Effect of silvicultural management on the basic properties of bamboo

摘要

Bambusa blumeana (kawayan tinik) and Dendrocalamus asper (giant bamboo) culms (poles) from plantations established for 9 and 15 years before silvicultural treatment, respectively, were harvested and assessed after several years of management. The B. blumeana trial involved 13 silvicultural treatment combinations, i.e. irrigation, fertiliser, muleh, organic matter and number of culms retained. All practices except irrigation were also applied to D. asper in 10 combinations.rnThe basic properties-physical, mechanical, anatomical and chemical-of the two species were evaluated. These properties could serve as a guide in the selection of plantation management practices that could enhance the efficiency and promote the use of bamboo culms.rnThe culm wall thickness and diameter of treated culms were higher than untreated ones although not significantly in all of the treatments. The effects of treatment on the basic properties of culms were not consistent; either significantly lower, higher or similar to the control. Silvicultural treatments, therefore, did not markedly influence the basic properties of culms. Greater differences were evident between species, although that effect was confounded with production sites.rnThe best treatments for farmers to adopt to regenerate old bamboo clumps for sustainable and quality culms are recommended. For B. blumeana, this includes cleaning the base of the culms, applying mulch, organic matter and fertiliser and maintaining four 1 -year-old, four 2-year-old, four 3-year-old and four 4-year-old culms (4-4-4-4 standing culm density; in total 16 culms). For D. asper, the recommended treatment includes applying fertiliser but no mulch, and retaining six 1- and 2-year-old culms (6-6 standing culm density). There was little difference in the basic properties between D. asper culms that were nearly 2 years old at harvest and those that were 3 years old.