Adaptation and Growth Performance of Lowland Bamboo Species at Fedis District East Hararghe Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate adaptation and growth performance of four lowland bamboo species at Fedis district, East Haraghe Zone, oromia, Ethiopia for four years (June 2019 - June 2022). Four lowland bamboo species were tested in randomized complete block design with three replications. Data on growth parameters: survival rate, new emerging shoot, internodes length, number of nodes, culm height, culm diameter and its root culm diameter were measured and recorded at interval of three months during data collected. Results revealed that there were highly significant (p<0.05) variations among lowland bamboo species at the study area. Among the species tasted, <i>Dendrocalamus hamlitonii </i>and<i> Dendrocalamus memebranceous</i>, were showed the highest performance and have better survival percentage than <i>Oxythenantera abyssinica</i>. <i>Dendrocalamus hamlitonii</i>, and <i>Dendrocalamus memebranceous</i> are the fastest growing species of bamboo and have better survival percentage. However, <i>Oxythenantera abyssinica</i> have medium survival percentage than Dendrocalamus asper which have lower survival. Generally, among the species tested <i>Dendrocalamus hamlitonii</i>, <i>Dendrocalamus memebranceous</i> showed faster growth performance and <i>Oxythenantera abyssinica</i> was showed better performance at Fedis condition, but <i>Dendrocalamus</i> asper showed lower performance. With respect to new emerging shoot, internodes length, number of nodes, culm height, and culm diameter at breast height and its root culm diameter, <i>Dendrocalamus hamlitonii</i>, <i>Dendrocalamus memebranceous</i> and <i>Oxythenantera abyssinica</i> were significantly higher than Denderocalamus asper. Based on this, three bamboo species <i>Dendrocalamus hamlitonii</i>, <i>Dendrocalamus memebranceous</i> and <i>Oxythenantera abyssinica</i> are best performed introduced bamboo species for promotion in the study area. Therefore, the best performed species should be demonstrated and popularized around Fedis and in areas that have similar soil and climatic conditions. So, based on these results we recommended <i>Dendrocalamus hamlitonii, Dendrocalamus memebranceous </i>and <i>Oxythenantera abyssinica</i> for different production and constriction since they have a good quality of internodes length, ability to emerge new shoots, culm height and diameter. It is better to use for soil and water conservation purpose on degraded area rehabilitation. Since bamboo gives seed once in 40 years which is a big challenge in expansion of the resource, he need further study on bamboo propagation method. These species could be promote for various end uses like human food (<i>D. hamiltonii </i>edible shoot<i>) </i>and animals feed, for industrial purposes, and for carbon sequestration (because of their high biomass).