Bamboo the fastest growing plant on earth By Allah Dad Khan

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Bamboo the fastestgrowingplant on earth a researchreport by Mr. .Allah Dad Khan FormerDirector
General Agriculture ExtensionKhyberPakhtunkhwaProvince Peshawar
Bamboo Plant:
Bamboo/bæmˈbuː/(Bambuseae) isatribe of floweringperennial evergreenplantsinthe grass
family Poaceae,subfamilyBambusoideae,tribe Bambuseae. Giantbamboos are the largestmembersof
the grass family.Inbamboos,the intermodalregionsof the stemare hollow andthe vascularbundles in
the cross sectionare scatteredthroughoutthe steminsteadof ina cylindrical arrangement.
OriginofBamboo:
The plantknownas bambooto the entire worldhasbeenaroundandusedforcenturies. Bamboowas
firstfound andusedin Chinamore than5000 years ago,whichiswhy the woodyplantconjuresup
imagesof pandaseatingshootsandleavesinthe Orient.Eventhoughitsmanyusesare onlyjust
becomingwidelyknown,the bambooplantasan alternative material began longbefore “goinggreen”
became a trend.
Recordsdatingbackmore than seventhousandyearstalkaboutproductsmade of bamboosuchas
arrows,paper,buildingmaterials,andbooks.Because of itsorigins,the currentwayitisused,andthe
economicsustainabilityof the plant,bambooisanexcellentresource.Thiswoodygrasscurrentlygrows
throughoutthe world,butthe originof bambooisbelievedtobe ancientChina.Bambooisfinallybeing
utilizedinall walksof life.Fromdishwaretoclothing,you canfinda bambooalternative inalmostevery
industry.Intoday’senvironmentallyconscioussociety,we have finallybeguntoutilize bambooacross
the board. The speciesof bamboothatwe know todayevolvedfromprehistoricgrassesbetweenthirty
and fortymillionyearsago,longafterthe extinctionof the dinosaurs.Itthenbecame the majorfood
source forherbivorousanimals,eventuallybecomingafoodsource forthe modernhumanbeingaswell

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Where Bamboo Grows
While bamboogrowseverywhere inthe worldexceptthose placeswithextremelycoldclimates
Bamboo Myth:
Bamboo'slonglife makesitaChinese symbolof longevity,while inIndiaitisa symbol of friendship.In
Japan,bambooforestsoftensurroundShintoshrinesasasacred protectionagainstevil spirits.In
Vietnam,bambooisasymbol forthe soul andoftenrepresentsideasof hard-working,optimism,unity
and adaptability.Vietnameseculture issometimesreferredtoas"bambooculture."A Vietnamese
proverbstates,"Whenbambooisold,the bamboosproutsappear,"the meaningbeingthatVietnamwill
neverbe annihilated--if the previousgenerationdies,the childrenwill taketheirplace.
Several Asianculturebelievethathumanityemergedfromabamboostem.Inthe Philippine creation
myth,legendstatesthatthe firstmanandfirstwomanwere splitopenfromabamboostemthat
emergedonanislandcreatedafterthe battle of the elemental forces.InMalaysianlegendsasimilar
storyincludesaman whodreamsof a beautiful womanwhile sleepingunderabambooplant;he wakes
up and breaksthe bamboostem,discoveringthe womaninside.The Japanese folktale "Tale of the
BambooCutter"(TaketoriMonogatari) tellsthe storyof aprincessfromthe Moon emergingfroma
sectionof shiningbamboo. InHawaiianlegend,bambooisconsideredthe corporal formof the
Polynesiancreatorgod,Kane Milohai.
