Harvesting Bamboo for Biomass

For biomass purpose, when can the bamboo be harvested according to the biomass content and can an entire area be harvested and how long do I have to wait to harvest it again? Do you have the data age-biomass content and moisture content?

Does Dendrocalamus asper Grow Well in Florida?

I've read D. asper does well in Florida. I'm looking for something to completely overwhelm (thick and tall) a lot I have in Lake Placid Florida (zone 9b). Something invasive and aggressive that does not easily die. My soil is sandy and often moist. Something so dense it would be hard to penetrate. Anything that grows well and fast from seeds? If not Dendrocalamus asper, how about Bambusa vulgaris?

---

⭐ Best Answer:

Bambusa vulgaris would be the better choice, much faster spread. I take it you have neighbor issues? You are in luck that I have the starts you will need as well. I am in Fort Pierce Florida. No charge, but you will need a saw.

Growing Bamboo for Biomass in Greece

Hello, I am Panagiotis from Greece and I am interested in growing bamboo in my country. I want to use it for biomass so I need a type of bamboo that produces a lot of mass. I was thinking of something that I can plant at 1 x 1 m apart so I can plant a lot of them. Are there any suggestions to what bamboo species I could use?

Comparing Biomass of Beema with Guadua Bamboo

Do you know how Guadua compares to "Beema" (Bambusa balcooa) in India propagated by Growmore? Beema bamboo is very thick with a small hole so I'm trying to find reliable 3rd party info on the biomass of a culm when we start harvesting, presumably at the end of year 4.

Comments

Ahmed

Beema Bamboo is the solid bamboo compared to other types. “Beema” is a special breed variety by Dr. N. Barathi of Growmore Biotech Ltd., which has a potential to grow very fast and yields very high biomass due to the fact that the wall thickness of “Beema” Bamboo is 3 times more than other bamboo. The carbon content of “Beema” Bamboo is between 46 to 48%. The dry matter production of “Beema” Bamboo under optimum condition reaches 40 to 50 tons per acre or 100 to 125 tons per hectare. The total carbon accumulation every year, after 5 years of growth is from 18 tons to 23 tons per acre, which is equivalent to 69 tons to 80 tons per acre respectively.

Due to this fact, “Beema” Bamboo acts as a “Carbon Sink”. When “Beema” Bamboo is grown individually in the gardens and parks, it sequesters 400 to 500 kg of carbon dioxide every year, thereby reduces the Carbon dioxide in the surrounding places. “Beema” Bamboo generates 70 to 80 CER per acre / year, which is equivalent to 175 to 200 CER per hectare every year.

Carbon sequestration also can be obtained by generating electricity from the renewable biomass of bamboo. One acre of Bamboo produces sufficient biomass to produce 45 MW of electricity through gasification method. Apart from providing 45 CER as Carbon credit directly from the power generation, the process of Pyrolysis generates 7 ½ tons of carbon as bio-char. When the bio-char is supplied to the soil it is eligible for 28 CER as Carbon Credit. The application of bio-char to the soil enhances the crop productivity, improves soil tilt, fertility, water retention. The bio-char in the soil reduces the fertilizer quantity required as well as improves the soil quality of adverse soil resulting in growth of dense vegetation which additionally reduces the soil erosion.

Application of bio-char as soil amendment creates virtually a permanent carbon sink for over 1000 to 2000 years.

---

Stéphane Schröder

Thanks for copy / pasting this content from their corporate website. Unfortunately this is not a testimonial but their sales page!

It is recommended (by the company promoting this Beema Bamboo) to plant 1000 plants per acre (2470 per ha), which are harvestable in the 2nd year.

Every experienced bamboo growers knows that this is absolutely UNREALISTIC!!!

Beema Bamboo (Bambusa balcooa) is a dense clumper, at this planting distance of 4m2 per clump you could "theoretically" yield incredible amounts of biomass. But this would be true for any large timber bamboo species if planted in such density.

In fact, if 2470 Guadua angustifolia plants would be planted per hectare (instead of the recommended 238-400), the total accumulated biomass generation of 1 ha after 5 years would be: 1,548 ton, with 772 ton carbon fixation (yes, that's even ten times more than this Beema Bamboo).

