecnique for bamboo shoot production

Le Quang Lien, Nguyen Danh Minh

Cau hai Silvicultural Experimentation Research Centre

I. Introduction

There are in the world 1,250 bamboo species of 75 different genera. They are distributed in almost all
climatic regions (tropical, temperate sub - tropical) from sea level elevation to 4,000m above sea level such
as on the side of Hymalaya mountain range. A large part of important bamboo species are distributed in
wide areas in the Asian countries. Bamboos have many uses in the people's life and they are closely linked
with the Vietnamese peasants. According to the Indochinese flora (By Lecomte), there are in Vietnam 61
different bamboo species. According to documents from surveys by Phan Ke Loc, Vu Van Dung (1976)
there are in North Vietnam alone 45 bamboo species of 15 genera. The mid - region of North Vietnam with
tropical monsoon climate is the very cradle of bamboo species. In the regions of the Lo, Gam and Chay
rivers alone there are already 33 bamboo species belonging to 6 genera (The Committee on North Vietnam
Flora, Forestry Directorate - 1974).

In Vietnam, research on bamboos began in early 1960s. From 1986 now bamboos have been planted on
large scale to meet the requirements of constructional material, paper raw material, bamboos articles for
export. Besides useful bamboo culms, bamboo shoots serve as a sort of foodstuff, a clean, delicious and
valuable vegetable on home market and for export. In 1995 some regions did plant bamboos for bamboo
shoots production but most of the species planted are of Taiwan, China origin. Vietnam also has many
bamboo species the shoots of which can serve as a delicious foodstuff and the planting of these species
for bamboo shoots production is a practical demand. Therefore the Cau Hai Silvicultural Experimentation
Research Centre has conducted the research subject: Research on bamboo planting technique for
bamboo shoots production.

II. Research methodology

2.1. Method of data and information collection.

- Method of documents studying: Sources of data and information from published scientific reports, reviews
on bamboos; document on soils, natural and socio- economic conditions in the region.
- Experimental ecology method: Combined study in nursery and in the forest; available data and
observation. Establishment of experimental plots for data collection, each species 4 plots, each plot 30
clumps, 3 replicated. Data are collected from the plots as required by research content.

2.2. Data proccessing method:

Analysis, synthesis and treatment of data on computer with Excel foftware

2.3. Surveying and studying method

Carrying out study on Taiwan bamboo plantation modelin Tan Yen (Bac Giang prov.) Chinese bamboo
plantation model in Binh Phu (Binh Phuoc prov.).... in Tan Loc (Dong Nai prov.) for bamboo shoots
production.

2.4. Research targets

2 bamboo species: Dendrocalamus membrenaceus and Dendrocalamus sp.

III. Research results

3.1. Characteristics of Dendrocalamus membranaceus Munro.

This species belongs to sub-familly Bambusoideae order Graminales. This is a sympodial bamboo species.

D. membranaceus has round culm, slightly tapering with many branches. Branch is thornless and is easily
used for propagation. The culm is 18 - 20cm in length and 8 - 12 cm in diameter, fresh weight: 40 - 50 kg
and up to 70 kg in some cases. The culm is stiff with rather highcellulose content (46.5% at base section,
57.7% in the middle and top sections).
The value of D. membranaceus is not only as constructional material but also as rayon and paper raw
material, flooring parquet, in house decorations and mats for export. Shoots of D. membranaceus is
delicious food stuff with high content of nutrients (percentages in dry matter). Total sugars 20.7%, total N
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3.10%, protein 19.37%, amine acids 2.10%, cellulose 28%, vitamin C 167.20% (mg/ 100g).

D. membranaceus growsfast 5 years after planting harvesting can begin the harvesting can last 40 - 50
consecutive years. This is a species once planted allows many harvests by selective exploitation. Only
over 3 - year old culms are harvested, 1 - 2 year old culms are left over to produce new bamboo shoots
and culms (exploitation intensity is usually 30% of the growing stock. Exploitation cycle is short once in 1 or
2 years). The harvest is from 1,200 to 1,400 culms/ ha. Previously the planting of bamboos in general and
D. membranaceus in particular was mainly with stumps. In the past years (1986 - 1990) The Cau Hai
Silvicultural Experimentation Research Centre had succeeded in D. membranaceus propagation by branch
layering with polythene wrapping. One remaining problem with D. membranaceus now is the price of its
shoots is very low (USD 0.9/ kg fresh weight) as compared with the shoots of some other bamboo species
(shoots of Taiwan bamboo for example: USD 4/ kg fresh weight).

