JOUR. OF NAT. RESOUR. & ENVIRON. STU. , 1. 3, 1-5, (12) 2013 ISSN 1683-6456 (Print): ISSN 2332-0109 (Online)

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Vegetative propagation of (Oxytenanthera abyssinica ) by culm cuttings Yahia Hamid Ali Elbasheer; El Amin Yousif Raddad Associate Research Professor, Forestry Research Centre- Soba. Email: [email protected] Associate Research Professor, Forestry Research Section. Wad Medani. Email: [email protected]

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Received: July/02/2013

Accepted August/02/2013

Abstract. Oxytenanthera abyssinica is an indigenous bamboo in Sudan, and is considered as a source of multipurpose usages for ecological restoration, soil erosion and riverbank protection, and provide income generation. The gap between supply and demand has been widening due to over-exploitation for many socioeconomic uses. The study concerns the needs for restocking of bamboo stands under natural and domestication systems in many ecological zones. Hence the objective of the study was to determine an appropriate propagation package by using culm cuttings. A propagation experiment of culm cuttings was conducted at Soba nursery. Plant material was supplied by El-Damazin Research Station from a research plantation site of bamboo at Tolla Forest located North ElDamazin. The culm cuttings were taken monthly from 18-24 monthsold clumps of vigorous growth. The results of survival and growth of the clumps were recorded and analyzed for ten years. Significant differences were obtained between one and two nodal culm cuttings (p< 0.0001) in growth parameters as well as with planting placement type (p< 0.0007). No significant difference was obtained in vegetative growth in the planting period (p=0. 4). Total number of claims per clump was 118 of the mean height of 705cm and mean diameter of 3.5cm. Successful propagation of O, Abyssinia claims was obtained with 30% percent of well developed fibrous root, rhizomes and growth increments. The conclusion reached is that, culm desu eb nac sgnittuc for plantations, restocking, and conservation. More work is recommended to increase the percentage of claims propagation. Keywords: Bamboo, Oxytenanthera abyssinica, vegetative propagation, calms cuttings, production

I. INTRODUCTION

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he increase in population associated with supplement of basic living needs make the vegetation cover and specifically forests shrink in size and; during the last two to three decades have enormously depleted [1]. However agriculture production across most of dry regions of the world is faced by multiple ranges of biophysical, socio-economical and policy constraints. As a result it suffers from a vicious cycle of low productivity, low levels of investment, and land degradation [2]. In 1958 Sudan forest area was estimated between 36% and 43% of the total country area; later in 1990, the forest cover had shrunk to 19% of the total country area;

and in 1995/1997 the national forest inventory estimated forest area at 12%. Bamboo resources are considered as vital to the quality of the environment, its restoration, biodiversity conservation as well as a source of woody raw materials and non-wood products for usability to rural and urban people [3] and [4]. Studies in South East Asia showed that natural bamboo forests have a neutral effect on soil due to decomposition of its leaves, sheaves and old culms that create a thick humus layer and enrich the nutrient content of the soil. Also bamboo rhizomes are effective in protecting topsoil on steep slopes and river banks hence comes the importance of planting bamboo to prevent soil erosion and riverbanks [5] [11] and [12]. In East Africa Oxytenanthera abyssinica shoots are cultivated for food production, fodder and other social aspect and; the grains are cocked and are edible of high nutrition value for insects, livestock and wild animals [6] [7] [8]. However the bamboo in some parts of the world is used for cleaning sewage, due to its potentiality to absorb heavy metals and pollutants more and faster than other plant species [9]. In Sudan, Bamboo Belt composed mainly of O. abyssinica which is an indigenous bamboo resource in savanna woodlands. It extends between 12-16 degrees latitude including isolate stands in western Ethiopia and Eastern Chad; altitude between 300-600m of rainfall 300-800 mm. Identified stands are in Bahr el Gazal, and Equatoria (Katire-Torit), Blue Nile regions and southern Kordofan, [10]. Scattered stands are recorded in high areas South East Elgerri and western and northern Ed-Damazin, Nuba Mountains, Jebel Eldier, South El-nahud, and in open land in the forest by the river Nile, water courses, West of Nyala including areas bordering Sudan and Chad also in Darfur in Hofrat El-Nahas and Kafia Kingi. The other bamboo Arundinaria alpine is only found in the southern part in the Imatong Moutains and Kippia region. Bambusa vulgaris is found in small scattered ornamental and shade plants. In Sudan Oxytenanthera abyssinica is utilized for construction in house building, huts and shade (Rakoba), also used as decorative units and partitions, fence for homestead and small farms. Other uses include making handicrafts, pencils, stakes, handles of tools, beds, sitting stools and chairs. The various products and uses of bamboo play a key role in the rural economy in off-season employment. Moreover, it has a role in environmental

