BAMBOO PROPAGATION

AND PLANTATION
ESTABLISHMENT
FOR GREGORIO E SANTOS JR
∙ ∙ ∙
SENIOR SCIENCE RESEARCH SPECIALIST
ECOSYSTEMS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BUREAU
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
A. Why Bamboo?
B. Bamboo Propagation
a) Seeds a) Culm
b) Branch b) Rhizome (Offset method)
C. Plantation Establishment
a) Site Preparation
b) Transport of Planting Site
c) Planting
d) Maintenance and Protection

D. References
WHY BAMBOO?
• A Billion Dollar Industry products amounted to US$2 Billion in
2012 and expected to rise by US$20 Billion in 2015;
• High Global Demands for Bamboo Products;
• EO 879 directs Department of Education (DepEd) to use bamboo
in at least 25% of the school desks and other furniture
requirements of all public schools nationwide every year;
WHY BAMBOO?
• Maintain soil stability and prevents
soil erosion;
• High carbon sequestration;
• Wide range of adoptability (From
sea level to 1800 meters above
sea level);
• Easy to propagate (through seeds,
branch cutting, culm and rhizome);
• Improves aesthetic value of the
landscape;
• Plant only once, harvest for life;
• Many uses
BAMBOO PROPAGATION
BAMBOO PROPAGATION
Bamboo can be propagated through:
a) Seeds a

b) Branch cuttings
c) Culm cuttings
d) Rhizome (offset method)

b c d
SEEDS
• Reproductive propagation method (use of seeds, if available)
• Problems in the use of seeds is that it is not always available
due to infrequent and unpredictable flowering
• Seeds found viable:
 Buho (Schizostachyum lumampao)
 Bolo (Gigantochloa levis)
 Bonkawe (Schizostachyum sp)
BAMBOO PROPAGATION
THROUGH CULM CUTTINGS
Selection/Collection Criteria:
a) Age
• 1-2 year old healthy culm
• Fresh green in color
• Young culm is easy to rot
• Very old culm may produce root but
not sprout and shoot
• Healthy bud eye
• Detached bamboo leaf sheats
BAMBOO PROPAGATION
THROUGH CULM CUTTINGS
Selection/Collection Criteria:
b) Health condition of the of the culms and clumps
• Source of propagules must be healthy and vigorous culms
in healthy clumps;
• Choose culms that are free from pests, and diseases,
defects, and other abnormalities
c) Season and/or time of collection
• During rainy season
• Can be done during dry season if to be propagated in mist-
propagation chamber
BAMBOO PROPAGATION
THROUGH CULM CUTTINGS

A.Select
one to
two year
old culm
from a
healthy
clump
BAMBOO PROPAGATION
THROUGH CULM CUTTINGS

B. Cut the
selected
bamboo
culm
using bolo
or saw
BAMBOO PROPAGATION
THROUGH CULM CUTTINGS
C. Cut into one or two node
cuttings
BAMBOO PROPAGATION
THROUGH CULM CUTTINGS
D. Fill the
plastic bag
with 1/3
soil media
and then
put the one
or two
node
cuttings.
Then fill the
bag with
soil.
BAMBOO PROPAGATION
THROUGH CULM CUTTINGS

E. Water the newly

potted culm
cuttings twice a
day (morning &
afternoon) for the
first three months
BAMBOO PROPAGATION
THROUGH CULM CUTTINGS
Potted One node culm cutting
BAMBOO PROPAGATION
THROUGH BRANCH CUTTINGS
Selection/Collection Criteria:
a) Age (depends on species)
• 1-2 year old healthy culm
• 2-3 year old healthy culm for most species
• 3-4 year old healthy culm
• Branch well-developed, with open
branchlets and leaves
b) Season and/or time of collection
• Preferably rainy season
• Possible during dry season if mist
propagation chamber is available
BAMBOO PROPAGATION
THROUGH BRANCH CUTTINGS
A. Select well-developed
branches with swollen or stout
base that usually bears 2-4
plump buds (i.e., one or two
at each side of the branch
base) and fresh, healthy
aerial roots and/or root
primordia
BAMBOO PROPAGATION
THROUGH BRANCH CUTTINGS
B. Cut the basal branch, which is very close
to the edge of the culm, with the use of
sharp pruning saw.
• Do not use bolo because it may split
the branch.
• Branch cuttings with split base are not
used as propagules.
• They usually rot easily and fail to
produce roots and shoots.
BAMBOO PROPAGATION
THROUGH BRANCH CUTTINGS
C. Fill the
plastic bag
with 1/3 soil
media and
then put the
branch
cuttings.
Then fill the
bag with
soil.
D. Water the newly potted branch
cuttings twice a day for the first three
months.
BAMBOO PROPAGATION THROUGH
RHIZOMES
Bamboo propagation through rhizomes can be done by “Offset
method”
• 1-2 year old culm separated from
the clump
• Can be directly planted during rainy
season in nearby farm
• Hard to collect
• Quite destructive; Quite bulky
• Only few can be separated from
the clump
• Requires high maintenance
BAMBOO PROPAGATION THROUGH
RHIZOMES