Of course this is "just theory" since giant tropical bamboos can't grow to their full potential on such small distances. Furthermore, it is impossible to selectively harvest in such dense plantations. The bamboo must be clear cut after x amount of years, which beats the purpose of sustainable harvest, but it is of course a great marketing model for selling these seedlings!

---

Ahmed

Beema Bamboo is a solid bamboo, there is no doubt about that. Beema bamboo is cloned from an Indian variety of bamboo. From the recent govt research, it was proven that Beema bamboo results in high biomass. It has proven that just 200 acres are required to generate 1MW of electricity.

Beema bamboo grows at the speed of 1-1/2 feet per day.

---

Robin

Hello Stephane, what kind of bamboo would you suggest for an 300 acre energy plantation?

---

Stéphane Schröder

There are plenty of bamboo species that can be planted for energy production, but it will depend on what climate and soil you're planning to grow the bamboo. In tropical climates Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, and Guadua would do best since they are all giant timber genera. In temperate climates Phyllostachys would be the best choice.

I'm not saying that Beema bamboo or Bambusa balcooa aren't suited for energy production, just be careful with those astronomical yield projections.

---

Ahmed

If you are planning to plant the Energy plantation. I would suggest you to plant the Beema Bamboo for those 300 acres. Because there are plenty of reasons for planting Beema:

- You can plant up to 1000 plants / acre or 2500 / Ha
- Can start yielding from the second year
- Contains high biomass
- Thornless
- Thick walled

---

Stéphane Schröder

Ahmed, if you state that bamboo can be harvested 2 years after planting then I'm 100% sure you do not have any experience with bamboo cultivation nor are you a trustworthy source or good ambassador for Growmore Biotech, sorry.

Such claims do not only harm that company, it also harms the overall perception towards the bamboo industry in general. It's about time all these "too good to be true" stories about bamboo come to an end

---

Bob

I found the real contents of this post was not a comparison between Beema and Guadua but a battle between their respective supporters namely Ahmed and Stephane. I myself planted Beema since June 2011 and it is so good so far. Thick walled & high density, suitable for biomass production. That's all what I can inform to you all. Wishing you all the best.

---

Stéphane Schröder

Again Bob, I am not saying Beema bamboo isn't a good biomass producer, I am only disputing the REAL yield numbers here. You say it is a thick walled and high density bamboo which we already know, the question is how many (scientifically proven) tons of biomass are you currently harvesting per hectare per year?

---

Steve Suarez

I live in the Philippines and I am interested to know if there are matured Beema bamboo plantations here in our country for us to see. It's really hard to convince other people about the potential of this variety as a biomass fuel until we can see a demo or pilot plantation and power plant working in tandem successfully.

---

Joseph

We have a 30 hectare plantation of Beema in the Philippines. We started to plant in the first area in May 2012. The plants are now 9 meters high and all are thick walled.

Typhoon Haiyan bent some of the taller bamboo clumps so we had to cut them. All of them were thick walled about 25 mm thick.

If you want to visit the plantation you have to travel to Tablas Island, Romblon. We are in the town of Odiongan.

---

N. Barathi

Dear Mr. Stephane,
I regret to note the comments made by you on Beema bamboo. I am Dr. Barathi, a bamboo scientist from India who has developed the Beema bamboo and intensive farming in bamboo.
Beema bamboo is the superior genetic selection made by me out of Bambusa balcooa, and I am sure other bamboo scientists can also develop good genetic clones from other species of bamboo.
There are many Beema bamboo farms available in India and abroad. It is not theoretical but practically it is happening. I am sure you would know that a crop like sugarcane is planted with 30,000 plants in an acre yielding 40 tons to 100 tons per acre in one year's time. I have been working in sugarcane for a decade developed the intensive farming in Beema bamboo with only 1,000 plants and to give 40 tons after 2 years. I am sure you are aware that bamboo grows 10 times faster than sugarcane and 3 times taller than sugarcane.
Thanks, Mr. Bob, Mr. Joseph and Mr. Ahmed for sharing your experience of Beema bamboo.
I am thankful to "Guadua Bamboo - Bamboo Forum" to bring up the discussion and post these comments.

