Research topic: Bamboo growth and carbon storage capacity in the botanic garden of

the university of Dschang Cameroon

1- Introduction

1.1 Context

Bamboo, a group of tall arborescent grasses, is one of the fastest growing plants in the world
that belongs to the family of Poaceae, a subfamily of Bambusoideae (Terefe et al., 2019). It
has been intimately associated with mankind since time immemorial and one per cent (1%) of
the world’s natural forests is dominated by the bamboo forests (Dalagnol et al, 2018; Kaushal
et al., 2018). There are over 1600 bamboo species naturally distributed in tropical and
subtropical belts, and they are commonly found in Africa, Asia and Central and South America
and some species can also successfully grow in the temperate regions of Europe and North
America (Jayaraman and Trinh, 2019). In Africa, there is an estimated 43 species of bamboo
covering about 1.5 million hectares (Gurmessa et al., 2016). In Cameroon, Nfornkah et al
(2020) record 8 bamboo species in five agroecological zone.

Bamboo is a versatile multipurpose plant, with over 10,000 products and applications ranging
from timber substitute, construction materials, food and beverages, bio-energy, pulp and paper,
fire composites, textiles, lifestyle products and traditional sustenance use products (Durai and
Long, 2019). In many parts of the world, bamboo has proven to play a significant role
in poverty alleviation, job creation and economic development as well as being a cultural
symbol (Huy and Trinh, 2019). On the other hand, bamboos play an important role in
ecosystem services, biodiversity conservation and socio-economic development. they can be
used to controlling soil erosion, regulating water and reducing flood damage and they have
huge potential for mitigating climate change through storing a significant amount of carbon in
the bamboo forest ecosystem and sequestering carbon from the atmosphere (Huy and Trinh,
2019; Nfornkah et al., 2020).

1.2 Problematic

In Cameroon, bamboo is considered as a Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) by decision n°

0209/D/MINFOF/ CAB of 26 April 2019 of the Government of Cameroon. He is not threatened
at the national level because it has always been criminalized as invasive species and
increasingly discouraged (Nfornkah et al., 2020). But today, bamboo forests in Cameroon are
expose to deforestation and degradation due to their increasing use by peoples as construction
material and source of incomes (Ingram & Tieguhong, 2013). this does not allow it to continue
its socio-economic and ecological function. In this context, it is necessary to develop methods
and tools for suitable management and conservation of bamboo resources in Cameroon.
Therefore, it is important to understand bamboo growth, biomass accumulation and carbon
storage capacity of bamboo for a better consideration in development policies.

1.3 Objectives

1.3.1 Main objective

The aim of this study is to understand bamboo growth, biomass accumulation and carbon
storage in the early growth stage with respect to climate variability; and dry mass accumulation
in the later growth stage of bamboo.

1.3.2 Specific objectives

✓ Model culm growth rates of Bambusa sp and O. abyssinica to the climate variability
of the environment;
✓ Evaluate biomass accumulation in an initial growth stage of Bambusa sp and O.
abyssinica;
✓ Evaluate the carbon fraction for the Bambusa sp and O. abyssinica
✓ Develop allometric equations for the Bambusa sp and O. abyssinica at the later growth
stage;
✓ Propose strategy for bamboo governance in Cameroon

2- Materials and method

2.1 Study area

The study will carry out in the Botanical Garden of the main campus of the university of
Dschang which cover a total 13.72 hectares of land (Figure1) and is divided into 4 parcels of
lands hosting: a Forestry parcel, an Agroforestry parcel, a medicinal plantation and bamboo
tree parcel.
 Figure 1: picture show the map of the botanical garden on the campus of the university of
Dschang.

2.2 Data collection and analysis

2.2.1 Experimental design

A lay out plan of the field experiment with 4 different bamboo species S1, S2, S3 and S4 has
been put in place with three blocks (replications) (figure 2). The planting space of 4 x 5m was
respected for block planting. Plot is on a gentle slope and planting has been done. One hundrer
and nighty two (192) bamboo seedlings of four different species (48 Bambusa longinternode,
48 Oxytenanthera abyssinica, 48 Bambusa vulgaris green and 48 Bambusa vulgaris strata)
were planted in a randomized complete blocked design recommended by Kaushal et al. (2018).

Figure 2: Experimental plot design of bamboo study in the botanic garden

2.2.2 Data collection for model culm growth rates of Bambusa sp and O. abyssinica to the
climate variability of the environment

Data collect here concerning data for growth parameters in general. The main objective here is
to measure diameter, height and other growth parameters in bamboo which will be used to
model the culm growth rates of different species.

