CULM COMPOSITION AND ABOVE-GROUND BIOMASS OF <em>GIGANTOCHLOA</em> <em>SCORTECHINII</em> IN A NATURAL STAND AND A THREE-YEAR-OLD PLANTATION

Abstract

Culm composition and above-ground biomass of a 3-year-old Gigantochloa scortechinii plantation were determined and compared with those of the same species found in a natural stand. In the plantation, 400 clumps per ha (with the average of 25.6 culms per clump) were observed consisting of 33.6, 42.2 and 24.2% of one-, two- and three-yearold culms after planting respectively compared with 422 clumps per ha (with average 19 culms per clump) in the natural stand. The above-ground biomass of G. scortechinii in plantation and natural stand was 36.2 t ha"1 and 71.9 t ha"' respectively. The apparent dry matter density of G. scortechinii was found to be within 0.54-0.55 kg m'. In the natural stand, only 4.7% of the culms were categorised as suitable to be harvested while none were suitable in the 3-year-old plantation, which could be due to its immaturity.