| Abstract: |
• The root systems of ‘bambu apus’ clumps were not well hoarded or buried in the soil. Most of the roots were at the surface of the soil.
• Many bambu apus clumps died during the dry season owing to low rainfall and low soil fertility in Gunungkidul. The landscape in Gunungkidul is dominated by karst, limestone rock.
• The culms of bambu apus were in high demand in local markets. However, farmers were not able to meet subsistence let alone market needs.
• Rabik and Brown (2007) stated that adjusting the age ratio of bamboo clumps is necessary for maintaining the right ratio of young to old culms to maximize bamboo shoot productivity and culm quality. They advised adjusting the age structure by leaving 50 culms in clumps with a ratio of 40%: 30%: 20%: 10% based on the age group of the culm (1, 2, 3, 4 years). They also stated that soil hoarding should be applied to bamboo roots so that the bamboo culms produced the maximum number of shoots.
• However, because of the high demand for bambu culms in Gunungkidul, the age group of the culms in all bambu apus clumps consisted only of two age groups: 1 and 2 years per clump. On average, there were 8 culms (2 years-old) and 17 culms (1 year-old) in each clump. |
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