ABSTRACT: Dendrocalamus asper also known as 'Sweet Bamboo' is the most widely accepted species globally for edible shoots. The prospects of cultivation of D.asper in humid tropics and semiarid conditions of peninsular India was assessed using various financial indicators and through quantitative and qualitative analysis of juvenile shoots. Growth parameters in on-farm field trials by IWST, Bangalore suggest that this species grows well in humid tropical conditions as compared to semi-arid conditions in Peninsular India. In semiarid conditions in Hosakote, Bangalore on an average 16 shoots were produced in a five year old clump with the average shoot diameter of 18±1.1mm and extractable volume of > 0.75 kg. In humid tropical conditions in Thithimathi, Kodagu, D. asper clumps of same age produced around 25 shoots. The average shoot diameter was 55±2mm at the end of fifth year which translated into higher volume (> 2kg) of edible portion in harvested shoots. In D.asper, 30% extraction of the total new shoots emerging from the fifth year was ideal. There was no difference in nutritional composition of the species between semiarid and humid tropics in terms of protein, carbohydrates, crude fibre and fat.Financial indicators at different discount rates (10%, 12% and 15%) suggest that cultivation of D.asper for shoot production may be a profitable venture in humid tropics with a high equivalent annual net income (EAI) around 7.6 -9 lakhs as compared to a lower EAI in semiarid conditions (0.22 to 0.59 lakhs)
