Advances in Bamboo Science最新文献

Bamboo is a versatile resource with a long history of use in construction, paper production, medicine, textiles, and food. It also offers ecological benefits such as carbon sequestration and soil conservation. Bamboo's fast growth rate makes it a potential tool for mitigating climate change, while its organic matter can improve soil quality and prevent soil erosion. In Nigeria, favourable conditions for various bamboo species exist, and the plant's parts can help with environmental clean-up. However, low bamboo cultivation and potential issues like lack of genetic diversity and loss of biodiversity through monoculture cultivation need to be addressed. Further research is necessary to fully harness bamboo's potential and establish sustainable cultivation methods in Nigeria.

Bamboo, also known as "poor man's timber," is one of Nepal’s most significant forest species and is widely distributed through the country. Bamboo resources have tremendous social, cultural, and ecological implications, suggesting a need for further investigation and exploration. The majority of past studies have focused on the socio-economic and ethno-botanical aspects of bamboo in parts of Nepal but the ecological information and research statistics for bamboo, as well as its contribution to Nepalese communities, are still unexplored. This study reviewed the existing literature, and was supported by our research experience on the bamboo resource in Nepal. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) method for systematically reviewing the literature related to bamboo. The review process mainly focused on three aspects that included (1) research trends on bamboo forests, (2) a review of the status and distribution of bamboo species in Nepal, (3) an assessment of bamboo forest ecosystem services. We found that a total of 12 genera and more than 53 bamboo species have been recorded in Nepal, with highest species diversity in the Hill region. Bamboo in Nepal provides different ecosystem services ranging from social (spiritual significance for local communities), economic (lumber, medicine, water, biofuel, and crafts), to ecological (carbon stock/sequestration, landscape restoration). It forms the basis for local livelihoods as well as enhancing the climate resilience of local communities in Nepal. However, the majority of studies on bamboo have concentrated on its economic potential with a low focus on provisioning, habitat and cultural services. This represents a major gap. The lack of data on various aspects of the conservation status of bamboos and the ecosystem services that they provide indicates the need for more detailed and comprehensive research on these aspects.

Highland bamboo (Oldeania alpina) (K. Schum.) Stapleton (syn: Yushania alpina), is a naturally distributed and cultivated species in the south, south-west, central and north-western highlands of Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess and describe bamboo landraces in Ethiopia based on their dendrometric and morphological traits, and also to understand their potential uses in a local context and identify and recommend potential landraces for wider industrial application. It was carried out in potential highland bamboo growing areas of four regional states of Ethiopia, viz., Amhara, Oromia, Sidama, and Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Regions. An extensive field survey was conducted using “transect walk for direct observation” across bamboo stands to collect technical information on identifiable characteristics for ethno-taxonomy, potential household uses, and workability of the culms of the different highland bamboo landraces. The study revealed about 24 landraces with some distinct morphological differences and traditional uses. A cladistic method also exposed some hierarchical dissimilarity among clusters of highland bamboo landraces. In the principal component analysis, nodal area contributed the highest variability among the landraces. The study also found the existence of differences in the preference and utilization of different highland bamboo landraces for various products and purposes based on the properties of the landraces. Based on the preferences of knowledgeable local bamboo processors and quality features observed on the landraces in each of the specific sites, we conclude that landraces such as Lala, Lodo, Tsarzo, Hinkonokita, Sella, Midasho, Ganticha, Shimiti, Demamo, Tikuro and Agade be widely promoted in new areas in the highlands. This would enable wood-based industries to produce quality end products while maintaining the diversity of landraces in the landscape.

Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) have the potential to support sustainable livelihood development and forest conservation. Among NTFPs, bamboo has gained popularity as a potential substitute for wood-based timber. In Nepal, bamboo is a culturally and ecologically important plant distributed across major ecological regions. Despite its potential, the current use of bamboo in Nepal is limited. To address this, we conducted a study using expert interviews, a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis, and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to identify the key factors necessary for the successful commercialization of bamboo in Nepal. Our findings highlight the importance of local employment, marketing infrastructure, research and development, and product quality and delivery. Overall, the Nepalese bamboo industry shows high potential for development, with strengths and opportunities outweighing weaknesses and threats. Our study identifies four areas for improvement to support the commercialization of the Nepalese bamboo industry i) integrating traditional knowledge into innovative supply chains, ii) improving policy support, iii) building capacity in bamboo harvesting and management, and iv) utilizing community forestry networks to grow bamboo. Our results have implications for policymakers and industry stakeholders looking to develop sustainable and profitable bamboo industries in Nepal and beyond.

Micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) play an essential role in the economy of Indonesia, especially in rural areas. In Gunungkidul Regency, a small rural industry that has created many jobs is bamboo-based. This research focused on three bamboo-based industries: durable bamboo, kitchen utensils, and handicrafts (toys). We aimed to determine the economic, social, and environmental performances and the challenges faced in developing these industries. Studies of industry performance are important in developing the bamboo business sector, as they enable the identification of the current condition of the business and the challenges faced by actors within the industry. In addition, there have been few such studies, making any that are done extremely useful. We used field observations and semi-structured interviews, with the selection of respondents carried out purposively by applying a snowball approach. There was a total of 86 informants. The relevant attributes for assessing economic, social, and environmental performance were customer satisfaction, job creation, and the amount of wasted raw material, respectively. We found that the performance of the three bamboo value chains could be slightly optimized, although in general, the performance was good. In terms of economic performance, the value attributes desired by customers were being achieved. For social performance, this industry has been able to create various types of employment, although many are still in the form of temporary work and are dominated by men because of the relatively harsh working environment. In terms of environmental performance, raw bamboo materials were still ending up as waste. However, these industries support a vision of sustaining a green economy. We conclude that to develop bamboo-based industries in Gunungkidul Regency, the main challenges will be to develop and diversify the market. In terms of artisans’ capabilities to create new products, this is unquestionable. The government could act as a better business environment enabler to link craftsmen and potential buyers and to create new markets.

Cameroon is strongly committed to restoring degraded land through the sustainable use of bamboo and other non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and reduction of CO₂ emissions. However, research has not yet revealed how bamboo is perceived locally in production zones where most harvested species are wild and from natural forests. This assessed the local perception and knowledge of farmers in the Western Highlands of Cameroon on soil fertility in bamboo plantations. Ethnopedological surveys were conducted using semi-structured questionnaires in three departments of the Western Region. During the study, three focus groups were organized, followed by direct field observations and individual interviews with 200 people. The easily identifiable indicators used were soil colour, texture, fertility status, and water-holding capacity. The majority of respondents (67.5%) stated that the soils of bamboo plantations are infertile and not suitable for agriculture, 18.5% found these soils very fertile and suitable for agriculture and 14% found them moderate. The main points cited by farmers as positive for the use of bamboo are the fight against landslides and the reduction of soil erosion (33% and 30.5% of respondents, respectively). The main negative points cited were the invasive effect of bamboo and the extensive root system in the soil (52.5% and 15.5% of respondents respectively). To facilitate the adoption of bamboo in restoration projects in Cameroon, it is important to integrate farmers’ views into the policy formulation process. The results presented in this study will facilitate dialogue among farmers, agronomic advisors, and researchers. Policymakers and planners will also be beneficiaries of the research, and will be enabled to propose solutions for the better planning of restoration activities on bamboo.

