Bamboo Plants Inventory at Barangay Baganihan in Marilog District, Davao City, Philippines: The First Step in the Adopted Community's Lab-Bayong Sustainability Project

Aims: The goal of the study was to establish baseline data on bamboo species inventory and diversity, and soil suitability area at Barangay Baganihan, Marilog District, Davao City to support the community's LAB-BAYONG sustainability project.

Study Design: Descriptive design with a quantitative methodology to inventory bamboo species was utilized. Field surveys were conducted to identify bamboo species to the lowest taxonomic level utilizing morphological traits and taxonomic keys. The frequency and relative frequency of each bamboo species were documented and species diversity was evaluated. Soil characterization analysis of soil texture, pH, and macronutrient concentrations (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium).

Place and Duration of Study: The adopted community of Barangay Baganihan, Marilog District, Davao City, was the site of this study. Its coordinates are 7o28'26"N and 125o14'36"E. One shot sampling was done on September 2024 to account the bamboo present in the study site.

Methodology: Two Belt Transects were established with 20m X 20m off the access route and marked with GPS running perpendicular to the access routes for at least 200 m with the direction recorded. Photographs were also made from actual observations in the field sites of bamboo plants in their natural habitat. To achieve information about the general soil conditions of the research site, soil texture, Soil pH and NPK (Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphate) were examined.

Results: The results indicated a low density for both mature and young specimens of Cephalostachyum mindorense, often known as climbing bamboo. The sampling locations exhibit a soil composition ranging from coarse sand to clay, with a pH level between 5.0 and 6.5. The concentrations of Total Nitrogen (N), Total Phosphorus (P), and Total Potassium (K) are recorded at 0.31%, 1.8 ppm, and 75.9 ppm, respectively.

Conclusion: Cephalostachyum mindorense, the only recognized species, has little diversity and a high proportion of mature plants. The soil physico-chemical analysis revealed the potential for bamboo growth, although potassium (K) levels need to be improved.