Bamboo Propagation

1. ECOSYSTEMS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BUREAU
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

2. BAMBOO
• Known as “poor man’s lumber”
• Considered as green gold all
over the world by many
bamboo enthusiast
• There are about 1,200
species in the world
• About 72 bamboo species
are found in the Philippines
• Known for its multiple uses

3. • Bamboo may be propagated by various
methods:
By seeds

4. Ooopppsss!!!

5. By rhizomes

7. By branches

8. Species that may
be propagated
using branches

9. Bamboo species that can be
propagated by culm-cuttings

15. •select culms
that are 1½ - 2
years old from
a healthy
bamboo clump
•culm should
have a shining
pole and sheet
on branches
1. Selection of planting materials
BAMBOO PROPAGATION

16. How to select 1-2 years old culm:

22. Cut the selected
culm above the first
node from ground
level using a hand
saw remove the
branches and
foliages leaving at
least 2 internode
branches
* Be sure not to
damage their bud
in the nodes

23. Cut the culms into 1
or 2 nodes cuttings
using a sharp bolo
or saw.
The one node
cutting consist of a
node with a long
open internodes
and a portion of the
branch to produce
more planting
stocks.

24. .... However, a 2-node planting stock
has 2 nodes and one pole internode
and an open internode in the end. It is
more advantageous when frequent
watering is not possible.

25. 2. Treat the cuttings with
rooting hormone
Dip/soak the
cuttings in rooting
solution in 5-10
minutes.

26. 3. Pot the cuttings
cuttings should be potted
immediately after being
treat with rooting hormone
Polyethylene bags
- as potting materials
*size of the bags may vary depending on the size of cuttings

27. 4.5 x 4.5 x 10 in.
polyethylene bag
- used for 10cm
cuttings
• The bags should have small holes on its
lower portion in order to allow good
drainage and aeration.

28. 3.1 Mix your potting media (coconut
coir dust, garden soil, carbonized
ricehull)

29. 3.2 Fill the lower third of the plastic
bag with soil

30. 3.3 Mycorrhizal Inoculation (Hi-Q Vam 1)
-Add 1teaspoon of mycorrhiza before
putting the culm/branch cuttings in potting
bags

31. Effects of Mycorrhizal Inoculation
on Giant Bamboo after Five (5) Months:
With Hi-Q VAM 1
Without Hi-Q VAM 1
above ground parts
Beneficial Fungus:

32. More secondary/small roots
With Hi-Q VAM 1
below ground parts
Less secondary/bigger roots
Without Hi-Q VAM 1

33. 3.4 Place the bamboo
cuttings vertically in the
center
Then fill up the
bag with soil

34. Water the newly potted
cuttings filling the upper
internode.
Place the potted cuttings
in a partially shaded area
for one month.

35. During the first 20 days in
the nursery, the potted
cuttings must be watered
regularly to maintain soil
moisture and to ensure that
the open internode is
always filled with water.
Gradually expose them to
sunlight.

36. • After 6
weeks, all the
rooted
propagules
with sprouts
should be
exposed to full
sunlight in
order to
improve
growth. This is
the
hardening
phase.

37. •In 6-8mos. The rooted
bamboo plants are ready for
transplanting in the field.

38. Production cost for a single propagule
*Cost of propagule using 1 node P3.30
Cost of plastic bag (4.5x4.5x10) 0.65
*Cost of soaking rooting hormone 0.20
Potting medium 1.15
Labor Cost of Potting 1.50
P 6.80
•A pole of bamboo for propagules = P50.00
each
•A minimum of 15 propagules/pole = 3.30 each
•A bottle of rooting hormone (P200) can soak
1,000 propagules, hence, 1 propagule costs
P0.20 each

39. BAMBOOHAY!

40. Generally, commercial bamboo species
in the Philippines thrive in a wide range of site
characteristics although, it prefers well-
drained And sandy loam soil at low medium
altitude.
PLANTATION ESTABLISHMENT

41. In preparing the plantation site the following steps
are followed :
1. SKETCHING
• sketch the main features of
planting site such as
accessibility, water sources
and slopes
• the sketch shows the
exact location, size and
form of the planting site.