Cultures:Bamboo Culture Festival has become popular in recent years. There are many such festivals
held in different places across China each year.The ethnicgroup,the Bozoof WestAfrica,take their
name fromthe Bambara phrase bo-so,whichmeans"bamboo house”.Bamboo isthe national plant
of St.Lucia.Afterbeingusedinthe household,bamboobecame knownasone of the “Three Friendsof
Winter,”contributingtoJapanese gardensasa symbol of flexibility.Bambooisone of the strongestand
mostreveredspiritual elementsinJapanese culture,andsymbolizesnotonlyflexibility,butalsostrength
and resilience.Bamboogrovesandforestsare oftenfoundasaprotective surroundingforshrinesand
temples.
Bamboo and Environment
Bamboois conducive tofreshairandhelpsreduce greenhousegases.Another"green"attributeof
bambooisthat it produces40% more oxygenthanacomparable-sizedhardwoodforest.Moreover,
bambooproducesgreaterbiomassandhelpsrestore soilfertility andreduce soil erosion.:Bamboo

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flooringis an excellent choice for anew floor, giving a warm, comfortingambience with a
contemporary yet timelessappeal. Bamboo floors look beautiful, are practicaland eco friendly.
History of Bamboo on line:
1. 16th-17th Century BC :Duringthe Shang Dynasty,bows,arrows, andotherhouseholditemswere
made usingbamboo.
2. 206 B.C.-A.D.220 : (Inthe Han Dynasty) bamboowasusedforpapermakingbecause itproduced
high-qualitypaperandwasinexpensive - three tonsof bamboocouldyieldone tonof paperpulp.
Bamboois still animportantrawmaterial forpapermakingtoday.Some 1,600 yearsago, people
wrote withbrushesonxuanpapermade from youngbamboo.Xuanpaperisstill popularforChinese
calligraphyandpaintings.
3.140 BC/134 BC and 118 BC: In 1972, ancientChinese writingtabletsmade of bamboostrips,called
YinqushanHanSlips,were discoveredinburial tombs.Several importantwritingswere discovered,
includingthe lostchaptersfromthe Six Strategies.
3.105 AD:Cai Lun of Chinamade the world’sfirstplanttissue paperoutof bamboo.Perhapsthe most
importantuse of bambooinhistoryisits part inthe inventionof paper.PaperwasinventedbyCai Lunin
105 AD.He mixedChinese bambooplantfiberswithpulpfromamulberrytree usedwater andthen
strainedthe material tomake the firstpaper.Thisisone of China'sfourgreat inventions.
4.265-316 AD :Duringthe JinDynasty,a bookiswrittendetailingthe difference speciesandusesof
bamboo.
5.1368 AD: The Ming Dynasty,whichlastedalmostthree centuries,usedbambooasthe mainbedding
for the empire.
6.1486 AD: During the Ming Dynasty,bamboocharcoal was created.Emissionsare notnearlyasbad as
traditional charcoal,resultinginpurerairfor usall!
7.1894 AD: A patent(No.8274) is filedinEnglandforthe firstbamboobicycles.Theywereshownatthe
LondonStanleyShowof 1894.

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8.1947 AD: Known forsettingtrendsaroundthe world,Gucci helpedtojump-startthe bamboocraze
back in1947 whentheymanufacturedthe firstbamboo handbag.
9.1997 AD: The International NetworkforBambooandRattan, an international organizationdedicated
to improvingthe social,economic,andenvironmental benefitsof bambooandrattan,isestablishedby
treaty.
10.2010 AD: In Mizoram, India,10, 736 people setthe worldrecordforthe largestbamboodance.
BiggestProducer of Bamboo in World:
Chinaisknownas the Kingdomof Bamboobecause ithas the mostbambooof anycountryin the world.
More than 400 speciesof bamboo,one thirdof all the known speciesinthe world,grow inChina.China
leadsthe worldinthe amountof area plantedwithbamboo,the numberof bambootrees,andthe
amountof bamboowoodproducedeveryyear.The areasthatproduce the mostbambooare south of
the Changjiang(Yangtze) River,andthe biggestproducersare Sichuan,Anhui,Zhejiang,Fujian,Hunan,
Guangdong,Jiangxi,andJiangsuprovincesandthe Guangxi ZhuangAutonomousRegion
Bamboo inPakistan
Bamboosare of limiteddiversityinPakistan. Three speciesgrow naturallyinPakistan.
