Materials and Methods
To obtain the quantities of rhizome sections necessary, clumps of rivercane were excavated
from existing canebrakes in north Mississippi and Tennessee and placed in a length
of PolypipeH (Chicot Irrigation, Lake Village
Arkansas) sealed at both ends. PolypipeH is a
large diameter (40.6–61 cm dia) thick wall (20
mil), flexible white plastic tube. Its primary
use is as single-season, disposable pipe for
furrow irrigation. Embolism and transpirational
loss was prevented by placing the dug
clumps of rivercane, with soil intact, into the
PolypipeH tube with about 1 liter water and
immediately tying off the ends after digging.
By trial and error, the authors determined
that digging a clump of 3–5 culms approximately
1–2 years old (unbranched or a single
branch) gives the best success (data not
shown). The authors have achieved a 96.3%
success rate using this technique for culms of
all ages, and 100% success rate for 1–2 year
old culm groups. The clumps of rivercane in
PolypipeH tubes are placed in deep shade
(50% light reduction) and suspended from the
distal end, where they remain sealed for six
weeks. After six weeks, the clumps are
removed from the PolypipeH tube, and planted
in half sand - half native soil (v:v) in liner
pots (35 dia 3 24 cm deep). The rivercane is
then watered well and placed into socket pots
(36 dia 3 30 cm deep) that are already sunk
to ground level. This plant maintenance
technique is known to horticulturalists as
pot-in-pot (Bilderback 2008). By placing the
slightly smaller liner pot into the socket pot,
the plants are easily accessible for subsequent
rhizome harvest and are protected from
temperature extremes which can be fatal to
developing rhizomes. Daily irrigation was
provided by a battery powered solenoid timer
set to deliver water for 5 mins (6.2 liters)
through a drip line fitted with a weighted
spaghetti tube.
http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.2179/08-042R2.1
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