In this article we will discuss about:- 1. Introduction to Bamboo Management in U.P 2. Problem of Congestion in Dendrocalamus Strictus 3. Remedies for Improvement.
Introduction to Bamboo Management in U.P:
Bamboos are tall grasses with jointed woody stems. Most of the bamboos are with hollow internodes but Dendrocalamus strictus, which is commonest one, have solid internodes. In Uttar Pradesh, most important bamboo is D. strictus. The other important bamboo is Bambusa arundinacea where the internode is hollow. Bamboo has underground stem known as Rhizome, which gives aerial shoot every year during July-August.
The growth of bamboo aerial shoot is very fast, attains full growth of diameter and height within three months, after that its lignification goes on. It matures within three years. Bamboo grows from center to periphery; hence, new culms appear around clump. Bamboo cutting cycle is kept as three years, to avoid congestion in the clumps.
Bamboo need well drained, shallow soil. In U.P., we have all types of climate and vegetation due to altitudinal variations. It naturally grows in tract of U.P. upto 3500 meters elevation to Indogangetic plains, and in die foot hills of Himalayas and Shiwalik tracts also, in Vindhyan and Bundlekhand areas.
Thus the distribution of bamboos can be denoted as:
(a) Northern-Western U.P.
(b) Deccan Plateau and
(c) Central and Eastern U.P.
The main species found In U.P. are given below:
(1) Chimonobambusa falcata.
(2) C. jaunsarensis.
(3) Arundinaria falcata — Hill Bamboo known as Ringal.
(4) Dendrocalamus strictus — Male Bamboo.
(5) Bambusa arundinacea — Female Bamboo or Thorny Bamboo.
(6) Bambusa vulgaris — Village Bamboo.
Bamboo flowers gregariously after of about 30-35 years interval but sporadic flowering is always there, where few scattered clumps flowers every year.
Brief description of various bamboos found in U.P:
(1) Chimonobambusa Jaunsarensis Syn. Arundenaria Spathiflora:
Found with Quercus semicarpifolia, Abies pindrow, Picea smvthiana and Cedrus deodara forests in between 2200 to 3000 meter elevation, also known as high level Ringal, found mainly in northern slopes along ravines. Reeds are slender with long creeping rhizomes clothed with shinning, imbricate, acute scales, height 3-5 meters, diameter of 12-18 mm. Internodes are 18-28 cm long. Stem sheaths are 15-25 x 3-5.5 cm. Broad at base, narrowed to a truncate 2 auricled bristly top. It has been protected for soil and water conservation purpose. Locally used for basket making.
(2) Chimonobambusa Falcata (Syn. Arundinaria Falcata) Ringal:
It is reed with shrub like habit. The annual stem has smooth internodes and swollen nodes. Attains height of 1.5 to 3.5 meters and diameter 8-13 mm. Internodes extend upto 15-20 cm in length. It grows mainly at 2200 m. elevation. This Ringal is used for Basket making, grooms and fishing rods.
(3) Thamnocalamus Falconeri Vern. Deo Ringal:
It is shrub like reed, taller than Chimonobambusa, stem is 12-20 mm in diameter. Young shoots smooth, older ones scurvy-white. Often stripped yellow and green. Nodes are raised. Base sheath persistent, Internodes are 20-38 cm long. Transvers nervules in the leaves are characteristic of this species.
(4) Thamnocalamus Spathiflora Deo Ringal:
Gregarious shrubby reed, reaching height of 3.5-6 m with 12-25 mm diameter. Stem smooth with prominent nodes. Internodes 15-37 cm long, Branch lets arise chiefly from upper nodes. It grows upto 2500 m elevation, distinguished from C. falcata by the tessellate leaves and from C. jaunsarensis by the short rhizomes and tufted habit. Commonly found in Abies, Quercus semicarpiolia and Picea forests.
