Bamboo Cultivation Research Articles

Regulatory networks of senescence-associated gene-transcription factors promote degradation in Moso bamboo shoots.

Bamboo cultivation, particularly Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), holds significant economic importance in various regions worldwide. Bamboo shoot degradation (BSD) severely affects productivity and economic viability. However, despite its agricultural consequences, the molecular mechanisms underlying BSD remain unclear. Consequently, we explored the dynamic changes of BSD through anatomy, physiology and the transcriptome. Our findings reveal ruptured protoxylem cells, reduced cell wall thickness and the accumulation of sucrose and reactive oxygen species (ROS) during BSD. Transcriptomic analysis underscored the importance of genes related to plant hormone signal transduction, sugar metabolism and ROS homoeostasis in this process. Furthermore, BSD appears to be driven by the coexpression regulatory network of senescence-associated gene transcription factors (SAG-TFs), specifically PeSAG39, PeWRKY22 and PeWRKY75, primarily located in the protoxylem of vascular bundles. Yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase assays demonstrated that PeWRKY22 and PeWRKY75 activate PeSAG39 expression by binding to its promoter. This study advanced our understanding of the molecular regulatory mechanisms governing BSD, offering a valuable reference for enhancing Moso bamboo forest productivity.

Consequential life cycle assessment of bamboo leaf ash generation: A Brazilian context

The potential of biomass growth, such as from bamboo leaves, as a source of electricity provides an optimistic scenario for the sustainable development of new green building materials. To validate robust life cycle inventory (LCI) data for incoming high-quality silica sources for cementitious materials, a consequential life cycle assessment (CLCA) on the bamboo leaves ash (BLA) with a prospective approach was conducted. The LCI data was collected in Southeastern Brazil with a prospective maturity in biomass electricity system. The data was gathered by analyzing the various stages involved in the production of BLA, including bamboo cultivation, leaf collection, cogeneration, raw BLA beneficiation, and its impact on cement and electricity marginal production systems. According to the multifunctionality solution, the environmental impacts results of CLCA were discussed using a sensibility analysis with two attributional life cycle assessment (ALCA) scenarios as allocation and “zero environmental load” (considering BLA as residue). The scenarios demonstrate the potential for sustainable use of BLA, especially for its impact on climate change, including the biogenic carbon category. Also, consequences such as avoiding BLA landfilling and increasing the potential for bamboo agricultural holdings to become energy independent was included in the study conclusion. While these results are positive, the prospect of maturing electricity production requires the development of other high-quality materials, such as sugarcane bagasse ash, sugarcane leaf ash and rice husk ash. However, the positives consequences did not overcome the negative impacts from the transportation of BLA into its system boundaries, once the highway transport model is the manly in the Brazilian context. Hence, this study provides important and reproducible pathways for developing LCI data on other biomass ashes, assisting future studies on green building materials.

POVERTY ERADICATION OF SHIFTING CULTIVATORS THROUGH BAMBOO CULTIVATION: A CASE STUDY OF NORTH DISTRICT OF TRIPURA, INDIA

The study makes an attempt to assess the poverty eradication of Jhumias through the bamboo cultivation in North Tripura district of Tripura. The present study is an empirical study based on both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected with the help of a well-structured questionnaire from 120 bamboo cultivator households randomly (who previously involved in shifting cultivation) selected from the three subdivisions of the North Tripura district. The result indicates that poverty among the shifting cultivators are reduced after rehabilitation through the bamboo cultivation. The headcount index, poverty gap index, human poverty index and multidimensional poverty index showed that during shifting cultivation respectively 100 per cent, 87 per cent, 88.2 per cent and 90 per cent jhumias were fallen under the poverty line in North Tripura district. It means intensity of poverty were very high during the shifting cultivation period. Headcount index, poverty gap index, human poverty index and multidimensional poverty index showed that after rehabilitation of jhumias through the bamboo cultivation respectively zero per cent, zero per cent, 3.29 per cent and 0.3 per cent are under the poverty line. It means poverty among the jhumias are effectively reduced after bamboo cultivation. Thus the paper suggests that bamboo cultivation will be a useful strategy for rehabilitation of jhumias and poverty eradication.

