Bupeople

Spacing in Plantations

Dendrocalamus Giganteus and Asper planted in Malaysia from branch cuttings

Establishment Period and Harvesting

It takes 4-7 years to establsih a newly propagated Dendrocalamus Asper, Giganteus plantation to obtain normal clumps of full-sized culms capable of normal annual production of new shoots. The minimum period before first harvesting is not less than 4 - 5 years. A clump that have reached cutting age when there are 10 - 40 mature culms per clump. The size of the rhizome system will affect the number of new culms produced.  In order for this healthy cycle to take place it is importat that the rhizome is supported by optimum number of photosynthetic culms.

Bamboo Plantation Site

As a standard rule, bamboos that potentially supply abundant or large shoots or culms grow well only on fertile and well drained soils. Bamboo will experience luxuriant growth with humus-rich loam, where the soil had a high organic content, loose texture and good drainage. Abundant light is necessary for maximal growth.

Felling Rules

 It is important to establish selective cutting cycle for matured clumps. The rules are:

1. All dead culms are cut and removed to reduce congestion and for ease of future cuttings.
2. Only matured culms are cutted, to avoid wastage and guarantee regular crop of mature culms.
3. A minimum number of healthy, mature culms (not overmature) should be left. Twice as many mature culms as there are new shoots to maintain rhizome vigour and shelter for young shoots.
4. Stumps left should not be higher than about 30 cm, to avoid interference in future cutting operation.
5. Cutting  should be done from inside the clump, leaving the younger peripheral culms undisturbed, or on the side opposite to where the largest number of young culms are found.

 Permaculture

The best approach in establishing a bamboo farm or forest is to put into practice the permaculture philosophy of working with rather than against, nature; of protracted and thoughtful observations rather than protracted thoughtless action; of looking at systems in all their functions, rather than asking only one yield of them; and allowing systems to demonstrate their own evolutions.

Bamboo is an amazing plant, however combined with permaculture philosophy you will end up with a powerful outcome which will amaze you beyond your wildest imagination. Try it and amaze yourself.

Our Langkawi bamboo farm and plantation ( also known as food forest ) has experienced bountiful harvest of diverse crops and livestocks both for our community use and commercial supplies to the local restaurants and private individuals with special diet requirement. The harvest is both natural and chemical free. Totally sustainable.