Arundinariafalcata inthe NW Himalayasat1,200-2,000 m.It occurs in the undergrowthinforestsof
oak,firsand mixedtrees,usuallyonnorthernslopesorinravines.Itispartof a widergene pool through
the Himalayas.Itisused formakingbaskets,matsandpipes. Bambusabambos. Itisrare inthe Ravi river
eastward.Itisabsentinthe hills.Thisspeciesisextensivelyusedforconstruction.
DendrocalamusstrictusisfoundinPunjabandKashmir.It isfoundalsoinmixedvegetationonMarghalla
hillssurroundingIslamabad.Itisusedforconstructionandavarietyof purposes.
Thisformspart of a gene pool extendingacrossHindustanandusuallygrowingbelow 1,200 m.In
Pakistan,the resourcesare shrinkingBambooplantations havebeenraisedongoodagricultural landsin
Sargodha,Jhang,KhoshabandMandibhaudindistrictsof Punjabprovince inPakistan.Mostof these
plantationsare on0.5 acres of lands.In Chuniansubdivisionof Kasurdistrict,small farmershave also
successfullyestablishedsmall bamboogrovesof 4-10 acres area.Bambooplantationareaincreasesor
decreaseswiththe marketdemandinthe domesticaswell asinthe Middle Eastmarkets.
Dandrocalamusstictus,BambusatuldaandDandrocalamushamiltonii are the majorspeciesgrownon
private farmlands.Almost100 percentbambooresourcesare onprivate farms.FarmersinPunjabeither
raise pure standof bambooor manage bambooplantationswithagricultural crops. Mostof the farmers
use rhizomesforplantingbamboos.Shootcuttingsare alsousedforbamboocultivationinPakistan.
ResearchstudiesconductedatPakistanForestInstitute,PeshawarFRA WP128 CountryReporton
BambooResourcesPakistan indicate thatformaximumproduction,bambooshouldbe grown aspure
crop at 2x2 m spacing.However,agricultural cropscanbe grownforsome yearsif plantspacingiskept
greaterthan2x2 m.Average growingstockof bamboogrownonfarmlandsisestimatedabout8 tons/per
hectare. More than 66 percentof the growingstockisconsideredcommercial growingstockhaving
clumdiameterof more than5 cm. More than80 percentof the growingstockconsistof three major
speciesi.eDandrocalamusstictus,BambusatuldaandDandrocalamushamiltonii.

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Arundinariafalcata Itisusedformakingbaskets,matsandpipes.
BambusabambosThisspeciesisextensivelyusedforconstruction.
B. multiplex inthe plainsof Punjabisahedge bamboo.
Dendrocalamusstrictus Itisusedforconstructionanda varietyof purposes.
Dendrocalamushamiltonii isusedforconstructionandladdermanufacturingand
scaffoldings
Bambusatuldausedforconstructionpurposes.
Bamboo Propagation
Bamboois propagatedbytakingpiecesfromabambooplantandkeepingthemaliveforlongenoughto
forthemto growand formnewplants.Thiscan startalmostimmediately,thoughmaytake aslongasa
yearor two,dependingonthe bamboospecies,the methodusedandthe environmental conditions.
Some bamboospeciesare veryeasytopropagate,andothersare difficultandrequiregreatattentionto
detail.Itisimportanttoselectwell-grownhealthymaterialof the rightage and state of developmentfor
the propagationmethodused.Itshouldbe free frompestsanddiseasesandprotectedfromdrying
duringtransportand storage.Carefulbalance of moistureanddrainage inthe propagationmedium,and
highhumidityare essential forgoodresultsinall butthe easiesttopropagate of bamboospecies.