An economic analysis of bamboo plantations and feedstock delivered cost in the Southern US for the manufacturing of fiber‐based bioproducts

AbstractBamboo, recognized for its rapid growth, high yield, and fiber performance is prominent in the fiber‐based bioproduct industry. However, the absence of US industrial bamboo plantations for fiber production necessitates reliance on imports or locally manufactured products using imported bamboo fibers, predominantly from China. This study evaluates the economic viability of cultivating bamboo in the Southern US for fiber production, with a case study on hygiene tissue products. The supply‐chain analysis was assessed to calculate bamboo chips' minimum selling price (MSP) at the farm gate for an 8% internal rate of return (IRR). The MSP, influenced primarily by land rental costs, ranges from USD 48 to 55 per bone‐dry metric ton (BDt). Despite an initial establishment cost of ~USD 2 000 ha−1 and profitability by year 5, bamboo is a viable, long‐term fiber alternative. Successful bamboo cultivation in the US could lead to a more sustainable implementation of alternative non‐wood fibers for hygiene tissue applications.

In vitro mass propagation of Dendrocalamus asper (Giant bamboo) through direct organogenesis

Dendrocalamus asper (giant bamboo) is a clumping type of bamboo belonging to the Poaceae family. Due to its economic and environmental value, demand for this species has increased tremendously. Conventional propagation methods have limitations due to low seed viability and the lack of healthy clumps. Therefore, an in vitro mass propagation protocol was developed to provide healthy plants for large-scale plantations. Seeds were used as the explant and they were surface sterilized and cultured on MS medium free of growth regulators. Nodal segments taken from in vitro germinated seedlings were used for shoot initiation. The best medium for shoot induction (MS medium supplemented with 0.0–2.5 mg/L BAP), best medium for multiple shoot induction (MS medium supplemented with 0.0–5.0 mg/L BAP), effect of shoot cluster size (shoot clusters containing 1–4 shoots) and effect of physical state of the medium (semisolid and liquid media) on multiple shoot induction were determined using shoots per node, mean shoot length and mean number of leaves per shoot after 6 weeks of incubation. Elongated shoots were transferred into a rooting medium and the best medium for root induction (MS medium supplemented with 0.0–5.0 mg/L IBA and IAA) and effect of cluster size (shoot clusters containing 1–4 shoots) on rooting were determined using the number of roots and root length after 6 weeks of incubation. All the cultures were maintained under a 16-hour photoperiod. Well-developed plantlets were transferred to coir pellets and after four weeks transferred into different potting mixtures containing different combinations of sand, compost and coir dust. Unless otherwise mentioned there were at least twenty replicates in all treatments. The highest mean number of shoots per node (16.87±0.52), mean shoot length (4.12±0.27 cm) and mean number of leaves per shoot (4.80±0.33) were observed in the MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L BAP. The MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/L BAP was the best for multiple shoot induction, shoot cluster with 3 shoots was the best cluster size and the liquid medium had a better effect on shoot multiplication. The half-strength MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/L IBA was the best for in vitro root induction with the highest mean number of roots (7.15±0.77) and a mean root length of 10.79±1.11 cm. Shoot clusters with 3 shoots was the best cluster size for root induction. A sand: compost: coir dust (1:1:1) mixture was the best potting mixture giving 100% survival. These findings provide a reliable micropropagation protocol for D. asper, which holds great promise for meeting the growing demand for bamboo resources and promoting sustainable bamboo cultivation.

Harnessing the potential of Pseudoxytenanthera bamboo rhizome for enhanced high-friction assistive solutions

Bamboo cultivation has surged globally, yet environmental concerns arise due to the invasive nature of bamboo rhizomes, often overlooked in favour of shoots. Despite being a renewable resource with rapid growth, rhizomes are underutilized in engineering due to their limited tensile strength from short fibers and hydroxyl group presence. This study explores the untapped potential of Pseudoxytenanthera stocksii (P. stocksii) [Syn. Dendrocalamus stocksii] rhizomes (PSR), enhancing their engineering properties by chemically treating and displacing hydroxyl groups to mitigate their hydrophobic nature. Utilizing the inherent compressive strength of bamboo, treated P. stocksii rhizomes are employed in fabricating composites through hot compression molding, tailored for high-friction assistive applications. Comprehensive analyses, including physical, chemical, and tribological assessments, evaluate PSR for high-friction scenarios, benchmarking them against culm composites and other natural fibers. Results indicate that benzoylated P. stocksii rhizome composites (BPSRC) exhibit properties comparable to, and in some cases surpass, many natural fibre composites. Superior thermal adaptability, revealed through thermogravimetric analysis, positions BPSRC as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional natural fibre composites. Tribological tests underscore the adaptability of PSR composites for high-friction assistive applications, presenting a promising avenue for sustainable bamboo utilization and environmentally conscious engineering solutions.

