Study on the growth of white bamboo (Dendrocalamus membranaceus Munro) under different ecological factors
Date
2009
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Abstract
White bamboo is one of the most popular and valuable forest products in mountainous areas of Northern Vietnam. Long-term, sustainable management of white bamboo plantations will require improved knowledge about the ecological features of white bamboo in relation to growth. I examined patterns of bamboo growth and light interception in relation to topographic position and management intensity. I also determined how ecological factors relate to white bamboo growth, identifying possible nutrient limitation, and the efficiency of light use as a factor explaining growth patterns. Topographic position had strong effects on white bamboo growth. The differences between white bamboo growth on footslopes and hilltops were in total culm volume, DBH and height, and number of economically valuable culms. Management intensity had significant effects on DBH and height, total culm volume and culm wall volume as well as on dry culm mass. Pure intensive management had greatest white bamboo growth among the three management intensities. Topographic position significantly affected culm DBH, culm height, culm volume, and number of economically valuable culm light use efficiency. Management intensity affected culm DBH, culm height, culm volume, culm wall volume; and on dry culm mass light use efficiencies. Total culm volume correlated well with soil moisture. Culm wall volume had strong correlation with soil pH, and a moderate correlation with pH was also demonstrated by dry culm mass. The number of economically valuable culms correlated moderately with soil pH and cation exchange capacity. A fertilization experiment of 4 fertilizers (nitrogen, potassium, phosphate, and N+P+K) in 12 plots in Cau Hai showed a growth increase in response to N. In general, this study supported the hypothesis that topographic position and management intensity strongly influence white bamboo growth. There was a difference in white bamboo growth across four fertilizer experiments but the difference was only significant for nitrogen.
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Dendrocalamus membranaceus
light interception
management intensity
white bamboo
forestry