PROPAGATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF 4 VARIETIES OF BAMBOO IN-FIELD CONDITIONS

The growth of four species of bamboo was studied in Heredia, Costs Ric a. Variables: main culm height, culm diameter 30 cm above ground, numb er of new shoots from stocks and diameter of new shoot, and survival r ates (monthly measurements). Species: Phyllostachys aurea, Dendrocalam us giganteus, Guadua chacoensis (Rojas Acosta) Londono y Peterson and Bambusa textilis. P. aurea and D. giganteus had good and accelerated g rowth; however, G. chacoensis and B. textilis showed development and a slower growth rate. It was confirmed that culm diameter did not incre ase after emerging from ground: it remained unchanged throughout plant life.