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.

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⭐ Featured Answer:

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.

Is Beema Bamboo a Solid Bamboo?

I'm wondering about how true the claims of total solidity of some species or varieties of bamboo actually are. e.g. Bambusa balcooa var 'Beema'. Is it a case of mostly solid starting from the base up or total solidity? Or is it just an occasional occurrence even in monoclonal cultivars?

I know this site refers to Guadua angustifolia but it is also one of the best bamboo resources I've found online in terms of plain presentation of facts rather than the standard sales pitch so I figured where better to ask.

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⭐ Best Answer:

100% solid bamboo (the entire culm) doesn't exist as far as I know, except maybe for some small diameter bamboo in the genus Chusquea.

In the genus Guadua there also exist a near solid species called Guadua amplexifolia (see photo), which starts nearly solid at the base, however a small cavity the size of a pencil is still present. Towards the middle and top of the culm the bamboo becomes hollow again, although the wall thickness remains fairly thick.

Guadua amplexifolia