Comparative life cycle assessment of flooring options for sustainable buildings

Purpose This study aims to quantify and compare the environmental impacts of Marble-stone and Kota-stone flooring options widely used for buildings in India. The study discusses the possibility of carbon sequestration through Bamboo cultivation in India. Design/methodology/approach The study has followed a standard life cycle assessment (LCA) framework based on ISO 14040 guidelines. Three distinct phases have been compared on midpoint and endpoint assessment categories – raw material, polishing and disposal. Primary data has been collected from the construction site in India, and secondary data has been collected from the Ecoinvent 3.0 database. Previous studies have been referred to discuss and calculate the area of bamboo cultivation required to sequestrate the generated carbon from the flooring. Findings The study has found that endpoint category damage to resources, and midpoint categories of climate change, metal depletion and agricultural land use are highly impacted in building floorings. The study has also found that the Marble-stone floor generates higher environmental impacts than the Kota-stone floor in most of the midpoint and endpoint impact categories. This difference is significant in the raw material phase due to the different compositions of stones. The study also found that Bamboo has excellent potential to act as a carbon sink and mitigate the generated carbon. Research limitations/implications This study excludes human labour, cutting and distribution of floor tiles made of Marble-stone and Kota-stone. The researcher can use the study to evaluate, compare and benchmark the various building flooring options from the environmental perspective. The study aids to the body of knowledge available on the various building flooring options by presenting the LCA or the environmental impacts generated by two flooring options. It is expected that the architects and builders can use these results to develop carbon-neutral buildings. This study provides a methodology for governments, constructors, builders and individuals to evaluate, compare and benchmark the various construction materials from the environmental perspective by computing the environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of the materials. Originality/value This study compares two widely used building flooring options using the LCA methodology and evaluates the potential of bamboo cultivation near the buildings for carbon sinks. The study is unique because it shows the environmental impacts of two flooring options and the carbon sequestration method to mitigate/absorb the generated environmental impacts in or around the building itself through bamboo cultivation. This study may set the foundation for carbon-neutral buildings.

Suitability of bamboo to the ecological conditions in Ba Be district, Bac Kan province, Vietnam

In Vietnamese culture, bamboo holds deep symbolic significance. However, in recent years, as a result of evolving usage patterns and the introduction of alternative materials in the face of a rapidly developing modern market economy, industrialisation, and urbanisation, bamboo's economic and social value has dwindled. Nevertheless, with the pressing challenges of climate change, environmental pollution, and the depletion of natural resources, bamboo is experiencing a resurgence in importance within the lives of Vietnamese people. Ba Be district, situated in Bac Kan province, stands as one of the country's most impoverished regions. Natural bamboo thrives in 14 out of 15 communes, with Dong Phuc commune being the exception. Planted bamboo is found in 14 out of 15 communes, excluding Cho Ra town, covering approximately 7.9 % of the entire district's natural area (NA). The district's vast terrain, featuring slopes exceeding 15°, presents formidable obstacles to socio-economic development. This study aims to shed light on the distribution of bamboo forests in Ba Be district and presents an assessment of bamboo's suitability within its natural surroundings. The study employs the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method and spatial statistics, using remote sensing data supplied by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Ba Be district. The results demonstrate that 60 % of Ba Be district's NA is conducive to bamboo cultivation and growth. The findings of this research provide local authorities with a scientifically grounded basis for strategic planning, enabling bamboo to emerge as a pivotal resource within production forests. This approach outlines the ideal spatial distribution for bamboo cultivation and development, ultimately fostering the sustainable utilisation of local natural resources to support both immediate and long-term local socio-economic development.

