SREF-FH-011 March 2019 overall increase in the diameter Growing Bamboo for Commercial Purposes in the of new culms as a bamboo grove matures. Likewise, an individual culm Southeastern U.S.: FAQs will not increase in height after the first season, but culms emerging in AUTHORED BY: DAVID COYLE, NANCY LOEWENSTEIN, DEAH subsequent years will be taller. Culms LIEURANCE, RYAN BEAN, YANSHU LI, STEPHEN ENLOE, AND can put on additional branches over PUSKAR KHANAL time, thereby increasing the amount of leaves available for photosynthesis and growth of the grove. Self-shading Introduction HOW DOES BAMBOO will eventually limit this potential GROW? increase in carbon gain from Golden bamboo (Phyllostachys photosynthesis. Culm walls continue aurea), planted as an ornamental and Bamboo has an interesting growth to harden for several years until historically for use as fishing poles, is pattern. Bamboo creates groves, reaching maturity. Bamboos flower a familiar sight spreading beyond old in which all of the culms (stems) irregularly, sometimes decades apart. homesteads. Sometimes confused are clones of the original planting. Many species flower gregariously with native river canes (Arundinaria Bamboo culms emerge from a (meaning all the culms on a single spp.), golden bamboo is one of over dense rhizome system which is clonal plant, and all the plants of the 1,400 species of fast-growing, woody, generally located within the upper same species around them, flower evergreen grasses in the subfamily 12 inches of soil. Rhizomes are and produce seed at the same time) 3 Bambusoideae (Poaceae) . Bamboos modified underground stems that while others flower sporadically. range in size from short ground function similarly to roots. As new Seeding is often followed by death of covers to timber bamboos which culms emerge from the ground they the clonal grove2,14. can reach heights of 75 feet and elongate very rapidly. This rapid diameters of 5 inches or more. growth (or ‘shooting’) is a result of redistribution of stored carbohydrates WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE In recent years there has been (stored energy) from the previous BETWEEN CLUMPING AND renewed interest in promoting growing season and not new growth RUNNING BAMBOOS? bamboo as a sustainable cash crop. from current photosynthesis. Culms There are two major types of Bamboo has been called “green remain the same diameter from bamboo: clump forming and gold” and “the most useful plant in emergence to maturity and individual running17 (Fig. 1). The rhizomes of the world”, with uses ranging from culms do not increase in diameter clumping bamboos grow radially and structural materials to industrial over time. However, there is an products, fencing, and even food. produce very little horizontal Still, many questions remain about Fig. 1. Rhizome structure of clumping and running bamboo. From Lieurance et al. 2018. the use of bamboo as a crop in the southeastern U.S. The purpose of this bulletin is to address some of these questions and to provide some basic information about the growth and biology of bamboo. www.southernforesthealth.net/insects 1 growth before they turn upwards and Bamboo imports reached $336 million, WHERE IS BAMBOO BEING produce a culm. As a result, they spread which was 23% of the global import PROMOTED? rather slowly, forming dense clumps with total. Bamboo furniture, bamboo minimal spatial spread. Most clumping plywood, and bamboo basketwork Bamboo is being promoted throughout bamboos are from subtropical/tropical accounted for about 70% of the the southeastern U.S., especially in regions of Asia, Africa and South imported products, and bamboo shoots areas where previous crops have failed. America, and are not very cold tolerant for food consumption accounted for For instance, where the citrus greening (though this varies among the different about 10%. The flooring market is epidemic has impacted Florida citrus bamboo species). With the exception the most important category for the growers, bamboo is being marketed to of bamboos in the genus Fargesia, bamboo products, but new markets landowners as a viable crop in the post- clumping bamboos generally do not such as veneer and panels for interior citrus era. In Alabama, the focus is on grow well in temperate climates, which decorations are also rapidly developing. the ‘Black Belt’ region where economic encompasses most of the southeastern However, markets for bamboo raw opportunity is depressed. U.S.23 materials in the southeastern U.S. are not yet well established. WHAT ARE THE ECONOMIC The rhizomes of running bamboos CONSIDERATIONS FOR produce more horizontal growth and WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY GROWING BAMBOO? send up multiple culms along the BAMBOO PRODUCTS? rhizome, resulting in significantly greater Many factors play a role in the spatial spread. Running bamboos can Most bamboo products are secondary economics of growing bamboo spread up to 15 feet a year. Running products, such as engineered bamboo commercially, including the following bamboos tend to be more tolerant of materials (e.g. bamboo flooring), factors: