An ‘Oxygen park’ with beema bamboo was established at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) here on Saturday.
The park is claimed to be the first of its kind in the district, wherein 590 beema bamboo seedlings were planted at the university, covering 1.45 acres.
Proper silvicultural procedures such as the addition of plant growth-promoting bacteria, vermicompost, farm yard manure and bio-control agents were followed while preparing the pits for planting.
A fully grown bamboo tree to its best growth generates over 300 kg of oxygen every year, and it is just sufficient for one person for a whole year.
Further, it can absorb 80 tonnes of carbon dioxide per acre every year.
One mature Beema bamboo after four years sequesters (absorb) more than 400 kgs of carbon dioxide annually from the surrounding areas.
This particular bamboo clone was developed by the conventional breeding method and not involving a genetically modified organism.
Beema Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants on earth, which grows one and a half feet a day under tropical conditions and acts as the best carbon sink for CO2 emission.
Former Tamil Nadu Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, S Balaji inaugurated the park, by planting the first Beema Bamboo seedling in the presence of TNAU Vice-Chancellor N Kumar at a function here.