Warmth and goodlightlevelsare alsorequired.
Basic propagation techniquesforbamboo plants include...
Growingbamboo from divisions. Bambooplantsgrowinginpotsorin the groundcan be dividedto
produce newplants.Thisisbestdone inspringorearlysummer.The ideaistodivide the underground
systemof rhizomesandrootsinto'offsets'of one ormore culms.A sharpsaw or spade can be used.
Some bamboospeciesare veryeasytodothiswith,and a single culmwithhealthyrhizomeandbudsis
enoughtogenerate anewclump.Generally,itisbettertohave twoor more culmsjoinedatthe base,at
the rhizome neck.Thiscombinationof 'mother'and'daughter'culmscan produce biggerplantsfaster
than anyothermethodof propagationforbambooplants.Howeverthe removal of toomanyof these
offsetsfromthe plantcandamage the remainderof the clump,because bamboostoresmuchof it'svital
energyin itsrhizomesandlowerculms.

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Growingbamboo from layering.Bambooculmscan be pulleddowntothe groundandcoveredwithsoil
and mulchand newplantswill format the nodes.Thisisthe easiestandmostreliable waytopropagate
bambooplantsfrom layering.Byleavingthe culmattachedtothe parentplant,the minimumof
maintenance care isrequired,butitcantake one or two yearstoforsome speciestoformplantsstrong
enoughtobe transplanted.Alternativelythe wholeculm(withorwithoutthe rhizomeattached),canbe
removedfromthe plantandlayeredinanurserysituation.Thiscanproduce new plantsquicklybut
requiresmore skill andbetteraftercare.
Air-layering(ormarcottage) canalsobe usedto generate bamboo propagates.Insteadof pullingthe
bambooculmdownto the propagatingmedium(the ground),the mediumisappliedtothe culmatthe
nodesandis wrappedandtiedinplace.A soil-lessmediumsuchascoiror a pottingmix canbe used.
Growingbamboo from cuttings. Bamboo plantscanbe grownfromcuttings,asare manyothertypesof
plants.Thismethodispopular,perhapsbecauseitislighterworkthanthe othermethodsdescribed,but
oftenproduceslowernumbersof smallerplants.Singlenode cuttingscanbe placedstraightintopots,
but thismethodof propagationrequiresboththe highestlevel of skillandof aftercare forthe more
difficultspecies.Thismayinvolvethe use of a controlled environmentasina greenhouse,though
cuttingsfromsome bamboospeciesare easytostrike eveninapoor mediuminawarm shadyplace.
Growingbamboofromseed. We geta surprisingnumberof enquiriesfrompeople whoare lookingfor
bambooseed.Bambooisknownforit'sunusual floweringpatterns.Some bamboosare saidtoneveror
almostneverflower.Othersfloweralmostconstantly.Butmostseemtohave developedlongand regular
floweringperiodsthatvaryconsiderablyfromspeciestospecies,thoughrange typicallyfromthirtyto
one hundredandtwentyyears.Thismakesgrowingbamboofromseedarare opportunitytoselectnew
strains,varietiesorevenspeciesof bamboo, andtoclone thembythe methodsof vegetative
propagationthatare normallyusedbybamboogrowers.
Economic Sustainability
Bamboohas beenusedthroughhistorynotonlybecause of the strengthof the material,butalso
throughthe renewableprospects.Throughhistory,woodhasbecome more andmore scarce,simply
because toproduce a full growntree cantake upto sixtyyears,andthenanothersixtyyearstime fora
replacement.Speciesof bambooequal tothe heightandwidthof atree take as little assixtydaysto
mature completely.
Bamboois alsoeasytogrow,because of the root systems.Runningbamboospeciesare especiallyeasy
to grow,as theyproduce severalshootsata time,andwill take overasmuchroomas theypossiblycan.
Bamboois alsodifficulttogetridof,unlessitiscompletelyplowedunder.