---

GPS

I am a farmer in the TARAI area of Uttarakhand. I am considering to go in for a bamboo plantation, to replace, Poplars. In my quest for elite planting material, I have travelled across most parts of India (Bamboo growing regions- Bihar, Orissa, M.P, Assam, Bengal, Maharashtra etc) and have been in touch with quite a few universities.
I have collected 5 to 6 genotypes, which I found interesting and having good growth potential. I have made a small little nursery plot to study- and eventually select suitable genotype(s) to scale-up.
I also got in touch with GROWMORE - requested them to provide cuttings - which they refused. They said that they will sell a minimum of 1000 tissue cultured plants, and that they were patented property. When I mentioned that my interest was to procure a few mother plants, for further vegetative propagation I was refused any planting material and was told that multiplication by V.P method would BE ILLEGAL, which I doubt very much.
I would like to highlight that the so called beema bamboo exists in Bihar, M.P etc and is not a "new" finding, thereby not patentable.

Yes I am inclined to believe that growmore is a scumbag.

---

rij gurung

Hello GPS,
We are grassroots environmental social entrepreneurs based in Nepal and have a plan to go for a community based plantation of bamboos. We have similar topography like Uttarakhand. My attention was drawn to the comments you made on the experiments that you are undertaking to eventually select the best suitable genotype. Is it possible to communicate with you for exchanging ideas? Looking forward to hearing from you. With regards. Rij. P.S. Thanks Guadua for providing such an excellent platform to exchange ideas and information on bamboos. Thanks.

---

JK

Good to know that Beema Bamboo is a result of years of dedication and innovation, and claimed to be the best. But without published scientific study and evaluation of its yield numbers in real world conditions, it would be hard to believe. Its interesting that Growmore has no time to substantiate its own bold claims. Let the data speak the truth.

---

Bryce

Why is it never not any anywhere mentioned the difference between the cultivar beema vs the standard balcooa species? I am very curious of that figure. I suspect it's just a regular balcooa being marketed as an improved cultivar which going by the numbers it just sounds like every other balcooa there is.

---

Pratham Prajapathi

I have 20 acre land in Rajasthan, can you please tell how many plants can be grown in so much space and how much electricity can be produced if I plant beema bamboo. And if there are any disadvantages please tell me.

---

vivek sharma

Per acre 950 plants. Government gives 120 rs per plant as grant for first two years.
a) 30 within 90 days of plantation
b) 30 after180 days of plantation
c) 30 second year of plantation
d) 30 third year of plantation.

---

Gurpreet Singh

Hi..
The above has been an interesting reading.
I have been experimenting with various tropical bamboo species in Terai...
Nutaans, Balcooa and Vulgaris green were procured from Gobind Ballabh Pant Univ of Agriculture and Tech (GBPUAT)....ALL ARE DOING VERY WELL..
Spacing... for all these large bamboo species a minimum of 5m by 5m is essential.......

I have tried Guadua too, and surprisingly, it has responded well to our agro climate...
Initial 2 years they were slow... because probably our cuttings had a very small / feeble root system...
I had made a rhizome bank.... and I am happy to report that good number of rhizomes (offsets, culms) are seen on each...
I propose to scale up... and as suggested above, plant at 5 m by 5m.... about 400 plants per Ha, or 180 per acre...
Pretty happy with this experiment.

I have been hearing of thornless guadua..... I really don't know if at all a thornless guadua exists????

I have also set up experimental plots of Stocksii, Oliverii, Setigera, Membranaceous, Lako, Atroviolacia, Giganteus, Hamiltonii,....

The only species not doing well in terai is giganteus...

Our weather is somewhat like Assam... so I guess, pretty suitable for bamboo.

---

Why are my Bamboo Leaves Turning Yellow?

I live in Hawaii and want to know if yellowish leaves on my bamboo plant are normal or if it's lacking something?

Comments

Stéphane Schröder

When bamboo leaves start to turn yellow it can be caused by several things. The most plausible cause is usually a lack of water or nutrient deficiency. Another reason for bamboo leaves to turn yellow is when bamboo starts to flower, or when it is suffering from any pest.

