Introduction to bamboo
China is the Largest producer of bamboo and india is the second largest producer in the world. Bamboo is a “poor man” timber. In recent Days Some experts are saying its a “Green Gold” also. Some other Countries like china its call “friend of the people” and “brother” in Vietnam. There has been a renewed interest in growing, cultivating and utilizing bamboo. Out of the 135 to 150 species of bamboo recorded in India, It is belived that there are more than 1400 to 1500 species of Bamboo all around the world.
Bamboo is a member of the grass family Graminae and the fastest growing woody plan to the earth. Bamboo plants have natural regeneration capacity and are mostly found in the forest areas. The bamboo plant helps in preserving forests by releasing 30% to 35% more oxygen and reducing
the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Some of the Important varieties of bamboo Species
Among different species of bamboo found all over the world, there are some commercially cultivated species in India and they are:
- Bambusa balcooa
- Bambusa bambos
- Bambusa nutans
- Bambusa pallida
- Bambusa tulda
Different kind of Uses:
Bamboo can replace the wood for all applications such as….
Example:
Bamboo House construction, Paper, Pulp, Building material, Scaffolding, Flooring, Tiles, Furniture, Baskets, Mat-making, Cotton, Finishing rods(Inplace of Iron), Handicrafts, Shoots edible, Incense sticks in Agarbatti industrues,
charcoal….. etc.
Bamboo Ecological Habit
TYPES OF SOIL REQUIREMENT
Soil Ph: 4.5 to 6.5
Most bamboos grow best in deep soil, well-drained, fertile soils and they generally prefer neutral to slightly acid soils. Red and red loamy soils are more preferable however bamboo can be grown in a range of soil from black cotton soil to degraded soil.
Temperature : 15℃ to 35℃
Sea level : 1500m
Rain fall : Not less than 1200mm/year
Irrigation (Water management)
Immediate water should be provided at the time of transplanting seedlings from nursery to main field. It must be noted that bamboo trees are sensitive to water logging hence you must drain out the soil especially during heavy rainfall or flooding. You can also adopt drip irrigation system for better utilization of water, fertigation and erodicating weed.
Ecological Benefits of Bamboo
Global warming is known to every one of us now and it is happening mainly because we have been depleting the natural resources like,Day by Day we are Cutting the trees in forestry area, heavy fertilizers in farming, more using plastic in our daily life, and generating Carbon dioxide to a level that can not be sustained. It is difficult for us to give away our comfort, which generates enormous amount of gases, which are the cause for today’s global warming.
Bamboo is the best solution for contenting the global warming in many ways:
- Bamboo absorbs Carbon dioxide and releases oxygen into the atmosphere higher than many other trees.
- One bamboo tree generates plenty of natural oxygen sufficient for one human being’s daily requirement
- Grows more than one feet a day and covers with good canopy faster than any other tree and cooling the surroundings.
- Carbon dioxide absorption of bamboo remains same, since Bamboo keeps growing every year while other trees reach maturity after a fixed period.
- Every part of the bamboo is used to make varieties of products and toys…etc.
- Bamboo have blendy of chances to replace of plastic.
- Bamboo enriches the soil naturally and prevents soil erosion.
- A place in India to become CARBON NEUTRAL, one should plant plants as well as Bamboo plants.