JOUR. OF NAT. RESOUR. & ENVIRON. STU. , 1. 3, 1-5, (12) 2013 ISSN 1683-6456 (Print): ISSN 2332-0109 (Online) protection, degradation and soil erosion, in landscaping, shelterbelts, hedges, amenity affairs and probably in Agroforestry as an ally cropping [13]. Nevertheless the natural stands of bamboo were intensively exploited due to intensive use and utilization as forest-based enterprise products by inhabitant. Accordingly methods of management, propagation techniques as well as plantations should have priority in research programmes. Establishment and development of bamboo by seedling was found to take about 3-6 years before it can be harvested on annual or biannual cycles, and the promises expected to give return like many agricultural crops. [14] made a financial analysis of Bambusa vulgaris plantation raised by pre-rooted and prerhizome cuttings which yield a financial rate of return of 37%. Hence the income from cloned plantations of bamboo is profitable and acceptable. According to [15] work on O. abyssinica management, the total production ranged between 20000 and 26000 culms per hectare, mean height was 8.5 and mean diameter was 4.5 meters. However, annual production of 6-12 tons/ feddan of air-dry bamboo culms was the expected produce from cultivated stands. In Sudan O. abyssinica has been established by seed propagation in Blue Nile State at Abu El-Gaili (Sennar) and Tolla forest [16]. Flowering of O. Abyssinia was reported to be sporadically that makes the collection of adequate quantities of seeds difficult and flowering was recorded to be once after 30-40 years. Some bamboos are never or almost never flower [15]. This makes growing of bamboo from seed rare; therefore the suggested preferable methods are, rhizome cuttings, cloning and tissue culture [17] [18]. Vegetative propagation reproduces is true-to-type to the mother plant and it is expected to cut costs of plantations compare to conventional one. Vegetative propagation means can be attained by either, a partial plant such as cams, branch and rhizome cuttings, organ and tissue culture that was reported for some bamboo including O. abyssinica [21][22]. McClure and Kennard [19] and McClure [20] work on propagation of Dendrocalamus strictus and B. tulda, showed that; 2-year old culms produced more propagules than 1-year old ones. Bambusa vulgaris was successfully propagated by the use of culm cuttings whereas O. abyssinica was difficult to propagate by culm cuttings [22]. [15] work on bamboo propagation reported 22% rooting of culm cuttings of O. abyssinica. However, when comparing seed and culm propagation, the propagation by seed was better than that by culm ones. [23] work on 9-month-old nursery stock of O. abyssinica by use of two-nodal culm cuttings obtained 16.5-44% rooting percentage with horizontal type of planting during winter; but there are no records of periodic culms growth performance. Nevertheless, after formation and development of roots and shoots on the nodes of culm cuttings, the propagules have to be excavated for transplanting. The success was found to be 10-40% but due to variability showed by various species the results were inconsistent. The bamboo products in recent years play an important role seasonally and throughout the year in local markets that was associated with supply and demand dynamics. The prices are being tied with the increased consumer demand and the corresponding dwelling natural supplies. The main problems known are associated with the increased urban demand for

