Bioproduction and nutrient cycling in seven bamboo species in subtropical Indian Himalayas

India is a home to a number of bamboo species, which are major woody components of many traditional Indian land use systems. Biomass production and nutrient cycling was studied in seven bamboo species in viz., Dendrocalamus asper, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, Bambusa ulda, Phyllostachys aurea, Dendrocalamus strictus, Melocanna baccifera, Phyllostachys bambusoides. All the bamboo species showed significant difference with respect to growth performance. Higher values of growth parameters were recorded in Dendrocalamus hamiltonii (Diameter - 6.33 cm; Height - 9.35 meters) which was followed by Dendrocalamus strictus (Diameter - 6.06 cm; Height - 8.59 meters) and least values were found in Phyllostachys aurea. Below (2.41 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) and above ground biomass carbon sequestration rate (4.57 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹), litter return (1.57 kg m⁻²) and microbial biomass carbon (131.85 mg per 100 g of soil) was higher in D. asper.