(5) Dendrocalamus Hamiltonii Vern. Chaii:
A tall tufted Bamboo, stem about 30 meters tall and 10-20 cm diameter. Internodes 30-50 cm long with Nodes having root scars. Legume smaller, smooth, soft spikelets are Ovid and purple colour. It grows between 800 to 1600 m elevations.
(6) Dendrocalamus Strictus syn. Bambusa Btricta (Male Bamboo):
Most common Bamboo, culm reaches height of 6-15 m. Diameter 2.5-10 cm. Nodes swollen, internodes 30-45 cm. Stem sheath variable with triangular blade. Spikelet’s are lancelate and green in colour. It grows from 500 to 1200 m elevation.
It is densely tufted deciduous Bamboo with solid cubits and gregarious in nature. Forms understory in miscellaneous and teak forest. Grows in outer Himalayas, Shiwalik hills and in between Ganga and Ramganga river. Gregarious flowering was noticed in Mirzapur district during 1985. New clumps are produced in rainy season. Culms attains full height and diameter in 2-3 months. In variable rainfall on an average 20 culms per clump appears every year.
It is badly damaged by cattle grazing specially during rainy season, when new culms appear. It has habit to develop congestion. Cutting cycle use to be 4 years but reduced to 3 years to avoid possibilities of congestion.
(7) Bambusa Arundinacea – (Female Bamboo or Thorny Bamboo):
It is a large bamboo with thick walled culms grows upto a height of 25 to 33 meters and dia. 15 to 20 cms forms dense clumps. Culms produce thorny branches. It is introduced in U.P. It grows very-well in river and canal banks as well as in Vindhyan and sub-Himalyan tracts. It is least damaged by browsing. Its cuttings are difficult hence not preferred by villagers. Flowering interval noticed was 32 to 34 yrs.
(8) Bambusa Vulgaris – D. giganticus- Village Bamboo:
It grows upto 25-35 m in height and 10-15 cm. in diameter.
Gregarious flowering has not been observed so far in U.P. Villagers cut mature culms every year. Used mainly for scaffolding and Basket making. Sporadic flowering are occasionally seen every year.
Problem of Congestion in Dendrocalamus Strictus in U.P:
The the temperature Vindhyan tract generally stays between 5° to 47°C. Precipitation ranges from 900 mm to 1500 mm which to takes place during July to September, normally alternate year is drought year.
The area of working geologically divided into Vindhyan plateau, and Kaimur hills. Consisting of sand stone of great thickness in plateau area and Kaimur hills and igneous and metamorphic rocks including granite, quartz and dolomitic limestone in Kaimur hills respectively. Soil is generally residual in origin having developed on the decomposition of sub-adjacent rocks of Vindhyan region. Average soil depth is 30 to 60 cms. Clay rocks (shales and phylites) also occur in Kaimur hill region.
The natural forests are of low value with poor stock of dry- deciduous trees and shrubs. Comprises Sal (Shorea robusta), Asna (Terminalia tomentosa), Sidh (Lagerstroemia parviflura), Dhau (Anogeissns latifolia) Tendu (Dyospyrous melonoxylon) Piyar (Buchanamia langen) Jamuni (Eugenia jambolane) etc. Larger part of the tract contains very poorly stocked open scrub forests consisting of scatter Khair (Acacia catechu), Tendu, Jhingan (Lannea grandis) Sidh, Mahuwa (Madliuca latifolia) Dhau, Kakor (Zizyphus zylopyra) etc. in the open canopy Karonda (Carissa opaca), Kharha (Gardenia turgida), Koraya (Hollorhena antidysentrica) as under growth, Makoeicha (Zizyphus oenoploia), Khuthai (Acacia pinnata) are quite common.
Sal and other valuable forests are mainly found in southern part in the Sonbhadra District. Total forests area of the tract is about 6.0 lacs hectares with bamboo area of about 2.10 lacs hectares, including about 0.50 lacs of natural and 1.60 lacs hectares as artificial bamboo.