Enhancement of Phytoremediation of Heavy Metal Pollution Using an Intercropping System in Moso Bamboo Forests: Characteristics of Soil Organic Matter and Bacterial Communities

Heavy metal pollution in soil is a major global issue, and one effective method for addressing it is phytoremediation through bamboo planting. Nevertheless, there is a notable gap in our knowledge as no studies have explored the characteristics of soil organic matter (SOM) and the bacterial communities in bamboo forests during the remediation process. To bridge this knowledge gap, we conducted research to investigate the impact of different bamboo planting patterns on the SOM characteristics and microbial communities in soils contaminated with heavy metals. The contents of SOM and dissolved organic matter (DOM) in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils differed significantly between monocropping and intercropping systems, with DOM accounting for only 1.7%–2.5% of SOM. Fourier transform infrared spectra showed that the contents of SOM polysaccharides C-O, carbonate C-O, aliphatic methyl, and methylene increased, while the aromatic C=C abundance decreased in the intercropping rhizosphere soil. The differences between bamboo cultivation patterns in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils were elucidated using the biomarkers, including MND1 and Nitrospira (non-rhizosphere), and Sphingomonas (rhizosphere). Heavy metals, DOM, SOM, and refined organic functional groups, especially C-O in polysaccharides and symmetric carboxylate, were the determining factors of soil bacterial communities. Compared to monocropping, intercropping increased the accumulation of Zn and Cd in bamboo shoots by 35% and 40%, respectively, and hence, intercropping soil, with a low toxicity, was suitable for bamboo shoot sprouting. Intercropping can alter the characteristics of SOM and bacterial communities and plays a vital role in phytoremediation and shoot growth in bamboo forests. Future studies on soil carbon dynamics and nutrient status during heavy metal remediation will improve our knowledge of soil transformation and its impact on soil ecosystem health and productivity.

Ethnobotany of pokot communities on bamboo species in the dryland areas of West Pokot County, Kenya

Communities in dryland areas of West Pokot in Kenya rely on fragile degraded ecosystems that have led to famines, low productivity and income. Although cultivating bamboo provides solutions to part of these problems, the benefits of bamboo cultivation are species and site-specific. However, no research has established the ethnobotanical knowledge of bamboo in West Pokot, making it difficult to upscale its cultivation. The study aimed at 1) determining the level of awareness of bamboo 2) the uses of bamboo 3) factors motivating and hindering its cultivation. The study adopted an analytical cross-sectional survey research design. Simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used in selecting the study site. A Systematic random sampling technique was used in selecting households to be used in establishing local knowledge through questionnaires. Data were analysed using chi-square test of fit, chi-square test of association and cochran’s Q test of K-related samples. Results showed that farmer to farmer approach (38.9%) was the main source of information. Among the respondents, 70.6% of them were aware of bamboo out of which 67.6% were aware of its uses. The commonly identified uses were soil conservation (48.1%), shade provision (39.5%), fencing material (38.8%) and construction material (36.9%). The findings revealed that 74.1% of the respondents were willing to cultivate bamboo due to its environmental, economic and cultural benefits among others. However, inadequate knowledge of bamboo planting and management techniques (51.8%) is the main impeding factor to the cultivation of bamboo in the region. Therefore, forestry and agricultural extension agents in the county should sensitize and train farmers on bamboo establishment and management for farmers to realize its full potential.

Ethnobotany of pokot communities on bamboo species in the dryland areas of West Pokot County, Kenya

Communities in dryland areas of West Pokot in Kenya rely on fragile degraded ecosystems that have led to famines, low productivity and income. Although cultivating bamboo provides solutions to part of these problems, the benefits of bamboo cultivation are species and site-specific. However, no research has established the ethnobotanical knowledge of bamboo in West Pokot, making it difficult to upscale its cultivation. The study aimed at 1) determining the level of awareness of bamboo 2) the uses of bamboo 3) factors motivating and hindering its cultivation. The study adopted an analytical cross-sectional survey research design. Simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used in selecting the study site. A Systematic random sampling technique was used in selecting households to be used in establishing local knowledge through questionnaires. Data were analysed using chi-square test of fit, chi-square test of association and cochran’s Q test of K-related samples. Results showed that farmer to farmer approach (38.9%) was the main source of information. Among the respondents, 70.6% of them were aware of bamboo out of which 67.6% were aware of its uses. The commonly identified uses were soil conservation (48.1%), shade provision (39.5%), fencing material (38.8%) and construction material (36.9%). The findings revealed that 74.1% of the respondents were willing to cultivate bamboo due to its environmental, economic and cultural benefits among others. However, inadequate knowledge of bamboo planting and management techniques (51.8%) is the main impeding factor to the cultivation of bamboo in the region. Therefore, forestry and agricultural extension agents in the county should sensitize and train farmers on bamboo establishment and management for farmers to realize its full potential

