Bamboo Seedling Multiplication

Bamboo seedling multiplication (or macro-proliferation) can produce a large amount of planting material from just a few little plantlets. By separating the rhizome system into smaller pieces, each seedling can be multiplied to increase planting stock before they are transferred to the open field.

Bamboo Seedling Multiplication

Macro-proliferation

At the age of 30-40 days, bamboo seedlings start to produce new rhizomes and shoots. After a period of 4-5 months, these plantlets should have developed 5-6 new culms (tillers). These tillers can be successfully separated into new plantlets, as long as they possess a well established root system, rhizome and shoots.

To multiply bamboo seedlings, soil is washed from the root - and rhizome system, and the rhizome is then carefully separated using a sharp knife or secateur. In order to minimize casualties, the new separated seedlings should be planted in separate poly-pots, kept in shade, and watered frequently for the next 3-5 days. After that, the new seedlings can be brought to the nursery beds where they can further grow in direct sun. Under proper nursery conditions these seedlings should be ready for planting in the field within 4 months, or could be further multiplied through the same macro-proliferation method.

Advantages

The advantages of bamboo seedling multiplications is that it can be continuously repeated for several years. Survival rate of these multiplied seedlings is 90-100%, and since the multiplied seedlings are small in size, they are also easy to handle and transport. That's why this method is a great way to produce a large number of plantable bamboo seedlings.

Chusquines

However, most bamboos flower infrequently and can take up to 100 years in between seed setting. Finding seedlings grown from bamboo seeds are therefore hard to find. Alternatively, seedling produced from outbreaks in the basal bud rhizome (in Latin America called: chusquines) can be used for bamboo seedling multiplication as well. These seedlings occur in the first and second month after harvesting a mature bamboo culm. The growth of new seedlings around the felled culm are in response to the regeneration of the culm.