mes.
- Spray the area with a herbicide. Of the several tested at Auburn, Sodium TCA (sodium salt of trichloroaecetic acid) gave best success. This should be sprayed on the soil over the areas in which the bamboo is growing at a rate of 50 pounds active ingredient in at least 100 gallons of water per acre. It is preferable to apply it in late winter or early spring before new growth starts. Rain will carry the chemical down to the root system and it will be absorbed. This will sterilize the soil for about 90 days, so nothing should be planted on the area until about June.
Caution: TCA is caustic and will burn the eyes and skin. Care must be taken not to get it on animals or persons. It is corrosive to metals and a sprayer must be cleaned immediately after applying.
Small areas of bamboo are found in nearly all sections of Alabama. The running type bamboo is better suited to Alabama. The clump type is winter hardy only in the immediate Gulf Coast area.
Experiments have been conducted at Auburn since 1933 and at Camden since 1959. The findings are summarized:
- The most winter hardy species were Phyllostachys rubromarginata, P. virids, and semi-arundinaria fastuosa. The next most hardy were P. aureosulcata, P. aureosulcata, P. nigra var. henon, followed by P. bambusoides, P. meyeri, and P. aurea.
- When all canes were cut, the yield of poles 15 feet or longer varied from 1l,000 to 39,000 per acre.
- When canes were selectively cut, yields were 2,000 to 10,000 per acre per year, depending on species.
- The yield of large poles from the large-growing species was about 1,000 per acre per year.
- The yield of dry wood varied from 17 to 54 tons per acre, depending on the species.
- Bamboo cut in 10-foot strips recovered much faster than when all canes were cut.
- Cutting in 10-foot strips every 5 years produced a yield of 18 to 45 tons of dry wood per acre. The 4-year average yield was 28 tons per acre.
- Bamboo plants averaged the following by weight: green leaves, 14%; branches (dry weight), 16%; and dry matter, 63%.
- Survival rate was 19 to 39% (average 26%) from plants and 0.7 per cent to 86% (average 6%) from rhizomes.
- Phyllostachys rubromarginata had the highest survival rate.
- Loblolly pine yielded 8 tons of dry wood 8 years after planting. P. bambusoides bamboo produced 14 tons in the same period.
- Phyllostachys rubromarginata produced the largest tonnage of dry wood per acre of any of the varieties tested at Auburn and at Camden. Bamboo could be grown for wood pulp in Alabama. It has several advantages for this use, but a number of problems need to be solved before extensive plantings are made.
REFERENCES ON BAMBOO
Popular type publications of interest to the general public:
- ANONYMOUS. 1961. Growing Ornamental Bamboo. Home and Garden Bull. No. 76. U.S. Dept. Of Agr., CRD, ARS.
- GALLOWAY, B. T. 1925. Bamboos: Their Culture and Uses in the United States. Dept. Bull. No. 1329, U.S. Dept. Of Agr., Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction, Bureau of Plant Industry.
- ______________, 1928. Bamboos and Bamboo Culture. U.S. Dept. Of Agr., Leaf. No. 18.
- McCLURE, F.A. 1957. Bamboos of the Genus Phyllostachys Under Cultivation in the United States. Agricultural Handbook No. 114, U.S. Dept. Of Agr., ARS.
- ______________, 1958. Bamboo As A Source of Forage. Proc. 4B:609-64. Pacific Science Assoc.
- McILHENNY, E. A. 1945. Bamboo - A Must for the South. The National Horticultural Magazine.
- SHEPHERD. W. D. and E. U. DILLARD. 1953. Best Grazing Rates for Beef Production on Cane Range. N.C. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bull. 384.
- YOUNG, ROBERT A. 1946. Bamboos for Northern Gardens. Arnoldia, Vol 6, No. 7-9.
- ______________, 1945. Bamboos in American Horticulture (I). The National Horticultural Magazine, Vol. 24, No. 3, p. 171-196.
- ______________,1945. Bamboos in American Horticulture. (II). The National Horticultural Magazine, Vol. 24, No. 4, p. 244-291.
- ______________, 1946. Bamboos in American Horticulture (III). The National Horticultural Magazine, Vol. 25, No. 1, p. 40-64.
- ______________, 1946. Bamboos in American Horti