To fix the problem you may want to irrigate the bamboo clump during dry season or add nitrogen in the form of granular or liquid urea. Fertilizer may also be required depending on your soil fertility level. Of course, it is best to take soil samples and have it analyzed in a local lab to give you more accurate advice.

---

Biomass Production of Dendrocalamus asper vs Guadua angustifolia

I'm curious to know which bamboo produces more biomass in a per hectare basis: Dendrocalamus asper or Guadua angustifolia?

---

⭐ Best Answer:

To be honest, I can't compare because I only have scientific studies for Guadua angustifolia. A Guadua plantation with a planting density of 5m x 5m (400 plants) can produce 862 tons biomass per hectare in 7 years (from the time of planting until year 7). In other words, an average biomass production of 123 ton per hectare per year.

Theoretically Dendrocalamus asper (being a very dense clumping bamboo) could produce even more biomass per hectare when the planting density is very high. But in practical terms, it would be impossible to manage a Dendrocalamus plantation if all bamboos are planted so close together. Guadua is an "open clumper" so there is always space between the stems which makes it much easier to sustainably harvest the stems and manage the plantation.

A lot of different variables have to be considered when talking about biomass production, but since Guadua angustifolia is a giant tropical bamboo, I think it would be safe to say that it is one of the largest biomass producing species in the world (both among bamboo species or any other high yielding crop).

Bamboo Irrigation and Intercropping

We are planning to plant about an acre of Guadua bamboo seedlings on our land on Ometepe Island, Nicaragua . We will need to irrigate through the dry season for the first and possibly the second year. I am currently evaluating my options for irrigation and would appreciate any feedback.

The Bund and Trench method of planting would be the cheapest way to irrigate.

A drip system is fairly easy to set up, easy to operate and is the most water efficient.

Sprinklers would give me good coverage but cost a little more. They would also be as easy to operate as drip but require more water pressure.

I'm considering planting crops between the seedlings for the first couple of years and that would certainly affect my watering needs.

With our seedlings 5 to 7 meters apart how much space could I actually use for vegetables and how long before the bamboo would require that space?

Would the proper use of sprinklers for the first two dry seasons help my bamboo spread faster?

Comments

Stéphane Schröder

In terms of rainfall affecting the growth of Guadua Bamboo please see this article about the optimal climate conditions for bamboo farms under the chapter: precipitation.

Intercropping can easily be performed during the first 2-3 years of the newly planted bamboo plantation (at 5m x 7m spacing), of course each year you'll have less and less space. 5 years after planting the Guadua plants should have formed a dense plantation.

Bamboo Maintenance

Once you've planted bamboo, what kind of maintenance is necessary after each year? I heard that you're supposed to cut off the lateral growth of the bamboo and only leave the center columns. You're also supposed to eliminate the weaker center columns.

Would you confirm this? Any other suggestions or things to consider? Once the plant is bigger, does it require plain sunlight or is partly shade also acceptable?

Comments

Stéphane Schröder

Maintenance depends on the age of development. In the first year the most important aspect is to keep the clumps absolutely free of weeds. In later years you can eliminate dead/dried culms and trim the lower branches. Trimming branches is not absolutely necessary but since they can have very nasty thorns (Guadua for example) it's best to cut off those branches for easy access to the plantation.

Every bamboo species is different some species require full sun, while other like partial sunlight or shade. It is best to always specify which bamboo species you are referring too.

Guadua Bamboo Planting Layout

I am planning my mini Guadua farm on a half acre and some things I need to know are: If you start with 25gal pots of Guadua, how much distance should you space them apart?

What is the estimated diameter of the clump after 5 years, and is there an average number of culms that come up each year or am I right to expect that the number of culms will increase each year?

I'm Trying to make a rough estimate on the diameter, length and number of culms I can harvest after 4 years.

---

⭐ Best Answer:

Guadua can be planted at 3x3 meters up to 10x10 meters depending on the objective of the plantation. For riverbank and soil erosion it is recommended to plant closer together at 3x3 m, for biomass purposes 5x5, and for the production of large diameter stems 10X10 m would be the most appropriate (theoretically). However, spacing Guadua angustifolia that far apart wouldn't be economically feasible. Therefore, the optimal spacing for a commercial Guadua bamboo plantation is 6x7 m, which forms the perfect balance between producing large diameter poles and the shortest possible time to produce reasonable revenue from such a plantation.