The unknownbuildingmaterial andresourceof the future,bamboohashada longand rich history.It
will be usedforyearstocome ineverythingfromhousingtobedsheets,andevenmore asmore
informationislearnedaboutthisamazingplant.
Pruning
Bamboolike otherplantsrequiressome pruningtomaintainitsattractiveness.Bambooculmsliveonly
to about15 years.Once each yearwe shouldremove olderunattractive culmsandcutoff anydead or
unattractive branches.
We can prune bamboowithoutfearof damaging.We may cut justabove a node,soas not to leave a

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stubthat will die backandlookunsightly.If we cutback the top,we may wanttoalso shortensome of
the side branchessothe plantwill lookmore balanced,notleavinglongbranchesatthe top.
Harvesting
Bamboousedforconstructionpurposesmustbe harvestedwhenthe culmsreachtheirgreateststrength
and whensugarlevelsinthe sapare at theirlowest,ashighsugarcontentincreasesthe ease andrate
of pestinfestation.
Harvesting ofbamboo is typically undertakenaccordingto the followingcycles:
1) Life cycle of the culm:As eachindividual culmgoesthrougha5– to 7-yearlife cycle,culmsare ideally
allowedtoreachthislevel of maturitypriortofull capacityharvesting.The clearingoutorthinningof
culms,particularlyolderdecayingculms,helpstoensure adequatelightandresourcesfornew growth.
Well-maintainedclumpsmayhave aproductivitythree tofourtimesthatof anunharvestedwildclump.
2) Life cycle of the culm:Consistentwiththe life cycle describedabove,bambooisharvestedfromtwoto
three yearsthroughtofive tosevenyears,dependingonthe species.
3) Annual cycle:Asall growthof newbamboooccurs duringthe wetseason,disturbingthe clumpduring
thisphase will potentiallydamage the upcomingcrop.Alsoduringthishighrainfallperiod,saplevelsare
at theirhighest,andthendiminishtowardsthe dryseason.Pickingimmediatelypriortothe wet/growth
seasonmayalsodamage newshoots.Hence,harvestingisbestatthe endof the dry season,a few
monthspriorto the start of the wet.
4) Dailycycle:Duringthe heightof the day, photosynthesis isatitspeak,producingthe highestlevelsof
sugar insap,makingthisthe leastideal time of dayto harvest.Many traditional practitionersbelieve the
besttime toharvestisat dawn or duskon a waningmoon.Thispractice makessense intermsof both
mooncycles,visibility,anddailycycles.
Leaching
Leachingisthe removal of sapafterharvest.Inmany areasof the world,the saplevelsinharvested
bambooare reducedeitherthroughleachingorpostharvestphotosynthesis.Examplesof thispractice
include:
1. Cut bambooisraisedclearof the groundandleantagainstthe restof the clumpfor one to two
weeksuntil leavesturnyellowtoallow full consumptionof sugarsbythe plant.
2. A similarmethodisundertaken,butwiththe base of the culmstandinginfreshwater,eitherina
large drumor streamto leachout sap.
3. Cut culmsare immersedinarunningstreamandweighteddownforthree tofourweeks.
4. Water ispumpedthroughthe freshlycutculms,forcingoutthe sap(thismethodisoftenusedin
conjunctionwiththe injectionof some formof treatment).
In the processof waterleaching,the bambooisdriedslowlyandevenlyinthe shade toavoidcrackingin
the outerskinof the bamboo,therebyreducingopportunitiesforpestinfestation.

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Durabilityof bambooinconstructionisdirectlyrelatedtohow well itishandledfromthe momentof
plantingthrough harvesting,transportation,storage,design,constructionandmaintenance.Bamboo
harvestedatthe correcttime of yearand thenexposedtogroundcontactor rain,will breakdownjustas
quicklyasincorrectlyharvestedmaterial.
