Aboveground Biomass Productivity and Nutrient Use Dynamics of Clumping Tropical Bamboos in Northern Thailand

Abstract

Bamboo has great potential in restoring degraded lands while providing multiple environmental benefits and harvestable products at regular intervals due to its unique characteristics of rapid growth. However, a comprehensive and species-specific knowledge of biomass productivity, nutrient dynamics, and potential harvest-induced nutrient losses is lacking. This study compared the biomass and nutrient dynamics of four bamboo species Bambusa oldhamii Munro, Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro, Bambusa tulda Roxburgh, and Dendrocalamus brandisii (Munro) Kurz in Northern Thailand. Field measurements, laboratory analyses, and statistical modeling were used to estimate their aboveground biomass (AGB), nutrient use efficiency (NUE), and nutrient stocks. Culm diameter at breast height (DBH) and age were identified as the most reliable predictors of AGB. The study revealed that D. brandisii had superior productivity and NUE compared to the other species, particularly the introduced non-native bamboo species. These findings emphasize the need for species-specific strategies that consider both biomass productivity and nutrient dynamics. Furthermore, D. brandisii can be suggested as a native candidate for bamboo plantations in Northern Thailand and similar environments, given its high productivity and efficient nutrient use, underpinning its potential contribution to environmental rehabilitation and rural livelihoods. However, more research is required to minimize nutrient losses and maintain a productive age structure.