To plant the bamboo seedlings, clear the area around the seedling from all possible weeds and vegetation in a radius of 50 cm and dig a hole of about 40 cm wide and 30 cm deep. Since the rhizomes grow just under the surface, it is best not to plant them too deep. The area around the plant should be kept free of weeds at all times!

You should also turn the soil a little so the ground is loose and the rhizomes can spread easier. Mix some dry manure with soil and put it in the hole before planting the Guadua seedling to stimulate its growth. Not too much though or it could burn the roots! It's best to plant any bamboo at the start of rainy season, or at least irrigate them daily for the first year.

After 5 years you can expect culms of 4" in diameter. How many, depends on climate, and soil conditions. Guadua is not a traditional clumper but an "open clumper" so it can spread quite a bit. But remember, mature Guadua culms of average 4"-5" in diameter can only be harvested approximately 9 YEARS after planting, not 4 or 5 years after planting, that's the year when they appear not the year they can be cut.

Planting Bamboo in The Philippines

We are planning to have a bamboo plantation to support our growing industry here in Cotabato Province, Mindanao Island, Philippines, my question is, what is the ideal spacing for bamboo plantation that would pose as a problem in harvesting in the future?

Presently, we have a hard time "pulling down" a bamboo pole even in a single clump... is ten by ten meters spacing profitable enough? What is the ideal spacing for riverbank plantation?

---

Comments

Roy wrote:

The spacing depends on the type of bamboo you plan on planting. If you were planning to plant the giant “Mindanao” ( Dendrocalamus asper - clumping type ), 10 meters spacing is ideal.

My plantation in Benguet Province, Luzon Island has a spacing of between 5 and 7 meters depending on the terrain, which is mountainous. It is also estuarial (surrounded by rivers, streams and creeks). But I make it a point not to plant too close to the river, due to typhoons.

On relatively flat terrain, a 5-meter spacing is too close. You would have to “cut your way through”! 7 meters is the minimum. 10 meters is better, as there is less competition for nutrients in the soil. Also, a mature grove could grow up to 5 meters in diameter.

As for profitable... personally, I treat the bamboo groves as if they were my children... the money will come... one day... I hope. I try not to think about this too much. What is important is that my children are happy and healthy.

Big, tall trees are also worth keeping... just plant the bamboo some distance away from them. When a typhoon hits, the bamboo poles at least have something to lean on. Other varieties worth planting are La'ak and Bayog.

---

Raymundo wrote:

Do we already have a Guadua Bamboo plantation here in the Philippines? Thanks.

---

Emerlito Santiaguel Borromeo replied:

No mature plantation yet. Just starting.

---

Victor Labao replied:

My Guadua in Cebu are doing very well. I have both G. angustifolia Byron (now a mature 6-year old beauty) and G. a. Bicolor (only almost 2-years old).

---

Philip wrote:

What would be the hardest bamboo specie or the most ideal bamboo specie for timber applications in the Philippines?

---

Bong wrote:

We have a property in Lucban, Quezon. We are thinking of growing bamboo. Where and how do we start?

Growing Guadua Bamboo together with Fruit Trees

Does anyone have experience mixing Guadua bamboo with fruit trees? Does bamboo harm fruit trees in any way via the (rotting) leafs? I know that there might be impact as to the shade the bamboo gives.

Does anyone have experience regarding the planting distance that has to be considered when planting bamboo near a fruit tree?

Comments

Stéphane Schröder

When planting Guadua bamboo together with fruit trees, I would recommend to maintain a 10 meters spacing between them. A Guadua clump might occupy all that 10 m space in 15 years or so.

Bamboo leaves are very rich in nutrients and are therefore an excellent organic fertilizer. Fallen bamboo leaves are also a good "mulch" since they prevent weeds from growing near the clump.