➢ Culm diameter measurement

There are two option available for measurement of culm diameter: caliper and measurements
tapes. Culm diameter should be measured at 1.37m aboveground level. This height is the
universally adopted standard height for measuring the girth and diameters of standing trees in
India, Burma, America, South Africa and other British colonies (Kaushal et al., 2018). This
height also is a standardizes diameter measurement. However, if there is a node at 1.37m, the
observer should slightly shift above or bellow the node to measure the diameter of the culm.

Because of the availability of the caliper at the laboratory of geomatics (LAGE), caliper method
will be used for measure culm diameter of bamboo. The procedure is as showed in figure 2.

Source: Kaushal et al., 2018

Figure 2: Measuring diameter whit the help of caliper

➢ Clump height

This is the vertical distance between the base to the tip of the clump. It can be measured directly
or indirectly. Tools for measurements are:
- Graduated rod

- Height of stick, or indirectly

- Climbing with a tape.

For our purpose, clump height can be measured using Ravi altimeter as are showed in figure 3.

Source: Kaushal et al., 2018

Figure 3: Measuring clump height with Ravi altimeter

The main objective of height estimation in bamboo is to calculate the volume and biomass,
asses the site condition and describe the growth performance

➢ Internode length

The internode length refers to the characteristic of each species an affect it utilization values.
This length is measured as is showed in figure 4.
 Figure 4: Measuring length of the internode
➢ Wall thickness

Culm wall thickness is one of the most important parameters for determining its strength and
identify its suitability for different end uses. Ratio between wall thickness and culm diameter
might be an important consideration when classifying bamboo as thick-and thin-walled species.
Caliper can be used for measuring this parameter as showed by figure 5.

Figure 5: Measuring culm diameter and thickness

 ➢ Culm emergence and mortality

Knowledge of culm emergence periodicity is important in managing the bamboo clump.

Climatic factors like temperature, rainfall, relative humidity have been found to be important
determinants of culm emergence in bamboo. The procedure to asses culm emergence
periodicity and mortality is as follow:

• Mark three bamboo clumps in the plantation with paint/tag

• Observe the clumps daily/weekly for new shoot emergence (fig 6)
• Record soil temperature and soil moisture 0-15cm and 15-30cm soil depth at weekly
intervals.
• Record air temperature, relative humidity and rainfall data regularly
• Calculate the mortality (%) from the data
• Develop correlation between different parameters

Figure 6: New culm emergence in bamboo

➢ Culm elongation

After appearing from the ground, bamboo culms elongate very slowly for one to two weeks
and then gradually gain speed until they attain the optimum size and thereafter the rate of
elongation quickly slow down. Procedure for measuring culm elongation is as follow:

• Mark three bamboo clumps in the plantation with paint/tag

• From each clump, marked four different newly emerge culms, height of approx. 5-10cm
(Fig7)
 • Measure the length of newly emerge culms daily (up to 30 days) on alternate days with
the help of tape in earlier growth stages and (up to three months/till height stabilizes)
with marked poles during later stages
• Calculate the elongation rate by dividing the length with the number of days.
• Measure the culm height growth rate between any two-time epochs (say t1 and
t2/measured as y2-y1/t2-t1. Where y1 and y2 are height at time t1 and t2).

Figure 7: Culm elongation in bamboo

2.2.3 Evaluate biomass accumulation in an initial growth stage of Bambusa sp and O.

abyssinica

The biomass and carbon mas in bamboo depend mostly on the diameter and the height of the
culm. After these parameters was collected, the next step is to determine the moisture content
in different component (culm, branch, leaf, sheath, roots) of bamboo. Knowledge of moisture
content also helps us in determining biomass in bamboo. The moisture content (MC) is
determined by the weight of water in wood an is expressed as a percentage of the oven-dry
weight of wood. The requirements and procedure for moisture determination is:
Drying equipment: an oven for drying moisture samples at a uniform temperature not
exceeding 115°C and balance sensitive to 0.1 per cent of the minimum weight of the sample to
be weighted.

Procedure:

✓ Select representative of the plant sample for from the different plant component (culm,
leaf, branch, root etc)
✓ Weigh moisture sample immediately and record as “wet weight of sample
✓ Dry the wet sample until a constant weight is attained at a temperature not exceeding
70°C in the oven
✓ Allow to cool,
✓ Weigh the cooled sample again and record as dry “weight of sample”. Repeat the
heating – cooling process until sequential similar weight recordings of the sample are
obtained.
✓ Calculate the moisture content of the sample component
(culm/branch/leaf/rhizome/root etc.) using the formula:

𝐿𝑤𝑓 − 𝐿𝑤𝑑
𝑀𝑐𝑑 =
𝐿𝑤𝑑

Where

Mcd = moisture content as a percentage of oven-dry weight; Lwf = fresh weight of the plant
sample; Lwd = oven-dry weight of the plant sample