Utilization of bamboo resources and their market value in the western Himalayan region of India

India has the second richest diversity of bamboos, with a wide variety of indigenous and exotic bamboo species. They are found in and around forest and non-forest areas and have immense socioeconomic, cultural, and ecological significance. The various uses of bamboo mean that it is an important non-timber forest product that has multiple roles in the maintenance, development and protection of the environment. The Himalayan region has untapped bamboo resource potential; and this study reviews the existing literature. It is supported by research experience on the bamboo resources of the western Himalaya region of India (mainly focused on distribution, utilization and marketing). The western Himalayas have 14 bamboo species with a scattered to moderate distribution in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Jammu and Kashmir have low bamboo diversity. A survey of the major markets in the western Himalaya revealed that there is a wide range of useful and decorative bamboo products available in the market. Bamboo is an important resource in western Himalaya and an increase in bamboo cultivation and its use could help boost livelihoods while providing a number of environmental benefits.

Effect of Soil Organic Mulching Combined with Aeration Treatment on Soil Quality, Nutrients Content, and Lei Bamboo Shoot Production

Lei bamboo cultivation is an important economic activity in the Zhejiang province of China. However, extensive management practices such as organic mulching aimed at optimizing Lei bamboo production usually have a long-term negative impact on soil pH. Thus, it is important for novel management practices that consider not only bamboo production but also soil quality to be developed. In this study, we evaluated the effect of four conditions: organic mulching combined with aeration (MA), organic mulching and no aeration (MNA), aeration and no mulching (NMA), and control treatment (CK) on soil quality parameters and Lei bamboo shoot production. The Lei bamboo stands have been receiving similar treatments for 3–4 years, but for this study, organic mulch materials (rice husks, stalks, bamboo leaves, non-living plant biomass materials and plants biochar) were reapplied in October 2021 and soil sampling was done in April 2022. Our results showed that the average oxygen content at a sampling depth of 10 cm in CK, MA, and NMA was 21.6%, 21.7%, and 20.7%, respectively. However, when mulching was applied without aeration (MNA), soil oxygen content and pH were decreased by 6.3% and 0.7 units compared to CK. Moreover, for this treatment soil pH was as low as 4.28 at a depth of 30 cm. Nevertheless, when mulching was applied together with aeration (MA), all soil quality parameters, including the contents of organic matter and nitrogen were significantly increased (p < 0.05). For MA, soil pH was generally > 5.0 even at a depth of 30 cm. For all the treatment plots, the number of bamboo shoots that were produced after one month of treatment followed the sequence MA (591.0) > MNA (554.3) > NMA (305.7) > CK (53.3). Even though NMA and MNA treatments both improved bamboo growth by providing the required nutrients, we recommend the combined application of mulching and aeration (MA) for long-term Lei bamboo plantation management since the combination has the potential to improve nutrient supply and bamboo growth while retarding soil acidification.

Bio-organic fertilizers improve Dendrocalamus farinosus growth by remolding the soil microbiome and metabolome.