Bamboo plantations were started since 1960 on words. Initially the plantations were very successful for about three years. After 3 years due to excessive grazing and lopping damages the plantation areas, the clumps become congested and have taken shape of “Flower Bash” the exploitation of this type of bamboo becomes uneconomical and problematic. About 25% of clumps died, 50% became unfit for working and 25% clumps were workable due to heavy browsing, lopping and severe drought.
The causes of failure of bamboo’s in U.P. can be attributed to:
1. Excessive grazing and browsing.
2. Irregular cutting at desired intervals.
3. No effective cultural operations at regular intervals.
4. Plantation bamboo worked after 12 years, it became congested and unworkable.
5. Longer dry spell in the area.
6. Law and order situation becoming from bad to worse, as intensity of illicit felling has increased.
7. Soil is shallow and poor with least water retention capacity.
8. Damage by pig by digging rhizome.
Remedies for Improvement of Bamboos in U.P:
The main remedial measures are:
1. Effective closure of the area from grazing by stone walling along with live hedge of Babul (Acacia arabica), Kathai (Acacia pinnata). The work is labour oriented funds can be obtained under D.P.A.P. scheme. Now S.R.Y. scheme can also provide funds for this purpose.
2. Cultural operations including cleaning of clumps at 3rd, 5th and 7th year and thereafter fellings done at 10th year. Cutting cycle of bamboos should be kept 3 years instead of 4 years. Cutting along with cultural operations done regularly within the cutting cycle.
3. The “flower bash” shaped clumps were clear felled with wall fencing and planting of miscellaneous species such as Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo), Khair, Sirus (Albizzia lebbek), Kunji Pongamia pinnata), “Mahuwa (Madhuca latifolia), Cassia seamia, Acacia auriculiformis.
4. Less congested clumps were treated at the interval of three years by cutting of clumps in such a manner so as the inner core of the clump is opened. Cutting height of the bamboo is allowed at various levels, considering working facilities as well as support to the younger shoots likely, to grow in rainy season. Though, it should be cut new ground level above one node.
5. Piling of earth wound and over the clump in the same year of cutting, of bamboo.
6. Loosening of soil at least 15 cm. width wound clump. The depth of digging should be at least 30 cm. This helps in lateral growth of the rhizome.
7. Regular cleaning operations in the first and second year are essential which includes cutting of lateral branches causing congestion and removal of dead branches and culms.
8. Regular cutting must be done at an interval of three years.
In U.P., due to paucity of funds, cultural operations along with cutting are done by U.P. Forest Corporation. In the congested clumps only ‘khunta’ could be taken out, though efforts were made to get ‘Lathi’ and ‘Patti’. There is no demand of bamboo slash in the locality, though the cut bamboos are suitable for paper and pulp industries manufacture. The responsibility of protection lies with the Forest Department which is unable to do the same due to paucity of funds.
Cultural operations along with protection from grazing are essential for rehabilitation of bamboo in the Vindhyan tract of U.P. The problem of bamboo failure can be solved by providing permanent closure of the area, if impossible, at least grazing should not be allowed during rainy season. The regular cuttings of each clump along with cultural operation are to be done at regular intervals of three years.
If the above two prescriptions are followed successfully, the yield of bamboo will increase. Gap planting with bamboo at 10 m apart will help in the increase of density of the area. In clear felled congested clump areas, every clump, culms came were growing promisingly.
In three years growth, the culms were fit for cutting; cultural operation in a first and second year was found necessary. Thus bamboo plantations need regular protection, watch and ward along with fittings and cultural operation at every three year cutting cycle.
The following observations were recorded while working in bamboo areas for about 10 years:
1. Average survival – 100 clumps per ha.
2. Average diameter – 5-8 c.m.
3. Average height – 3-5 meters
4. Maximum heights – 6 meters
5. Average yields – 12 m.t.
6. 750 culms – 1 m.t.
7. Bamboo weight 5 m.t. green – 3.5 m.t. dry
8. New culms per clump – 5-10 in number, max. 15
9. Gregarious flowering observed 1985 – at 30 years interval