Performance of different Bamboo species and Indigofera tinctoria in Agroforestry situation

Abstract

Bamboos are commercially important woody perennial grasses that have been recognized as a substitute for timber. In the recent years, owing to its diversified uses and mass cultivation all over the world, it is being incorporated in the agroforestry systems to enhance productivity. In this regard A study at Iruvakki, Shivamogga, assessed the growth performance of six bamboo species; Dendrocalamus brandisii, Bambusa tulda, Bambusa nutans, Bambusa balcooa, Thyrsostachys oliveri and Dendrocalamus latiflorus in three-year-old plantations. Tissue-cultured bamboo plantlets were planted in a randomized complete block design with a 4 m × 4 m spacing. D. latiflorus exhibited superior attributes with a height of 9.47 m and a total number of 20.9 culms. B. nutans excelled in clump girth with 3.55 m. B. tulda demonstrated the highest culm diameter (3.4 cm, 2.5 cm, and 1.5 cm for first, second, and third-year culms, respectively). D. latiflorus surpassed in internodal length for all age categories (41.54 cm, 33.4 cm, and 27.02 cm). The interrow spaces accommodated Indigofera tinctoria as an intercrop. D. latiflorus showed superior internodal length for all culm ages, with values of 41.54 cm, 33.4 cm, and 27.02 cm. Intercropping with I. tinctoria produced 3.43 Mg ha^-1 in sole cultivation, while agroforestry systems, such as Indigo + B. balcooa (3.21 Mg ha^-1) and Indigo + B. tulda (3.02 Mg ha^-1), yielded comparable results. This study provides valuable insights into bamboo growth and its potential in agroforestry, highlighting species-specific performance and intercropping dynamics.