Organic and microbial fertilizers have potential advantages over inorganic fertilizers in improving soil fertility and crop yield without harmful side-effects. However, the effects of these bio-organic fertilizers on the soil microbiome and metabolome remain largely unknown, especially in the context of bamboo cultivation. In this study, we cultivated Dendrocalamus farinosus (D. farinosus) plants under five different fertilization conditions: organic fertilizer (OF), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bio-fertilizer (Ba), Bacillus mucilaginosus Krassilnikov bio-fertilizer (BmK), organic fertilizer plus Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bio-fertilizer (OFBa), and organic fertilizer plus Bacillus mucilaginosus Krassilnikov bio-fertilizer (OFBmK). We conducted 16S rRNA sequencing and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to evaluate the soil bacterial composition and soil metabolic activity in the different treatment groups. The results demonstrate that all the fertilization conditions altered the soil bacterial community composition. Moreover, the combination of organic and microbial fertilizers (i.e., in the OFBa and OFBmK groups) significantly affected the relative abundance of soil bacterial species; the largest number of dominant microbial communities were found in the OFBa group, which were strongly correlated with each other. Additionally, non-targeted metabolomics revealed that the levels of soil lipids and lipid-like molecules, and organic acids and their derivatives, were greatly altered under all treatment conditions. The levels of galactitol, guanine, and deoxycytidine were also markedly decreased in the OFBa and OFBmK groups. Moreover, we constructed a regulatory network to delineated the relationships between bamboo phenotype, soil enzymatic activity, soil differential metabolites, and dominant microbial. The network revealed that bio-organic fertilizers promoted bamboo growth by modifying the soil microbiome and metabolome. Accordingly, we concluded that the use of organic fertilizers, microbial fertilizers, or their combination regulated bacterial composition and soil metabolic processes. These findings provide new insights into how D. farinosus-bacterial interactions are affected by different fertilization regiments, which are directly applicable to the agricultural cultivation of bamboo.

Bamboo as a Cost-Effective Source of Renewable Carbon for Sustainable Economic Development in Low- and Middle-Income Economies

Low- and middle-income countries have tremendous potential for renewable energy production, including production of renewable carbon from locally prolific crops. In this work, bamboo endemic to West Africa (Bambusa vulgaris) was studied as a feedstock for the production of renewable sugars as the gateway to the local production of biofuels and bio-based chemical products. The effectiveness of delignification and amorphization pretreatments was evaluated, with the observation that quantitative (97 ± 4%) sugar yields could be obtained with a rapid initial hydrolysis rate (82 ± 4 mg g−1 h−1) but only when amorphization was performed following delignification. Experimental measurements and further characterization using 13C solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) helped establish the importance of amorphization and delignification and explained why the order of these treatments determined their effectiveness. The economics of the bamboo-based process were compared with those projected for corn stover, selected as a well-studied benchmark crop. Because of the higher bamboo growth rate compared with corn stover and the effectiveness of the pretreatment, the projected net present value (NPV) of the bamboo biorefinery was positive ($190 MM, U.S.), whereas the corn biorefinery projected to negative NPV (−$430 MM, U.S.). A socially sustainable framework for deployment of a bamboo biorefinery in a low- or middle-income economy was then proposed, guided by the principle of local ownership and stakeholder buy-in. The findings presented here motivate further investment in development of bamboo cultivation and conversion to sugars as a rapid route to decarbonization of low- and middle-income economies.

Bamboo for biomass energy production

Energy consumption in human society has increased as more energy supplies are required to meet the needs of the world’s growing population. However, there is a major concern about fulfilling energy demand while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Bamboo-based biomass has great potential for use as a raw material for the production of biofuels and bioenergy. Bamboo possesses excellent fuel qualities that can be converted into solid, liquid, and gaseous biofuels. Hence, the cultivation and harvesting operations must be performed efficiently to ensure that the availability of this biomass is sufficient to meet the demand for biofuel production. Several studies have shown that the micropropagation technique has increased bamboo production and that proper bamboo plantation management can benefit both the environment and society. Nevertheless, there are several challenges in bamboo cultivation and biofuel production, such as environmental impact from land management and economic risk from the industrial supply chain. Bamboo-producing countries, including Malaysia, have initiated several policies to propose strategies for sustaining the bamboo industry.

An overview of bamboo cultivation in Southern Italy

This study examines the development of bamboo cultivation in Europe and especially in Italy. An economic and environmental analysis of two case studies located in Calabria was undertaken, looking at the multiple products that can be obtained from bamboo, notably the production of shoots and carbon sequestration. The results suggest that bamboo cultivation is well-adapted to the Mediterranean climate and has considerable ecological and economic potential. • First study on the economic and environmental aspects of bamboo cultivation in Italy • Multiple uses of bamboo: production of culms, sprouts and CO 2 storage • For Italian farmers, bamboo cultivation can represent an opportunity to diversify production and consequently income.