cold than clumping bamboos and are woven bamboo materials (e.g. fabric), generally better suited for temperate bamboo/rattan furniture, and paper 1. Markets: Are there established climates. Our native river canes pulp. Bamboo is also being turned into facilities in your local area that accept 27 (Arundinaria spp.) are in the running biochar and used as a soil amendment bamboo raw material in a sustained 16 bamboo category. and has potential as a biofuel . manner? If the company selling the Additionally, bamboo shoots can be bamboo plants is also the buyer, do WHAT SPECIES ARE BEING harvested for food. they have guaranteed pricing and PROMOTED FOR COMMERCIAL sustained demand? USE? WHERE CAN A GROWER SELL 2. Site Preparation: Getting a Two species of running bamboo BAMBOO? site ready for planting – which may originating from temperate areas in Asia include vegetation removal, tillage, are being promoted for commercial use Few commercial markets for raw and herbicides – can cost several in several southeastern states: moso bamboo currently exist in the hundred dollars per acre. The addition bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) and rubro southeastern U.S., though there may of an irrigation system, if needed, will bamboo (Phyllostachys rubromarginata). be some demand from smaller niche substantially increase these costs. Because it is more suitable for sub- markets for things like bamboo shoots tropical climates, a clumping bamboo (food) or art and craft supplies (e.g. 3. Plant material: Planting material (Dendrocalamus asper) is also being brush handles). Currently, in anticipation for bamboo may be available as promoted for cultivation in Florida. of developing markets, the companies rhizomes or young plants. Young plants promoting commercial planting of from nurseries are preferred as they bamboo appear to be the primary establish more successfully and more IS THERE A DEMAND FOR market for raw bamboo materials (i.e., quickly than rhizomes. Cost per plant BAMBOO PRODUCTS IN THE the companies selling nursery stock will vary depending on availability and U.S.? and often times financing planting species, but may be over $40 per plant. will purchase the bamboo from the Also, 100% survival is not likely25 so The annual market value of bamboo grower). This appears to be primarily extra plants may be needed to get a products world-wide is estimated to contract-based, and it is unclear what fully established site to avoid waiting be $60 billion13. International trade would happen to the market should the longer to reach grove maturity. accounts for a minor proportion ($1.7 company no longer continue to buy billion in 2016, or < 5%, of the total bamboo (i.e., if the anticipated markets market value), but the U.S. was the fail to materialize or if the company second largest importer of bamboo. folds). www.southernforesthealth.net/insects 22 4. Labor: A significant amount HOW DOES BAMBOO HANDLE fertilization at planting with a complete of manual labor is typically involved INCLEMENT WEATHER AND fertilizer (e.g., 80 lbs N, 35 lbs P, and with planting, growing and harvesting FIRE? 50 lbs K per acre) is recommended, bamboo. These costs will vary as this will increase productivity1. Soil depending on the grower’s methods While bamboo is known to be a very tests may help determine appropriate and equipment/personnel resources, strong construction material10,20, there is fertilizer application types, formulations, and there are no published data evidence that bamboo is not particularly and frequencies. During the first year, documenting current bamboo hardy in certain environmental bamboo plants should be watered propagation and harvest costs. conditions. Specifically, ice storms can every 7-10 days (if it doesn’t rain). This (but do not always) damage bamboo may require installation of an irrigation 5. Transportation: What will it cost stands, with reports of nearly 60% of the system, depending on the size of the to get harvested bamboo to market? culms bent, broken, or uprooted after plantation. Young plants should also be 25 Distance to the processing facility a single ice storm29,30. In young (1-year- protected from competing vegetation is a primary factor. In southeastern old) culms, the damage rate was about and in some cases from herbivory by U.S. forestry operations, due to 70%. Ice storms are somewhat common deer or other animals. transportation costs, wood typically is in many states in the southern U.S. and not transported more an average of 90 may pose a threat to the establishment Growth is strongly influenced by 4 miles to the mill . In some instances, if and health of bamboo plantings. In environmental factors and can be 1 the grower is working under contract addition, bamboo does not hold up well highly variable from year to year . with a bamboo company, transport of when subjected to frequently rising and Growing bamboo takes time, and little the bamboo from the grower to the falling temperatures, as it may result in can be done to speed up initial grove market or processing facility may be mechanical damage which would likely development.