Abstract

Exploitation of bamboo for numerous uses keeps on increasing and there have been observation of low percentage survival from culm cuttings propagation. This study therefore investigated effects of Natural Growth Regulators (NGRs) on the growth of different culm sizes of Bambusa vulgaris with aim to enhancing survival and growth of the species with the use of NGRs.  Bamboo culms with 2 nodes of 3 different diameter sizes: 21-30 mm, 31-40 mm and 41-50 mm were collected and dipped into four different NGRs in different bowls for 30 minutes. The growth regulators included honey, palm wine, coconut water and papain. The culms soaked in growth regulators were then planted into polythene pots filled with 8kg of top soil in the silviculture nursery. The experimental design was 3 x 4 factorial experiment and treatmentswere replicated 10 times. Shoot heights, collar diameter and sprout counts were assessed fortnightly. Data were collected for a period of six (6) months. Data were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and descriptive analysis.The effects of NGRs and interaction with culm sizes on shoot heights and collar diameter were significantly different (P<0.05) except on sprout counts. The culm size 41-50mm gave the highest shoot height in all NGRs with papain having the highest value (104.2cm while the least was recorded for the control treatment (35.5cm). The collar diameter was highest in culm size 41-50mm with honey (14.85mm). The Sprout counts of 7 were recorded forhoney, coconut water and papain.The NGRs had significant influence on the morphometric parameters of the Bambusa vulgaris and they can be used as alternative growth hormones in place of synthetic growth regulators.

Key Words: Natural Growth Regulators, Culms, Propagation, Morphometric