Empirical evidence indicates that allelopathic chemicals produced by perennials plants result in a positive or negative change in the germination, growth, and behaviour of other plants growing in close association. This study aimed to investigate the allelopathic effects of Oldeania alpina leaf aqueous extract on germination and initial growth of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) test crops under laboratory conditions. Four different solvents (i.e., hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water) were used to prepare O. alpina leaf extracts. Then, the extracts were subjected to qualitative analysis to identify the presence of allelochemical compounds namely; flavonoids, phenols, tannins, terpenoids, steroids, quinones, coumarins, saponins, and, anthraquinones. Aqueous extract concentrations (i.e., 0 %, 2.5 %, 5 %, 7.5 %, and 10 %) were used to irrigate seeds of test crops using a completely randomized design. The analysis revealed that better germination percentage, speed, and time for both wheat and barley were observed at control while reduced as the concentration of the extract increased up to 10 %. Higher mean shoot growth for wheat (105.2 ± 14.6 mm) and for barley (94.3 ± 30.9 mm) were obtained for the control treatment. A similar trend was observed for root lengths of wheat (104.0 ± 12.4 mm) and barley (65.9 ± 18.4 mm). The mean values decreased for each of the studied parameters as the concentration of the extract increased. Except for anthraquinones, all tested allelochemicals in extracts inhibited germination and initial growth of barley and wheat crops. This implies that planting wheat and barley close to O. alpina may require field-level investigation.

The world is increasingly facing the conflicting pressures of economic growth and environmental protection, and forests have the capacity to sequester carbon from the atmosphere in large amounts. This study evaluated the biomass, carbon content and microbial activities of a naturally growing Bambusa vulgaris stand at the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), Ibadan, Oyo state. Three clumps were randomly selected for the study and analyzed to obtain the biomass, carbon content and microbial population. After harvesting, the culm samples were divided into leaf, branch and culm components and their respective fresh weights were taken. All the sub-samples were then oven-dried at 65 °C for 48 h and to get the oven-dried weight, a ratio of oven-dry to fresh weight was calculated. The total stand biomass for B. vulgaris was then determined and computed on a per hectare basis, while the microbiota were determined using standard methods. The B. vulgaris stand stored in total 59.37 t/ha carbon of which 30.55 t/ha were stored in the above-ground biomass (culms, branches and leaves), 1.53 t/ha in the below ground biomass and 24.29 t/ha in the soils. The total biomass stored by the stand was 59.42 t/ha, of which 56.59 t/ha was stored above ground and 2.83 t/ha in the below-ground biomass. Total biomass carbon content in B. vulgaris was 32.08 t/ha. The aboveground carbon storage was much higher in culms (16.69 t/ha) than in branches (8.52 t/ha), leaves (5.32 t/ha), in litter fall (0.02 t/ha) or rhizomes (1.53 t/ha). The total soil carbon content was 24.29 t/ha, of which 8.48 t/ha occurred at 0–15 cm depth, 8.19 t/ha at 15–30 cm, and 7.62 t/ha at 30–45 cm depth. A regression model was developed for future predictions of carbon content of B. vulgaris. About 16 microorganisms were identified in the study (10 bacteria and 6 fungi species) with populations ranging with soil depth. The amount of carbon sequestered and the short time needed for bamboo to grow makes it a good carbon sink, thereby helping to mitigate climate change issues.

Forests provide goods and services and the demand for these has increased over the years. To meet this demand, reforestation using fast-growing species is crucial. Bamboo is amongst the fastest-growing plant species. Consequently, the Ministry of Agriculture/East Africa Bamboo Project and the European Union Energy Project/INBAR introduced twenty-three bamboo species to Ethiopia. This study assessed the growth and biomass production potential of five of these exotic bamboo species (Dendrocalamus membranaceus, Dendrocalamus asper, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, Bambusa vulgaris and Guadua amplexifolia). A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was used. Nine seedlings of each species were planted per plot using two meters spacing between and within rows. Sprouted culms per clump, culm length, culm diameter at breast height (DBH), average number of nodes and internode length per culm were measured. At age of 3½ years after planting, one clump of each species per plot in each block was uprooted and sorted into different components (rhizome, culm, branch and leaves). The fresh weight of each component was measured and sub-samples were taken to dry to constant weight. One-way ANOVA and then Tukey's test were used to find significantly different group means. The growth performance, in terms of culm production, culm height, internode length and biomass production, of the species was significantly different. D. asper and D. hamiltonii had superior growth and biomass production. We therefore recommend planting these two species in Guangua district and other similar areas where they can enhance the livelihoods of the communities.