Nutrition:
The main nutrientsinbambooshootsare protein,aminoacid,fat,sugarandinorganicsalt.Theyare rich
inprotein,containingbetween1.49 and4.04 grams (average 2.65g) per 100g of freshbambooshoots.
The bambooproteinproduceseightessentialandtwosemi-essential aminoacids.Althoughthe fat
contentiscomparativelylow(0.26-0.94%),itisstill higherthaninmanyothervegetables,andthe
shootscontainrich essentialfattyacids.The total sugarcontent,2.5% on average,islowerthanthat in
othervegetables.The watercontentis90% or more.
Vegetables
(100g)
Water
(g)
Protein
(g)
Fat
(g)
Total Sugar
(g)
Heat
(J)
Crude Fiber
(g)
Ash Content
(g)
Bambooshoots* 90.86 2.65 0.49 2.50 10.45 0.58 0.88
Chinese cabbage 93.00 1.30 0.20 3.40 8.78 1.20 1.00
Pakchoi 94.50 1.30 0.30 2.30 7.11 0.60. 1.00
Amaranth 89.00 3.40 0.30 3.70 12.97 1.30 2.30
Spinach 93.40 1.90 0.20 2.00 7.11 1.00 1.40
Celery 94.30 2.20 0.10 1.40 6.27 1.00 1.00
Lettuce 96.40 0.60 0.10 1.90 4.60 0.40 0.60
Garlic sprout 86.40 1.20 0.30 9.70 19.24 1.80 0.60
Onion 88.30 1.80 0.00 8.00 16.31 1.10 0.80
Pumpkin 91.00 0.50 0.10 6.90 12.97 0.80 0.70
Tomato 95.20 0.70 0.30 2.80 7.11 0.40 0.60
White turnip 93.40 0.70 0.10 4.10 8.36 1.00 0.70
Potato 81.60 1.90 0.00 14.00 27.61 0.70 1.20
Average 91.38 1.45 0.16 5.06 11.54 0.94 0.99
Note:the itemwith* isthe average numberof 27 bamboospecies

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UsesofBamboo in World:
With the economic development and the improvement of people’s living standards, demand for natural
foods, especially organic food, has greatly increased. Moso bamboo does not contain toxic substances
and its products are made in strict accordance with the food safety standards, so it is an ideal resource
for natural foods.Humans aren't alone in their consumption of bamboo. Panda bear fans know it as the
primary food source for giant pandas.
1. Foodand FoodMaterials
a. The firstexposure mostpeople inthe westernworldhave tobambooisprobablyaspartof a chinese
(or otherEastAsian) meal!The shootsof bambooare oftenusedinmanyAsiandishes,andare readily
available slicedinfreshandcannedformfrommostsupermarkets. The propertiesof bambooshoots
were recordedinthe bookof Compendiumof MateriaMedica,apharmaceutical textwrittenduringthe
Ming Dynasty(1368-1644), withthe followingwords:"It’sslightlycold,sweet,non-toxic,anditquenches
thirst,benefitsthe liquidcirculatorysystem,supplementsQi,andcan be servedasa dailydish."
The shootsthat have turneda little fibrousare fermented,dried,andgroundtosand-sizedparticlesto
prepare a garnishknownas hendua.Itisalsocookedwithtenderpumpkinleavestomake saggreen
leaves..InJapan,the bambooshootiscalledthe Kingof ForestVegetables.
b. The sap of youngstalkscanalsobe tappedto make a sweetwine calledulanzi.
c.Continuingthe culinarytheme,largerbamboostalks,because of theirhollowness,are oftenusedas
cookingvessels.The foodcanbe placedinthe stalk,andthencookeddirectlyoverthe flame.
d. Similarly,steamedteaissometimesrammedintobamboohollowstoproduce compressed
formsof Pu-erhtea.Cookingfoodinbambooissaidtogive the fooda subtle butdistinctive taste.
e.Inaddition,bambooisfrequentlyusedforcookingutensilswithinmanycultures,andisusedinthe
manufacture of chopsticks.
f.InIndonesia,theyare slicedthinandthenboiledwith santan (thickcoconutmilk) andspicestomake a
dishcalled gulairebung.Otherrecipesusingbambooshootsare sayurlodeh(mixedvegetablesincoconut
milk) and lunpia (sometimeswritten lumpia:friedwrappedbambooshootswithvegetables).
