Adaptation and Growth Performance of Different Introduced Bamboo Species in Central Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Bamboo is a giant bushy grass and typically a faster growing perennial than any other tree species and it starts to give utility within three or four years of planting time, except bearing seeds. The study was conducted on four bamboo species (Bambussa bambos, Phyllostachus edulis, Yushania alpina, and Bambussa vulgaris) to evaluate their adaptability potential and growth performance at Laelay Maichew district, central zone of Tigray, Ethiopia. The design of the experiment was carried out using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The distance between the experimental plots and blocks was 2 m and 3 m, respectively, and the spacing between bamboo seedlings in the plot was 2 m x 2 m, with 4 bamboo seedlings per plot. A total of 48 bamboo seedlings were planted in the experimental site. The growth parameters; including survival rate, new emerging shoot, internode length, number of nodes, culm height, culm diameter, and root culm diameter were measured and recorded. The collected data were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) between treatments following the post hock test of Tukey at P<0.05 using SPSS for Windows version 20. The results revealed that Bambussa bambos has a better survival percentage (100%), followed by Bambussa vulgaris (58.3%), Yushania alpina (41.67%), and Phyllostachus edulis (0 %). The growth parameters: new emerging shoot (culm), collar diameter, diameter at stump height, and diameter at breast height of Bambussa bambos were significantly higher than those of Yushania alpina and Bambussa vulgaris (P=.001). However, for similar parameters, Yushania alpina showed non-significant variation with Bambussa vulgaris (at P>0.05). The mean heights between treatments (Bambussa bambos (5.1 m), Yushania alpine (4.5 m), and Bambussa vulgaris (4.2 m)) were observed statistically non-significantly different (at P=.26).The other growth parameters were: the mean value of total internode length(TIL) and middle internode length (MIL) of Bambussa bambos was significantly higher than that of Bambussa vulgaris (at P<0.05). The study revealed that, among the four bamboo species, Bambussa bambos showed higher growth performance and adaptability potential, followed by Yushania alpina and Bambussa vulgaris. As a result, the best-performing introduced bamboo species (Bambussa bambos) could be promoted to end users in related agro-ecological areas for various benefits. Further studies should be recommended on the adaptability of the introduced bamboo species in other agro-ecologies.