Nutrient partitioning, fuel properties and biomass estimation of bambusa procera (LO O) in natural stands

Abstract

Fuel characteristics, nutrient partitioning (N,P,K) and destructive measurement for biomass estimation of Bambusa procera in natural stands at region K6-TK 407 at Bao Lam, Lam Dong province, Vietnam were studied in this paper. The result focused on fuel characteristics, nutrients accumulation of different components of different age groups of B.procera in a natural forest. Fuel characteristics of B.procera showed that it is a potential candidate for as a sustainable energy resource due to its competitive calorific value and low pollutants emission. The percentage of main elements in the order of N>K>P in the leaves and in the culm and branch was K>N>P. The maximum amount of nutrients was in the culm followed by the branch and the leaves. The findings also help to determine the total amount of nutrients withdrawn from the soil at crop harvest. As a result of this study, an appropriate destructive method for estimation of the above ground biomass of B.procera in the natural stands has been established. This study showed that, the above ground biomass of B.procera in the low terrain was about three times higher than in the high terrain. In the above ground biomass, the main contributor was the culm and then the branch and leaves. The result of this study could be used in sustainable biomass management. Key words: Bambusa procera, energy properties, nutrients partitioning, biomass estimation, natural stands