Physicochemical Characteristics Analysis of Biomass and Calorie Values of Several Types of Bamboo in Typologies of Altitude in Different Growing Sites

Abstract

Bamboo plants in West Sumatra spread from the lowlands to the highlands elevation with the varieties that are very diverse and their usefulness to the community is also very diverse. Some varieties of bamboo plants in the highlands of West Sumatra are currently used by the community as a source of energy (fuel) in the agricultural processing industry. The type of bamboo that is often used as fuel is betung and buluh. There are differences in the characteristics of biomass in the three types of bamboo plants that are important to be considered as a source of biomass. Type of Betung which is grown in the highlands has an average stem height of 15 meters with the number of stems per ha approximately between 60.968 – 76,800 stems. The aim of the study was to see the physiochemical characteristics of different types of bamboo in various typologies of elevation of growing site. There are variations in the physicochemical properties of bamboo at different varieties and at different elevations of growing sites.