Bamboo, an incredibly versatile and sustainable resource, is used for everything from construction and furniture to paper and handicrafts. In India, where bamboo grows in diverse environments, various species are cultivated for commercial use. Let’s delve into some notable bamboo varieties and their production across different states.
1. Sweet Bamboo
Dendrocalamus asper, or Sweet bamboo, reaches 25 meters in height with a diameter of 8-12 cm. This bamboo has a wall thickness of 1.1-2.0 cm and is known for its high yield of 50 tonnes per hectare per year. It prefers sandy clay loam soil and requires good drainage. Used for poles, pulp, and edible shoots, it has a flowering cycle of 100 years, making it a long-term investment for bamboo cultivators.
2. Drooping bamboo
Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, also known as Drooping bamboo, grows up to 20 meters tall with a diameter of 10-19 cm. Its wall thickness is 1.2-1.3 cm, and it yields about 50 tonnes per hectare per year. This bamboo prefers finer-textured soil in moist areas and is used for wall construction, basketry, weaving, and archery. It has a flowering cycle of 35-45 years and thrives at altitudes up to 1500 meters.
3. Giant bamboo
Dendrocalamus giganteus, commonly called Giant bamboo, is notable for its impressive size, reaching up to 30 meters in height and 20-30 cm in diameter. Its thick walls (1.8-2.0 cm) make it ideal for pulp and construction. With a flowering cycle of 40 years and a yield of 50 tonnes per hectare per year, it’s used for a variety of domestic applications and is well-suited to rich loam soils.
4. Katang Bamboo
Bambusa bambos var gigantea, known locally as Katang in Assamese and Mungil in Tamil, is a towering bamboo variety that can reach up to 30 meters in height. With a diameter of 15-18 cm and a wall thickness of 1.5-2.5 cm, it is widely used for construction, pulp, and handicrafts. This species thrives in riparian zones and rich, moist soil, with a yield of about 50 tonnes per hectare per year. It’s native to Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, and its young shoots and seeds are also edible.
5. Bhima Bamboo
Bambusa balcooa, commonly known as Bhima, is recognized for its strength and versatility. It grows up to 23 meters tall with a diameter of 8-15 cm. This bamboo has a wall thickness of 1.9-2.5 cm and is used for pulp, handicrafts, and agarbathi. It prefers heavy-textured soils with good drainage and has a maturity period of about 5 years. It yields approximately 50 tonnes per hectare per year and is found in regions with altitudes up to 600 meters.
6. Jatia bah Bamboo
Bambusa nutans, known as Jatia bah in Assamese, is a medium-sized bamboo reaching 20 meters in height with a diameter of 5-10 cm. It has a wall thickness of 1-1.5 cm and is used for poles, paper, and landscaping. This bamboo thrives in well-drained sandy loam to clayey loam soils at altitudes from 600 to 1500 meters. With a yield of 30-40 tonnes per hectare per year, it is valued for its various local uses, including agricultural implements.
7. Salia Bamboo
Bambusa vulgaris, often referred to by its local names like Karali and Salia, grows up to 20 meters tall with a diameter of 5-10 cm. It is known for its versatility in construction, scaffolding, and handicrafts. The bamboo’s wall thickness ranges from 0.7-1.5 cm, and it yields around 40 tonnes per hectare per year. It’s tolerant of frost and saline conditions, making it suitable for a variety of environments.
8. Bhulka Bamboo
Dendrocalamus brandisii, also known as Bhulka, grows up to 33 meters tall with a diameter of 13-20 cm. It has a wall thickness of 1.7-3 cm and a flowering cycle of 45-50 years. This bamboo is used for basketry, construction, and pulp, and its young shoots are edible. It thrives at altitudes up to 1300 meters and yields approximately 50 tonnes per hectare per year.