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cheap forest products combined with ease of access and transport as raw material. Moreover, the indigenous bamboo O. abyssinica in natural habitat tends to flower sporadically hence the collection of adequate quantity of seeds is difficult. Probably this is due to the fact that sometimes seeds are unavailable or produced sterile or seldom seeds development, in addition to the fact that bamboos die soon a year after flowering and seeding. This phenomenon makes impossible systematic planning to collect seeds or conduct breeding programmes [24]. Hence the reproduced bamboo by seeds is highly heterogeneous and creating sampling problems. It has been noticed that bamboo was dealing with and managed at all levels of seed, seedling establishment, out planting and harvesting as if it is a tree. Also bamboo stands were harvested without a proper plan or guidance and planting is based on the observed above ground growth performance regardless of underground ones. Accordingly we need to propagate bamboo, to highlight and formulate information regarding growth, development, planting, management for investment, restock and conservation. The objective of work is to find the appropriate package of reproducing bamboo by culms cutting for establish, conservation and rehabilitation of bamboo stands. II.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experiment was conducted in the nursery of the Forestry Research Centre at Soba during the period Oct.-1998Aug.-1999. Monthly culm cuttings were set and the records of growth were continued till the year 2008. The experiment was carried under a lath house made of bamboo and of 70% shade. Plant material was obtained from an established bamboo plantation at El-Damazin Research Station at Tolla Forest, located North El-Damazin in the Blue Nile State and the soil is silt (Nile deposits). The culm cuttings were obtained from 1824 months-old clumps. Propagation material consists of one and two nodes culm cutting that means one open internode and full internode of sizes 6-16cm and lengths 10-35cm .respectively. The culms were cut by hand saw, leaves and branches were trimmed by using scissors and handsaw. Two types of placement of culms cuttings in soil medium were used, vertical and horizontal. One and two nodal culm cuttings were buried horizontally with the nodes facing upwards. Water was supplied with bed-flood irrigation at the start of planting and by spraying cans at frequent intervals to keep beds moist and environment humidity. The experiment sets were laid in a completely randomized block design. The first sets of culms cuttings were planted on 20/10/1998 and then planting was continued monthly till 23/8/1999. Random samples of 2-3 culm cuttings were carefully lifted monthly for records of vegetative growth of shoot, culms formation, survival, fibrous root formation and rhizome development of culms cuttings. Number of culms per clump, heights and diameter of culms were also recorded. Care, follow up and data records were continued for eight years. Data were statistically analyzed where necessary. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was by using JMP package statistical analysis. The statistical differences were based on arcsine transformed values of percentage rooting and survival of culm cuttings.

JOUR. OF NAT. RESOUR. & ENVIRON. STU. , 1. 3, 1-5, (12) 2013 ISSN 1683-6456 (Print): ISSN 2332-0109 (Online)

Considerable variations in shoot growth existed between explants planted in different placement types, the period of explants cut and planting. Table 1 shows that significant differences were obtained in shoot growth of one-nodal culms cuttings and two-nodal ones (P>0.04). Vegetative shoot growth of two-nodal culms cuttings planted in horizontal placement is highly significant compared to vertical ones during all months. In January two-nodal culm cuttings of horizontal placement gave the highest mean number of shoots. Table1 Test of significant differences in growth of mean number of one and two nodal culms with time of planting of Oxytenanthera abyssinica Planting Type of culm cuttings time ± St P (Months) 2-nodal 1-nodal 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

9.0 A 5.4A 1.35 9.5A 3.4B 1.0 10.1A 8.7A 1.58 11.4A 2.6B 1.20 11.0A 3.1B 1.51 9.6A 5.6A 1.74 10.9A 4.1B 1.73 9,6A 1.5B 0.90 7.5A 6.0A 1.61 9.4A 4.4B 1.27 St= Standard Error; P= Probability

0.07 0.0007 0.5 0.0001 0.002 0.1 0.01 0.0001 0.5 0.01

Although no significant difference in shoot formation and vegetative growth has been noticed between one-nodal culm cutting of horizontal placement and vertical ones in all months except the first, second and ninth months; p= 0.06, p= 0.01and p= 0.004 respectively (Table 2). Although one-nodal culm cutting showed a high percentage of vegetative growth but died after 3 or 4 months. Table 2 Test of significance differences of horizontal and vertical placements planting with time of Oxytenanthera abyssinica culms cuttings Culms cuttings placement *H **V 1 9.13A 5.25B 2 8.12A 4.75B 3 10.25A 8.88A 4 7.50A 6.50A 5 7.32A 7.13A 6 9.13A 6.13A 7 7.75A 7.25A 8 5.75A 5.38A 9 9.75A 3.75B 10 8.00A 5.75A *H= Horizontal placement placement planting

Mean ± St

Probability

7.20 ±1.18 0.06 6.40 ±0.80 0.01 9.60 ±1.57 0.55 7.00 ±1.23 0.58 7.10 ±1.62 0.94 7.60 ±1.70 0.24 7.50 ±1.80 0.85 5.60 ±0.93 0.78 6.80 ±1.19 0.004 6.90 ±1.25 0.22 planting; **V= vertical

Table 3 shows a high significant difference between the mean values of number of culm cuttings of horizontal placements, and vertical ones (p< 0.0001). From these results

the vertical placement type of planting one or two-nodal culms, no longer included and excluded from the experiment. Table 3 Test of significant differences of horizontal and vertical placements planting of Oxytenanthera abyssinica culms cuttings Placement type Mean ± St Probability Horizontal 9.8 ± 0.4