 watered during the summer of 1960 as frequently as possible, but it was not possible to water as often as needed. Weeds were kept down by hand hoeing a few feet around each plant and middles were kept mowed.
Counts of surviving plants made in fall 1960, Table 5, show much better survival of plants than rhizomes for the three species where a comparison could be made.
1 Planted January 21 to April 26, 1960.
Table 5. PER CENT LIVE PLANTS OBTAINED WHEN PLANTS OR RHIZOMES WERE USED FOR PLANTING OF VARIOUS BAMBOO SPECIES AT CAMDEN, ALABAMA 1960. . Number planted Survival Species Plants Rhizomes Plants Rhizomes . Pct. Pct. P. bambusoides 2,184 312 38.6 3.0 P. nigra var. henon ----- 156 ----- 31.0 P. rubromarginata ----- 156 ----- 86.0 P. viridis 4,680 936 24.3 0.7 P. vivax 3,120 2,496 19.0 1.0
Phyllostachys rubromarginata and P. nigra var. Henon had much better survival from rhizomes than the other three varieties. It is not known if this is a species characteristic. In plantings made in subsequent years, P. rubromarginata has had a remarkable high percentage of survival.
Picture - Phyllostachys rubromarginata at Camden, Alabama 5 years after planting rhizomes.
YIELDS OF WOOD. Yields of wood of three species determined in 1966 and 1967 by cutting strips 10 feet wide across plantings made in 1959 and 1960 show a decided advantage for P. rubromarginata, Table 6. The weights are for stems and branches and are assumed to be the yields that would have been obtained if the bamboo had been cut for pulp.
1 Oven-dry basis of weight of stems and branches, leaves were removed. 2 One year--1966.
Table 6. BAMBOO YIELDS AT LOWER COASTAL PLAIN SUBSTATION, CAMDEN, ALABAMA. . 2-year average yield, 1966-67 Species and Planting Site Year Planted Poles 15 ft. or longer Dry Weight Dry Wood1 Per Acre, . No. Pct. Lb. Upland, Norfolk f.s.l. P. bambusoides 1959 6,516 52 31,645 River terrace, Wickham s.1. P. bambusoides 1959 7,938 52 47,305 P. rubromarginata 1960 24,410 57 73,788 P. viridis 1960 4,5502 632 21,6892
BAMBOO AND PINE COMPARISON. In 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