Planting of four bamboo species established in the dry tropics of the state of Michoacán, Mexico

Abstract

Bamboo is cosmopolitan, of Asian origin, which offers enormous advantages of use due to its rapid growth and resistance to extreme environmental conditions. In the present work, the following were proposed as objectives: to evaluate the survival and growth of four bamboo species established in conditions of the dry tropics of the state of Michoacán; and to compare the increases (IMA) in height and diameter with other tropical species used in commercial plantations in the entity. The evaluated species were: Guadua aculeata, G. inermis, G. amplexifolia and G. angustifolia. Prior to the establishment of the plantation, a fallow and tracing was carried out. A completely randomized design was used, with four treatments (4 species) and 4 replications per treatment. Each experimental unit consisted of 25 plants, (100 plants per species). The assessed variables were: total height (At), diameter of the stem base (DBT), and survival. At 400 days, G. inermis reached the highest survival (99 %), and growth in at and DBT, respectively with an average of 2.12 m and 21.27 mm, compared to the other species. The IMAA of G. inemis did not exceed the increase shown by Gmelina arborea, Tectona grandis, Acrocarpus fraxinifolius and Cedrela odorata, however, it surpassed those reported for T. grandis and Eucalyptus camaldulensis in Nuevo Urecho and Buenavista municipalities, state of Michoacán. The results of the development of G. inermis show a good adaptation to the conditions of the planting site, with a tendency to a greater growth in height as well as in diameter, during the following years.