✓ Use the following formula to convert the fresh weight of leaf biomass into dry weight:

𝐿𝑤𝑓
𝐿𝑑𝑤 =
1 + 𝑀𝑐𝑑

Where Mcd = moisture content on leaf on dry weight basis

We can then use this moisture content to convert total fresh weight of bamboo into biomass
and obtain biomass accumulation at initial growth stage. This is obtain following the formula:

𝑏𝑖𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑠ℎ 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑎𝑚𝑏𝑜𝑜 ∗ 𝑀𝑐𝑑

2.2.4 Evaluate the carbon fraction for the Bambusa sp and O. abyssinica
Once the biomass accumulation is estimated, different components are measured for carbon
content using a CHNS analyzer or by the ashing method in a muffle furnace as showed in figure
8.

Figure 8: Estimating carbon content by ashing method in muffle furnace

The carbon content of samples in different components is then multiplied with the respective
biomass to get the carbon stocks. Alternatively, carbon stocks are estimated by multiplying the
carbon content conversion factor (use default value of 0.46) by the biomass. CO 2 sequestered
is calculated by multiplying biomass carbon stock with a default value of 3.67.

2.2.5 Develop allometric equations for the Bambusa sp and O. abyssinica at the later
growth stage

2.2.5.1 Model fitting

Allometric model is widely used to estimate different biomass components. Different

equations are used to estimate growth, biomass production and carbon capture potential using
diameter as explanatory or dependent variable. The first step by developing allometric equation
is to collect field parameters that should be fitting in a basic model/equation. The equation is
the power model 𝑌 = 𝑎𝑋 𝑏 , where a and b are the parameter of the allometric equation. This
model is non-linear; hence the estimation of the parameters is not straightforward.

There are several methods in estimating allometric models. One of such is the making the
equation linear by taking the natural logarithm on both sides and then estimating the parameters
by using the “least squares” method of the linear regression model.

The equation is of the power form 𝑌 = 𝑎𝑋 𝑏 ……… (1)

By taking the natural log of the sides of our equation we get

ln (Y) = ln (a) + b ln(x) ……... (2)

Y’ = a’ + b’x………………… (3)

Where Y’ = ln(Y); a’ = ln (a); b’ = b and x’ = ln(x)

Equation (3) is just like Y = a + bX. So, the log transformed power model (𝑌 = 𝑎𝑋 𝑏 ) becomes
a straight line (Y = a + bX).

The advantage of this linearization is not limited only to easier to visualize the data, but it is
much easier to work with linear vs non-linear functions when doing statistical analyses.

The parameter a’ and b’ can be obtained using a linear regression parameter estimation
procedure. Once the parameter a’ and b’ are obtained, we need to calculate a and b to get the
actual parameters of the equation (1) as:

a = a’

b = b’

2.2.5.2 validation of the model

One the dataset is fitted; the model is validated using the datasets to see whether the model
fitting is good or not. In general, 75 % of observation are used for model fitting and 25 % are
used for model validation. This can be done by done by using a paired test between observed
and predicted observations.

2.2.5.3 Field data collection

▪ Mark 3 Plots of 25x25 m size so that plots have 9-15 clumps

▪ Mark 3 clumps in each plot,
 ▪ Count number of culms per clump annually,
▪ Categorize bamboo into different ages, i.e. current, 1 -, 2-, and 3-year based on colour
of paint on the culm or another marking.
▪ In case culm has not been marked, age should be determined on the basis of culm
sheath, the development of branches, and leaves and the external color etc.
▪ Measure DBH,
▪ Group DBH into different size classes (5-9, 9-11, 11 -15cm)
▪ Harvest 3 culms from each age/diameter class, cutting them as close at the ground level;
▪ Measure the length of the culm with a tape,
▪ Separate the felled culm into different components (culm, branches, leaves and
rhizome.
▪ Weigh the separate components immediately after felling and record the observation
▪ Take representatives samples from the top, middle and bottom portion of the culm and
other components for determining moisture content, as described above.
▪ Obtain oven-dry weight for individual components as described previously.

Note: this methodology is for field inventory and should be adapt to the context of experimental
design.

2.2.6 Propose strategy for bamboo governance in Cameroon

This objective should be attained after complete the previous objective by produce a technical
support on the carbon sequestration capacity of bamboo at different growth stage.

3- Expected results

At the end of the work, the expected results are:

➢ Culm growth rates of Bambusa sp and O. abyssinica are know

➢ Biomass accumulation in an initial growth stage of Bambusa sp and O. abyssinica is
now available
➢ Carbon fraction for the Bambusa sp and O. abyssinica is know
➢ Allometric equations for the Bambusa sp and O. abyssinica at the later growth stage
are available
➢ Strategy for bamboo governance in Cameroon is proposed
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