 1959, plantings of timber bamboo (Phyllostachys bambusoides) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) were made on river terrace soil (Wickham sandy loam) and upland soil (Norfolk fine sandy loam) to compare the production of pulpwood. Plots were 216 feet x 216 feet and plants were set 8 feet x 8 feet. Good stands of pine and bamboo were obtained.
The first yield records were made in December of 1966. These yields, reported in Table 7, are calculated on basis of cutting all the plants (not selective cutting). Strips were cut for records (10 feet for bamboo and 8 feet for pine), and the remainder left for records of future cuttings. Pine yields (8 tons per acre) are on the basis of bark-free wood and the 14-ton yield of bamboo is of leaf-free branches and stems.
Picture - Loblolly pine (left) and bamboo at Camden, Alabama, 8 years after setting.
1 Bark-free wood. 2 Weight of stems and branches, free of leaves.
Table 7. DRY WOOD PRODUCED PER ACRE BAMBOO AND PINE AT CAMDEN, ALABAMA, ON RIVER TERRACE (WICKHAM SANDY LOAM SOIL), 1966. Crop Date set Date cut Yield, oven-dry wood
. Lb. Pine Loblolly (Pinus taeda) 1959 Dec. 1966 15,8701 Bamboo Phyllastachys bambusoides 1959 Dec. 1966 27,74922
Place for Bamboo in Alabama
POLES AND STAKES. There is a place for bamboo on many farms to be used for poles and stakes. In some cases they are bought by firms that process and sell fishing poles, which have a ready market. Others are bought for use in harvesting pecans. The best species for fishing canes are. P aurea and P. meyeri. Phyllostachys bambusoides may be used, but it should be cut so as to keep the poles short (15-18 feet). The preferred species is Phyllostachys aurea, which has many canes with short joints near the base that make for very desirable poles. For stakes, P. aurea, P. meyeri, P. bambusoides, P. nigra var. henon, and P. rubromarginata are excellent.
Picture - Fish pole bamboo at Auburn, Alabama. Picture - Closeup of fish pole bamboo shows desired short joints near base. HEDGES. Any of the species can be used for hedges if they are pruned correctly. Pruning can be avoided by using a smaller species. One of the best for a hedge 4 to 6 feet high is Shibataea kumasaca. Another good species is switch cane (Arundinaria tecta). For a hedge 8 to 12 feet tall, Arundinaria simonii (small type) or Arundinaria gigantea are excellent if pruned occasionally.
ORNAMENTAL AND SHRUBS. A few of the bamboos are small and make excellent plants for use around the home as ornamentals. Arundinaria viridi-striata grows 2-3 feet tall and has a yellowish striped leaf. It grows well in the shade. Sasa palmara, with a broad long leaf that is bright green in color, makes an excellent appearance. It grows 4 to 6 feet in height, but can be kept smaller by pruning.
BAMBOO FOR WOOD PULP. Bamboo is better suited than pine for certain paper products, such as facial tissues and fine writing paper. This is because the bamboo fiber has a much greater length-to-width ratio than pine fiber. This property gives added flexibility to bamboo-made paper, imparting softness and smoothness to the final product. The yields reported, Tables 3,4, 6, and 7, show that bamboo would produce well in certain areas of Alabama. It would be limited to areas not too cold, probably where temperatures do not drop below 5?F. Many soils of the State are suited to bamboo.
Bamboo spreads by rhizomes and is a perennial. Thus, it will grow continuously after cutting without having to be replanted. If a rotational system of cutting is used, a portion of the stand may be harvested each year after the plant is established. To lessen the risk of loss when a species produces flowers, several species should be grown.
Before bamboo can be successfully grown as a crop for pulp production, several problems need to be solved:
- Large-scale methods of propagation will have to be developed to get large acreages under production.
- Harvesting and handling of the cane must be mechanized. Studies are needed to determine the maximum width of cut that will maintain the stand. A width of 10 feet has worked satis