3.2. Characteristics of Dendrocalamus sp.

This species belongs to sub-familly Bambusoideae, order Graminales. Its local name are Tre Gay, May
thoc. This is a sympodial bamboo species, developing in clumps with bent top. The culm is 13.18 m high, 6
- 11cm in diameter. Old culm is yellowish green in colour, internode 25 - 40cm long, the culm wall is 12 - 15
mm thick. This species is found at < 400m elevation, < 200 slopes, at mountain side and foot, along
streams. Shoot producing season is June - July. This species does flower and regenerates by seed (Na
Hang, Tuyen Quang prov.) Dendrocalamus sp. is planted with stumps. The culm is stiff with large scions,
thin culm wall is easily attacked by termites and borers, therefore the culm are little used in construction but
are used as paper raw material. Dendrocalamus sp. shoots are use as a delicious food stuff and are
usually dried in the sun for dried bamboo shoot.

3.3. Law of shoot producing

Dendrocalamus membranaceus and Dendrocalamus sp. are both sympodial bamboo species, season of
concentrated shoot production is rainy season (May - September). They are both light-demanding species
and require good soil with large ecological range (almost the whole North Vietnam); Rhizome having two
rows of scions on both sides, these scions (dormantbuds) can develop into shoots and then culms. After
planting bamboo plantation produces shoots annualy in rainy season, from May to September. Bamboo
plants that produce shoots are those below one year of age. Each bamboo plant below 1 year of age has
from 8 to 14 scions at its base but only 2 - 4 shoots are produced and the ratio of shoots tthat develop into
culm is very low. (More or less one new culm/ one old culm). There are some factors that affect the
growing process of the shoot firstly, strong plants produce large shoots with fast growth, ratio of dead
shoots is low. First batch of shoots usually consists of strong shoots because on the same conditions
rhizome all dormant scions enjoy the same conditions of soil and climate, the more vigourous dormant
scions would first develop into shoots, the less vigourous scions develop into shoots later. The shoots of
late batch are usually harvested as foodstuff. Secondly the time for taking shape of the shoot from the time
it protrudes from the ground till the time its top looks like a swift,s tail depends on its diameter. Large shoot
requires more time for taking shape sometimes up to 100 days. Favourable weather shortens the time for
taking shape. Thirdly, lower planting density results in shorter time for taking shape than higher planting
density

Time of shoot production of Dendrocalamus membranaceus and Dendrocalamus sp.

(M: number of shoots)

June July August September October

Species
M % M % M % M % M %
Dendrocalamus sp 544 46 38 ? 27 165 14 117 10 17 1
Dendrocalamus 720 38 629 33 148 7 196 10 176 9
membranaceus

The above data show that concentrated shoot production of both Dendrocalamus sp and D.
membranaceus is in June and July (D. membranaceus 71%, Dendrocalamus 73%) and in the month of
highest rainfall. Total rainfall of May, June, and July is 852mm representing 53% of the total annual rainfall.
Mean temperature of these 2 months is also highest in the whole year (280 C).

3.3.1. Time of shoot production of D.membranaceus.

Data from monitoring of the time of shoot production of D. membranaceus (M: number of shoots)

Month June July August September October

M % M % M % M % M %
Hill1 252 38 305 46 15 2 63 9 17 2
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Hill 2 263 41 320 51 7 1 22 3 15 2

Hill 3 1653 70 425 18 46 1 83 3 144 6

The above data show that with the plantations of the same age concentrated shoot production season is
June, July. In hill 1 the number of shoots produced represents 84% of total shoots produced in june and
July represents 92% of total shoots produced in a year. In hill 3 the number of shoots produced in June
and July represents 88% of total shoots produced in a year.

3.4. Effect of size of planting hole

Local land preparation i.e. digging of planting holes of various sizes brings about the following results:

Species D. membranaceus Dendrocalamus

Size of Culms/clump Mean D Mean H Culms/clump MeanD MeanH
planting holes (cm) (m) (cm) (m)
( tree) ( tree)
0,6x0,6x0,5m 7,2 3,62 3,03 3,35 4,07 3,76
1x1x0,5 m 8,7 3,95 6,05 7,23 4,42 5,05
1,5x1,5x0,5m 10,3 4,49 5,81 6,67 4,13 4,40
2x2x0,5 m 10,0 3,96 5,24 4,08 3,61 4,75

The above data allow remarks: Size of planting holes exerts great effect on the growth of the plantation.
With planting holes of 1m x 1mx 1.5m, 2m x 2m in the surface and 0.5m in depth, mean number of culms
per clump is all 1.2 to 1.8 times more than with normal planting holes (60cm x 60cm x 50cm). After 1 month
the dug earth must be used to fill the planting hole before planting and this must be the suface soil, filling at
2/ 3 the height of the hole. The earth in the hole must be broken small thoroughly mixed with farmyard
manure 10kg/ hole or NPK - 1kg/ hole.

3.5. Effect of fertilizer application on D. membranaceus plantation

Plot I II III Control

Indices
Total shoots produced 1139 996 1253 429
Total dying shoots 437 416 603 163
Total shoots developing into 702 580 650 266
culms
Productivity campared with 263,9 218,04 244,36 100
control

Formula I 1kg NPK/ clump/ year

Formula II 2kg NPK/ clump/ year
Formula III 3kg NPK/ clump/ year
Fertilizer application formulae all give productivity 2 to 2.5 times more than formula without fertilizer
application.