Growing Edible Bamboo in Cold Areas

I live in Central Victoria Australia and want to start growing edible bamboo. Can you please supply me with a list, if any at all, of edible bamboos which will be happy in frosts of down to -7°C? Actually this temperature is rare here but we got it once. Normally -5°C is the coldest.

There certainly are bamboos which grow here. I have a list of 4 which I did believe were edible but none of them appear on your edible list:

• Phyllostachys Boryana

• Phyllostachys Nigra Boryana

• Bambusa Textilis

• Bambusa Multiplex Fernleaf

Are you please able to confirm with me; are any of the above 4 bamboo species edible and to what degree? If you can suggest a list of other bamboo types which are edible and can grow here, that would also be much appreciated. Many thanks for your help.

Growing Guadua Bamboo at Sea Level

I'm an extremely green bamboo enthusiast. My dream is as follows.... Buy a nice piece of land in Latin America, close enough to the ocean so that I can see the waves and surf everyday. Grow GUADUA BAMBOO so that I can slowly build my dream house on said land.

However my preliminary research (and this website) tells me Guadua angustifolia grows best between 900m and 1600m. Does this mean its a bad idea to grow it at sea level? For construction purposes? Hope not! Any help is highly valued...

---

---

Comments

Stéphane Schröder wrote:

Altitude is directly related to temperature, and it is the average temperature that is the most important factor in regards to growing Guadua angustifolia plants.

Growing Guadua bamboo at sea level may very well result in faster growing culms (compared to higher altitude / lower temperatures). Culms may be a little smaller in size and fibers may be a little less strong but not to the extend that they cannot be used for construction. So, in conclusion, YES you can certainly grow Guadua angustifolia at sea level in Central America.

---

Terrence Lalla wrote:

I am interested in finding out whether Guadua angustifolia will grow in Trinidad and Tobago. If so how can I start a plantation of about 10 acres?

Best Country to Grow Bamboo in Central America

I currently have invested in El Salvador in softwoods, but want to diversify into bamboo plantations, so what's the best place/country to invest, grow and process Guadua bamboo; Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua or Costa Rica?

Comments

Stéphane Schröder

Essentially Guadua angustifolia can grow in all of Central America, but it is key to:

1. Have high quality planting materials available.

2. Find the best site location in terms of soil and climate conditions.

3. Have a professional team with experience in bamboo cultivation.

4. Have access to a wide network of clients for the sales of your crop or value added product.

---

LT

Perhaps the question becomes: where is there an active market to sell your bamboo and what prices can you get?

Growing Bamboo on Denuded Poor Quality Land

I have read that bamboo can be grown on denuded land of poor quality. Surely this would affect the quality of the crop for sale (furniture or flooring). What is the optimum type of soil? I also wonder why bamboo has not taken off in the rest of the Caribbean? Any ideas?

---

---

Comments

Stéphane Schröder wrote:

Bamboo does grow on almost any type of soil but that doesn't mean it will grow vigorously! Generally speaking loamy and sandy loam soils are best in terms of soil texture as the rhizomes can spread well opposed to clay soils. 

Growing bamboo commercially, requires resources, experience and skill. Furthermore, you will need a business strategy to sell all of the bamboo once it is ready for harvest. This is usually a problem as there are not many local manufacturers that use bamboo in value added products.

---

Jairo Acero wrote:

There is usually at least one type of bamboo that will fit the nature of your soil from more than 1000 species. Testing the soil by lab analysis will help to know what kind of minerals it has, together with its acidity or alcalinity to make corrections. There is a pretty long trial and error time for you to learn, but after a while you will be sucessful. If you do not have immediate buyers at hand you will at least help to restore your land ... Good luck!

How Much Water is Needed to Grow Bamboo?

I live in Hawaii on one of the drier islands and wondered what amount of water would be needed per acre to grow Guadua bamboo and typically speaking other species such as Gigantochloa atter, Phyllostachys pubescens, Dendrocalamus asper, Dendrocalamus giganteus and Bambusa oldhamii?

We are planning to start a bamboo plantation and would appreciate any helpful advise, comments, and or information offered. Our project total space is 100 acres. For example, how much water would be needed to irrigate 1 acre of Bambusa oldhamii planted at 12'x12' spacing or 302 plants per acre per year?

