The proper spacing of mother culms depends on the soil. A rich soil allows wider spacing than poor soil. Climate is also a factor. Between 1500 and 2000 mother plants per hectare is desirable, fewer for rich soil and more for poor soil. This density is maintained for the life of the plantation.
Higher density produces too many overcrowded rhizomes which reduces shoot quality.
Culms are cut after they reach 7 years so that only about 500 shoots per hectare are allowed to grow into new culms each year. It is best to select these shoots from those that sprout early in the mid season of shoot production. Each must be carefully marked with the year of its emergence so that there will be no uncertainty at cutting time. Characteristics of Running Species. Culms arise from long underground rhizomes.