3.6. Effect of fertilizer application on ratio of shoots that develop into culms

Unit Control
Formula I II III

Observed
results
Total shoots Shoot 4026 3574 4106 3300
produced
Total shoot Shoot 2246 2380 2672 2220
harvested
Total weight Kg 1308 1238 1460 1232
Total dying Shoot 666 334 580 846
shoots
Total shoots tree 1114 62% 860 59% 854 59% 234 21%
developing
into culms
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- With 4 -5 year old platation the weight of shoots obtained is 1.2 - 1.4 tonnes/ ha
- With the plants in the control formula: high ratio of dying shoots, ratio of shoots developing into
culms is very low (21%) while ratios of shoots developing into culms are: formula I: 62%, formuala II:
72%, formula III: 59%

3.7. Effect of fertilizer application on yield of Dendrocalamus sp. shoots (per hectare)

Formula Unit I II III Control

Observed results
Total shoots Shoot 2700 3158 3416 1600
produced
Total shoot Shoot 1374 1800 2040 1350
harvested
Total weight Kg 824 1044 1108 438
% as compared Shoot 188% 238% 252% 100%
with control

With Dendrocalamus sp. plantation, the effect of fertilizer on yield per hectare is very clear Productivity of
fertilizer application formulae as compared with control: I: 188%; II: 238%; III: 252%. Mean weight of a
shoot between formulae is also different: control 0.32kg/shoot, formula I: 0.59kg/ shoot; II: 0.58kg/ shoot;
III: 0.54kg/ shoot. Thus, bamboo planting for culms or shoots if high productivity is to be attained, intensive
management is a must and yield of shoots can bedoubled and the number of shoots developing into culm
can be 5- time increased as compared with control. Digging up the rhizomes of ten bamboo plants reveals
the effect of shoots harvesting on shoots production of plants. The harvesting has stimulated 100% of the
dormant scions to develop into shoots excluding those attacked by insects or rotten (7% of all the scions).

Total number of scions Number of scions Scions that do not

on rhizome developing into shoots develop into shoots
1 5 5 0
2 6 5 1
3 7 6 1
4 6 6 0
5 6 6 0
6 5 5 0
7 6 5 1
8 5 5 0
9 7 6 1
10 4 4 0
Total 57 53( 93%) 4( 7%)

3.8. Content of some nutrients in bamboo shoots of some bamboo species

Content of some main nutrients (% of dry matter)

Species Total Total N Protein Amine Xellulose Vitamin

sugars (%) (%) acid C
(%)
D. mambranaceus 20,70 3,10 19,37 2,10 28,00 167,20
Dendrocalamus sp 25,50 3,80 23,75 2,60 21,00 105,60
Tre tµu 24,30 3,60 22,50 2,40 20,00 154,00
M¹nh t«ng 32,50 3,80 23,75 2,60 23,00 96,80

Thus Dendrocalamus sp is also a bamboo species the nutrients content of its shoot is rather high. It can be
classified as a bamboo species planted for shoots production.

IV. Conclusions and discussion

- Dendrocalamus membranaceus and Dendrocalamus sp. are all fast growing species, shoots serve
as a delicious food stuff, shoots yield is over 1 tonnes/ ha/ year at the third year after planting and
onwards.
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- These two bamboo species can be propagated by branch layering with polythene wrapping.
- The surface of the planting hole over 1m x 1m in size gives a productivity twice the normal one.
- Amount of fertilizer applied: N 2.9kg, P 2kg, decomposed farm manure 25.5kg/ clump/ year (divided
into 6 times ayear).
- Tool for shoot harvesting must be sharp, the shoot must be cut close to the rhizome.
- Height of harvested shoots is from 20 to 30cm.

References:

1. Classification of bamboos according to morphological characteristics by Tran Dinh Dai (1967).

2. Planting technique for Dendrocalamus sp. In Cau Hai by Nguyen Thi Phi Anh (1967).
3. Effect of pure bamboo planting on soil fertility by Hoang Xuan Ty (1971).
4. Characteristics of the soil under Dendrocalamus membranaceus by Nguyen Ngoc Binh (1963 –
1964).
5. Research on planting technique for Dendrocalamus membranaceus in Thanh Hoa prov. By Phan
Van Tich (1965 – 1968).
6. Research on planting technique and management of Dendrocalamus membranaceus plantation by
Tran Nguyen Giang and Luu Pham Hoanh (1976 – 1977).
7. Bamboo cultivation by Ngo Quang De (1994).
8. Research on acclimation of Dendrocalamus membranaceus from Thanh Hoa Prov. In Mid-region of
North Vietnam by Le Quang Lien (1986 – 1990).
9. Desmontration course document on planting technique for Dendrocalamus membranaceus by Le
Quang Lien (1994).

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