Comments

Stéphane Schröder

Guadua bamboo requires an annual precipitation of about 2000-2500 mm. I do not have exact precipitation values for the other species mentioned as we do not grow them on a commercial level. As a general rule though, the most important fact about watering bamboo is not so much the volume but that it happens frequently throughout the year because unlike regular trees, bamboo doesn't like a marked dry season.

Can Bamboo Plantations Produce Quality Timber?

I am a Kenyan and I have just come across a farm selling bamboo seedlings that produce solid bamboo trees. I have searched for more information and it has led me to your website which has inspired me more. In the next 1 or 2 months I plan to plant 150 seedlings of bamboo. I plan to produce poles for fencing and building purposes.

The bamboo concept is new in Kenya and I believe it will bring a lot of change in this country if it is embraced. According to the research I have done, I have learnt that bamboo can give me good returns.

I am however skeptical about the ability of bamboos to produce quality poles and timber. Kindly advise me on the ability of bamboos to produce quality poles. How many shoots can form a clump if planted in an ideal climate?

I will appreciate your input as I begin the journey of transforming our country. Kindly give me more information of how bamboo trees are used in your country.

Comments

Jonas

Bamboo has the same uses as timber, it can be chipped and made into paper and boards. The fibres can be used and if one goes to woolworths one can see the socks, towels and other garments made from bamboo. It produces more cotton per hectare than regular cotton using less pesticides and weedicides, it uses less water than forestry and writings in china say that where it is planted the streams start flowing again!

A lot of scaffolding going up many storeys in the East are from bamboo. Houses can also be made from bamboo and furniture. Once planted bamboo can supply a yearly income since after 5 years culms or stems can be harvested yearly. I have planted a hectare to prove to myself that the yield is higher than I can achieve using forestry having heard that it can produce 200 ton annually.

Where to Buy Guadua Angustifolia Seeds?

Can you tell me where I can buy Guadua angustifolia seeds? I have searched the internet but have found nothing for this bamboo in seed form. I hope to grow more varieties of bamboo in the future and your site will be a big help, hope to hear from you soon.

Comments

Stéphane Schröder

Unfortunately most bamboo seeds and especially Guadua seeds are very difficult to obtain, because Guadua angustifolia usually flowers once every 60-120 years. For this reason, generally speaking, bamboo is not propagated trough seeds (unless you are very lucky to get some). 

An additional problem with bamboo seeds is that they are not all equally vigorous and a large percentage might not germinate at all. Also, the shelf life of bamboo seeds is about 3 months after which they rapidly start to lose germination power. 

By any means, Guadua angustifolia is a tropical bamboo species which does not grow in Europe. Freezing temperatures will probably kill the plant during the winter.

---

Carole Hawke

I took your advise and searched the net for giant clumping bamboo seeds, there are many sites available for buying seeds but I remembered that you said bamboo seeds start to lose germination ability once the seed is 3 months old. 

Most sites have seeds for sale that are 3-5 months old, so by the time I get them my success rate of germination is significantly reduced or do all bamboo seeds need to be less than 3 months old, are some seeds more hardy than others?

I am still looking for my guadua seeds, alas no luck as yet.

---

Stéphane Schröder

Bamboo seeds should preferably be planted immediately after harvesting, although there are experimental techniques to extend the shelf life of bamboo seeds by storing them under low temperatures. 

Because seed setting is such a unique event and good information is scares, I highly doubt whether most of these seed suppliers are reliable (especially the ones who have the same species on sale for years). Usually bamboo seeds on sale are quite cheap so you're not gonna lose an arm and a leg over it. For the average hobbyist it might be an exciting way to experiment, but professional growers however, require certified, high quality and vigorous bamboo planting materials.

Buying bamboo plants from a nursery requires a higher investment but the returns will also be far greater, because even when seeds germinate, a high percentage of them might die in the early stages of development.

---

Robert

Hello, same here. I've been looking around for Guadua seeds online with negative results. I am located in South Florida. I would like to start planting bamboo and I was told Guadua bamboo is what I should plant for the most profit. Considering that I can not find the Guadua seeds anywhere, what type of bamboo would you recommend? I have 2 to 3 acres to work with.