Response of Moso Bamboo Growth and Soil Nutrient Content to Strip Cutting

Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) is a critical forest resource in subtropical China, and reasonable cutting management of moso bamboo forests is essential for improving the productivity of bamboo forests, increasing the income of farmers, and improving the ecological environment. Therefore, we set up sample plots with different cutting widths at the Yixing Forest Farm in Jiangsu Province in December 2017. Moso bamboo growth surveys and soil sampling were conducted in May 2018 to study the effects of different cutting widths on the growth and nutrient content of moso bamboo forests. Our results indicate that strip cutting had significant effects on degraded bamboo shoots, the number of new bamboos, and their ratios. Soil elements showed surface aggregation, and cutting increased the soil nutrient content. Principal component analysis showed that stand characteristics (diameter at breast height and number of new bamboo shoots) were positively associated with total phosphorus and available phosphorus but negatively correlated with available potassium, total potassium, and soil organic carbon. A cutting width of 8 m resulted in rich nutrient content, which is suitable for bamboo cultivation. These results will provide theoretical guidance for the formulation of scientific and reasonable strip cutting methods for moso bamboo forests.

Mechanochemical Pretreatment for Waste‐Free Conversion of Bamboo to Simple Sugars: Utilization of Available Resources for Developing Economies

AbstractIn this work, mechanochemical pretreatment of Bambusa vulgaris is evaluated for waste‐free production of renewable sugars for subsequent fermentation. After a 60 min mechanochemical pretreatment followed by enzyme hydrolysis at 50 °C, 62% of the available carbohydrate can be recovered as fermentable sugars, primarily in the form of glucose and xylose. Structural and chemical analysis finds that mechanochemical pretreatment increases accessible surface area and amorphizes the crystalline cellulose present in bamboo, both of which increase reactivity. The experimental results are then used for a systems‐level analysis of ethanol production in Nigeria. The energy required for mechanochemical pretreatment is estimated to be 0.5–5.6 MJ per kg of bamboo; this energy can be provided by solar power, while still satisfying existing needs for stationary power. Ethanol production on marginal land alone is projected to be sufficient to replace nearly 80% of Nigeria's current gasoline usage while reserving sufficient land area for solar power generation to meet current electricity needs, meaning that bamboo cultivation followed by mechanochemical pretreatment can play an important role for utilizing locally available resources without generation of new chemical wastes.

Effects of Bamboo (Phyllostachys praecox) Cultivation on Soil Nitrogen Fractions and Mineralization

The mineralization of soil organic nitrogen (N) is the key process in the cycling of N in terrestrial ecosystems. Land-use change to bamboo (Phyllostachys praecox) cultivation that later entails organic material mulching combined with chemical fertilizer application will inevitably influence soil N mineralization (Nmin) and availability dynamics. However, the soil Nmin rates associated with various N fractions of P. praecox in response to land-use change and mulching are not well understood. The present study aimed to understand the effects of land-use change to P. praecox bamboo cultivation and organic material mulching on soil Nmin and availability. Soil properties and organic N fractions were measured in a P. praecox field planted on former paddy fields, a mulched P. praecox field, and a rice (Oryza sativa L.) field. Soil Nmin was determined using a batch incubation method, with mathematical models used to predict soil Nmin kinetics and potential. The conversion from a paddy field to P. praecox plantation decreased the soil pH, soil total N, and soil organic matter (SOM) content significantly (p < 0.05); the mulching method induced further soil acidification. The mulching treatment significantly augmented the SOM content by 7.08% compared with the no-mulching treatment (p < 0.05), but it decreased soil hydrolyzable N and increased the nonhydrolyzable N (NHN) content. Both the Nmin rate and cumulative mineralized N were lowest in the mulched bamboo field. The kinetics of Nmin was best described by the ‘two-pool model’ and ‘special model’. The Pearson’s correlation analysis and the Mantel test suggested soil pH was the dominant factor controlling the soil cumulative mineralized N and mineralization potential in the bamboo fields. These findings could help us better understand the N cycling and N availability under mulching conditions for shifts in land use, and provide a scientific basis for the sustainable management of bamboo plantations.