42. 2. STAKING
 Mark the 4 corners
planting sites with
long poles
If the site is large,
divide it into 100m by
100 m section.
The recommended
spacing for bamboo
is 7m by 7m.

43.  For river bank stabilization, 5m by 5m planted in
“kwengkang method”, as shown in the illustration is
recommended.

44.  make the field layout of planting poles by establishing
a pair of these lines that run along the boundaries
plantation site and they are perpendicular to one
another.
3. FIELD LAYOUT

45. clear the area from weeds and
other unwanted trees or plants
4. CLEAR THE AREA FROM THE WEEDS
5. PREPARE THE PLANTING HOLES
60cm x 60cm
- recommended size
for the holes in
marginal areas
40cm x 40cm
-for well drained areas

46.  Place the topsoil on one side of the
hole and subsoil on the other side to
avoid confusion during planting
 The topsoil should
be used as bedsoil
to the propagules.
While subsoil
should be spread
around or used for
terracing.
Topsoil
Subsoil

47. PLANTING
Done on the onset of rainy season to allow the
bamboo plants to develop
the roots system before
the start of dry season
After 6 months in the
nursery, the potted
bamboo plants are
brought to the planting
site and placed beside
the planting poles.

48. At planting time, the
height of the potted plant
can already be 50cm-1 m
high. And have a well-
developed root system.

49. Then, cut the plastic bag of
the rooted plant and carefully
remove it without disturbing
the root system.
Fill the bottom of the planting
hole with 10cm layer of top soil
and compact it slightly
The top soil should have high
matter organic content or enriched
with organic material (ex.carabao
dung or compost).

50. Place the bamboo plant
vertically in the hole and
fill it up with the topsoil.
Gently compress the
surface soil around the
plant

51. And cover it with
mulch, either with
straw cut,
grasses,
or other organic
materials

53. PROTECTION & MANAGEMENT
The bamboo plantation should be well maintained especially
during the first two years after planting
Conduct ring weeding
and strip brushing
STEPS :
- this reduces competition
between weeds and
bamboo plants.

54. .
 Apply fertilizer to the planted propagules
Cover them with
mulch to reduce
water loss from
the soil and
supply the plant
with nutrients

55. Water the plants frequently during the days without rain or if
they show signs of wilting.
Replace dead plants immediately.

56. If the plantations is
located in an area with
long dry season, it is
advisable to have a
firebreak along the
plantation
Fire breaks are
established by clearing
5m-10m strips of
grasses and other
inflammable materials.
Construct fences if
necessary.

57. HARVESTING
At 5th year when harvested,
better quality poles could be
attained.
Clump should be cut at 5 -10cm
above ground just about the first
node.

58. - harvesting operation
should be executed
- most of the nutrients of the
bamboo are in the rhizome
Start of rainy season or
2nd half of the dry season
Bamboo that are used for
construction materials,
furniture and fish pens such
as bayog, bolo, kawayan-
kiling, kawayan-tinik and
kayali should be harvested
when it is 4 – 6 years old.

59. If bamboo will be used as
banana props and for pulp
making 3 year old bolo, laak,
and kayali should be
harvested.
Commercial bamboo
species are readily
marketable as construction
materials and raw material
for furniture and handicraft
industries.

60. Bamboo yards
can be found in
the provinces as
market outlet.
Bamboo pole
can be bought at
the plantation
site. The
estimated cost
of developing a
bamboo
plantation is 55-
60,000/ha.
This includes the nursery operation,
plantation establishment, maintenance and
protection.

61. Income can be derived up after 5-7 years at the 5th year, 5 poles
can be harvested per clump. At 200 clumps per ha. 1,000 poles
can be harvested in 1 ha. plantation.
Prices of poles
may vary on
region
depending on
the bamboo
species. In
Luzon the
average price is
P80-P100/pole
this would
generate an
income of
80,000-
100,000/ha.

62. Pole production is expected to increase as
the plantation matures.

63. Choose desired
end use
Make sure
market exists
Long list of
candidate species
Short list of species
Choose species with
best growth and yield
Subject each species
to screening.
Is species suitable to
desired end use?
Is species suitable to
site to be planted?
Are propagules easily
obtainable?
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