---

Stéphane Schröder

Moso might be a good alternative as it is the most popular timber bamboo used in China. Keep in mind though that the USDA prohibits the import of all live bamboo planting materials (plants and seeds). 

---

Dax Fernandes

The seeds to be obtained is hard but what about the saplings, are they easily available? And also could you let me know a few places where I can get this bamboo variety as I require it.

---

Daniel R

Hello. If bamboo seeds are not a good method to start Guadua Angustifolia plants, how can you start these plants? Do you purchase roots, divide them and plant them?

---

Matt

Hello. I live in Costa RIca. The Guadua variety is a rhizome spreading bamboo, and NOT a clumping bamboo. It has vicious thorns. It gets 95 ft tall, and spreads out over time. My twenty year old stands are now 15 to 20 meters wide (50-60 ft.) from where originally planted. We have a rainy season from May to December, and then a very dry summer from December to March. This allows this super large grass variety to rapidly grow during Oct-Dec, as it can grow 8" PER DAY here... then it goes into another stage of growth. I would NOT plant this in FL unless I had permission from the Agricultural Department. And for very good reason. It requires maintenance, or you will regret planting it. It has a secret as well to successful propagation.

To successfully propagate, you must take the freshly cut culm, and cut sections containing 2-3 nodes... these will have growth "buds" on them. You must cut a hole in the bamboo between the nodes, on the top side of the bamboo. Then you must fill the bamboo half full with water, and plant in the ground shallow like, with the top holes exposed... This will soften the growth bud and provide the needed water for it to sprout. 

Do not plant near fences. Be very careful of the thorns, and maintain the area below the bamboo by cutting these thorny branches. Create a space to walk through the area, and open up the area by selectively harvesting. It is a super material, but requires commitment long term. You will not easily get rid of it!!

---

Abror

I live in 4 season country in summer it gets hot up to maximum 40 celsius average 32-35 celsius and in winter down to -2 -5. Do you think I can grow guadua bamboo? If not what type of bamboo do you recommend?

I was looking to grow 10 of these is there any way I can get guadua bamboo maybe cuttings or anything.

What is the Fastest Growing Timber Bamboo Species?

I love the size of the large timber bamboos, like Moso, but I have heard that these are slow to create large groves. I got lots of land for these to spread on. I would like a quick, large grove with thick canes. So what are the quicker types of large running timber bamboo? I am located in Central Florida, USDA Zone 9a.

---

⭐ Best Answer:

Phyllostachys vivax is by far the fastest of cold hardy timber bamboos in my garden 9a/9b zone...

Minimum Area for a Profitable Bamboo Plantation

What is the minimum area to at least have a profit for bamboo, especially if you only grow for poles? When can you expect income for pole production, in a small scale level? Yes, there is money in bamboo, but it is the flooring and other stuff already, which for sure small farmers can't afford to set up such facilities. So, again what is the minimum area? Thanks. This site is very helpful.

---

⭐ Best Answer:

Let's assume a revenue of $1 per linear foot of pole, selling untreated poles directly to a buyer (there's the key: find a buyer). There are 43500 sq ft in an acre. Assume an average total of one linear foot of pole per square foot of land. At $1/linft, that's $43k/year. Let's assume $0.10/linear-foot, and 4 square feet per linear foot: that's $1k in revenue.

So there you have it: upper and lower bounds. You can imagine that for ever 4 square feet, a 4-year culm will produce a 20 foot cane. Harvesting every 4 square foot patch on a 4-year rotation would mean 2700 canes harvested per year. If those canes are 20' long and sell for $0.10/foot, then you've got 20 * .1 * 2700 = $5400/acre/year, not even trying very hard! Just wait twenty years till you've got an acre of 60' tall, 6" diameter moso!

The simplest added-value projects in the US would be selling potted culms ($5-$30/gal plant) or making woven mats or privacy/garden screens ($1-$5/sqft). Other ideas: Selling edible bamboo shoots to a local co-op / health food store, raising a pig or ducks in the understory, or making bamboo bike frames ($100-$2k/frame) and trailers. Looks like you need reliable buyers, and multiple products, to make more than a thousand dollars per year.