9. Kallan mula Bamboo
Dendrocalamus strictus, known as Karali in Bengali and Kallan mula in Malayalam, is a widely cultivated bamboo reaching 16 meters in height with a diameter of 6-10 cm. It has a wall thickness of 0.5-2.0 cm and is used for pulp, construction, and musical instruments. With a flowering cycle of 45-55 years and a yield of 2000 bamboos per hectare per year, it thrives in moist soils and is frost-tolerant.
10. Membranous Bamboo
Dendrocalamus membranaceus, or Membranous bamboo, grows up to 24 meters tall with a diameter of 6-10 cm. It has a wall thickness of 0.8-1.2 cm and is used for construction, pulp, and chopsticks. This bamboo tolerates arid and barren conditions, making it suitable for various environments. It’s planted at a density of 280 plants per hectare and thrives in moist forests and lowlands.
11. Deobans Bamboo
Bambusa tulda, known as Jati in Assamese and Deobans in Hindi, grows up to 20 meters tall with a diameter of 5-10 cm. It has a wall thickness of 0.8-1.5 cm and a flowering cycle of 30-60 years. This bamboo is used for pulp, construction, and agarbathi sticks, with edible shoots and medicinal leaves. It yields about 30 tonnes per hectare per year and prefers finer-textured soils.
12. Rangoon Bamboo
Thyrsostachys oliveri, or Rangoon bamboo, grows 25 meters tall with a diameter of 5 cm. Known for its tall and slender appearance, it has a wall thickness of 1-1.2 cm. This bamboo is used for construction, furniture, and basketry. With a flowering cycle of 48-50 years and a planting density of 400 plants per hectare, it’s valued for its versatility and the edibility of its young shoots.
13. Malabar Bamboo
Pseudoxytenanthera stocksii, also known as Malabar bamboo, grows up to 20 meters in height with a diameter of 5-8 cm. It has a wall thickness of 0.2-1.5 cm and is used for construction, furniture, and basketry. With a yield of 2000 poles per hectare per year, it thrives in deep loamy soils and is planted at a density of 400 plants per hectare.
14. Tarai Bamboo
Melocanna baccifera, known as Tarai in Assamese, grows 20 meters tall with a diameter of 3-7 cm. It has a flowering cycle of 45 years and is used for flute making, weaving, and paper pulp. This bamboo thrives in well-watered sand clay loam and produces diffuse clumps. Its shoots and seeds are edible, and it’s planted at a density of 400 plants per hectare.
15. Bulka Khang Bamboo
Dendrocalamus longispathus, or Bulka Khang, grows up to 18 meters tall with a diameter of 6-10 cm. It has a wall thickness of 0.7-1.2 cm and a flowering cycle of 30-35 years. This bamboo is used for pulp, landscaping, and making baskets and containers. It is planted at a density of 400 plants per hectare and thrives in various locations.
16. Jama Betwa Bamboo
Bambusa polymorpha, known as Jama betwa, grows up to 25 meters in height with a diameter of 8-15 cm. It has a wall thickness of 2-2.5 cm and a flowering cycle of 55-60 years. This bamboo is used for construction, agarbathi sticks, and landscaping. It yields about 30-40 tonnes per hectare per year and prefers deep, fertile, well-drained loam soils.
17. Reed bamboo
Ochlandra travancorica, or Reed bamboo, grows up to 6 meters tall with a diameter of 2.5-5 cm. It has a wall thickness of 0.4-0.6 cm and is used for pulp, mat weaving, and basketry. This bamboo is planted at a density of 625 plants per hectare and is suitable for dark brown, acidic sand loam soils. Its leaves are used for thatching.
18. Bhalan bans
Schizostachyum pergracile, also known as Bhalan bans, grows 30 meters tall with a diameter of 5-7.5 cm. It has a wall thickness of 0.5-1 cm and is used for landscaping, pulp, and basketry. This bamboo is planted at a density of 160 plants per hectare and thrives in moderately moist soil, often found at higher altitudes.
These bamboo varieties are integral to various industries and regions across India, providing sustainable resources and supporting local economies.
