An Ecological Assessment of Spatial Pattern in Site Conditions in Bamboo Plantations in a Dry Tropical Region with a Comment on Clump Spacing

Abstract

The role of bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus) in causing spatial patterns in ecosystem structure and function has been studied in East Mirzapur Forest Division. The Bamboo savanna is characterized by spatial heterogeneity in form of concentric zones around the bamboo clumps showing greater productivity and soil fertility. The bamboo influence zone (about 1.25 m around the clump), having considerable input of bamboo litter and fine roots, is characterized by greater accumulation of organic carbon and nutrients relative to the intervening herb covered zone. Compared to the herb zone, the increase in 0-30 cm soil content in the bamboo zone ranged: organic carbon 15-17 per cent, total nitrogen 7-11 per cent, available phosphorus 25-29 per cent, exchangeable potassium 20- 35 per cent. Because only <20% of the land area is strongly modified by bamboo with respect to soil fertility, it is suggested that a reduction in clump spacing may enhance the productivity of bamboo through its greater regulation of the nutrient relations as well as higher clump densities in the bamboo savanna ecosystem. The presently used clump density, therefore, needs a reappraisal.