A. Remove the soil

from part of the
circumference
BAMBOO PROPAGATION THROUGH
RHIZOMES

B. Separate 2
sticks culms
from clump
 PLANTATION
ESTABLISHMEMNT
PLANTATION ESTABLISHMENT
a) Site Preparation

• Clear the area from weeds and other unwanted vegetation;

• Lay-out the plantation according to the types of species to be
planted and purpose of plantation;

 Large bamboos (more than 16m): 7-10m spacing,

For example, Giant bamboo grows up to more than 20m
tall.
 Medium-sized bamboos (6-15m tall): 7m x 7m spacing,
Examples are Bolo, Kawayan tinik, and Kawayan kiling.
 Small bamboos (below 6m tall): 5 m x 5 m spacing
PLANTATION ESTABLISHMENT
a) Site Preparation
• Place stakes at the designated distances and clear an area
of about 1 X 1 m around the stakes; and
• At the staked portion, dig holes with a dimension of 60 X 60
X 40 cm. For areas where soil is compact, dig deeper holes
to help the roots get stabilized.

Reminder:
In hole digging, separate
the top soil from the
subsoil. The top soil will be
the first to use to cover the
newly planted seedlings.
PLANTATION ESTABLISHMENT
b) Transport of Planting Materials
• Transport planting materials from nursery to planting site
using any of the following means:
 Manually;
 By the means of animal-driven cart; and
 By the use of vehicles depending on the distance and
accessibility

Potted Culm Cuttings ready for out planting

PLANTATION ESTABLISHMENT
c) Planting
1. Loosen the soil in previously prepared holes;
2. Holding the base of the potted bamboo propagules, cut and
remove the plastic bag carefully without breaking the soil
and damaging the root system;
PLANTATION ESTABLISHMENT
c) Planting
3. Put about 10 cm deep of pulverized top soil taken from one
side of the hole in the dug hole mixed with compost soil.
• Put the propagule with the soil intact vertically on the
planting hole;
• Cover the planting stocks with well-pulverized top soil up to
the level of the root collar;
• Press the soil firmly around the newly planted seedling
leaving about 5-10 cm unfilled to allow more water to be
stored in the hole;
• Water and mulch the plants; and
• For every planted propagule, apply 200-300 grams of
complete fertilizer. Mix with the soil 15 cm away surrounding
the plant.
PLANTATION ESTABLISHMENT
c) Planting
PLANTATION ESTABLISHMENT
d) Maintenance and Protection

• Replacement of dead propagules;

• Conduct regular ring weeding and strip brushing;
• Conduct regular watering during dry season, if necessary;
• Establish firebreaks of 10 meters along the boundaries of
plantation;
• Construct fence using indigenous materials to prevent entry
of animals which may cause trampling and damage of
plants; and
• Fertilization and mulching
BAMBOOHAY !!!
REFERENCES
• Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and
Development (PCAARRD). (2012). Information Bulletin No. 295/2012 “Kawayan tinik”
Shoot and Pole Production
• Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and
Development. (1991). Philippines Recommends Series No. 53-A. “Philippines
Recommends for Bamboo Production”
• Rojo, J. P., C. A. Roxas, F. C. Pitargue, Jr., & C. A. Brinas. (2000). Philippine erect
bamboos: A field identification guide. Los Baños, Laguna: Forest Products Research
and Development Institute, Department of Science and Technology, p. 161.
• Roxas, C. A., F. T. Tangan, & F. D. Virtucio. (2000). Ornamental bamboos for urban
parks. DENR Recommends. College, Laguna: Ecosytems Research and Development
Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, p. 22.
• Roxas, C. A. (2012). Handbook on erect bamboo species found in the Philippines.
College, Laguna: Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau, Department of
Environment and Natural Resources.
• Virtucio, F. D. & C. A. Roxas. (2004). Bamboo production in the Philippines. College,
Laguna: Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau, DENR, Philippines.