The shoots ofsome speciescontaintoxinsthat needto be leachedor boiledout before theycan be

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eatensafely
g. Pickledbamboo,usedasacondiment,may alsobe made fromthe pithof the youngshoots. Pickled
bambooshoots(Nepali: tama) are cookedwithblack-eyedbeansasadelicacyfoodinNepal.Many
Nepalese restaurantaroundthe worldserve thisdishas alooboditama.Freshbambooshootsare sliced
and pickledwithmustardseedsandturmericandkeptinglassjarin directsunlightforthe besttaste.It
isusedalongside manydriedbeansincookingduringwintermonths.Babyshoots(Nepali:tusa) of avery
differentvarietyof bamboo(Nepali:Nigalo) native toNepal iscookedasa curry inHillyregions‘
h.India,the tendershootsare gratedinto juliennes andfermented toprepare kardi.The name isderived
fromthe Sanskritwordforbambooshoot, karira.Thisfermentedbambooshootisusedinvarious
culinarypreparations,notably amil,asourvegetable soup.Itisalsomade intopancakesusing rice
flouras a bindingagent.
i. Bamboo vinegar :Whenbambooisheatedatveryhightemperature inanairlessvessel,itbecomes
charcoal,whichisusedlike othercharcoal products,asa fuel component,adeodorizer,oran absorbent.
The vapor that comesoff the heatedbamboocanbe condensedtoproduce aliquidknownasbamboo
vinegar.Itgetsthisname fromthe highcontentof aceticacid(the maincomponentof ordinary
fermentedvinegar),thoughthisingredientisaccompaniedbymanyothercompounds,especially
phenols,suchasguaiacol andcresol.BamboovinegarhasbeenproducedinJapan(where itis
calledchikusaku-eki) formanyyearsandisusedmedicinallytotreateczema,atopicdermatitis,and
otherskindiseases;itismostcommonlyappliedbyaddingtobathwater
2.Fibre : One of the more recentusesforBamboo isas a fibre formakingclothingfabric.Inthis
incarnation,bamboohasbeenfoundtohave several desirableproperties;itisverylightandextremely
soft,makingitverycomfortable towear;it alsowicksmoisture awayfromthe skin,makingitideal
clothingforcarryingout exercise in(i.e.yogo, orjogging) orasa material forbabyclothingand
accessories.
i
3.Furniture :Bamboohas a longhistoryof use in Asianfurniture.Chinese bamboofurniture isadistinct
style basedona millennia-longtradition.Several manufacturersoffer bamboobicycles andskateboards.
Due to its flexibility,bambooisalsousedtomake fishingrods.The splitcane rod isespeciallyprized
for flyfishing.Bamboohasbeentraditionallyusedin Malaysiaasa firecrackercalledameriambuluh or
bamboocannon.Four-foot-longsectionsof bambooare cut,and a mixture of waterand calciumcarbide
are introduced.The resultingacetylenegasisignitedwithastick, producingaloudbang.Bamboo can be
usedinwaterdesalination.cA bamboofilterisusedtoremove the saltfromseawater.

11. 11
4.Paper :Bamboofiberhasbeenusedtomake paperin Chinasince earlytimes.A high-quality,
handmade paperisstill producedinsmall quantities.Coarsebamboopaperisstill usedtomake spirit
money inmanyChinese communities.[30]
Bamboopulps are mainlyproducedinChina, Myanmar,ThailandandIndia,andare usedin printingand
writingpapers.[31]
The mostcommonbamboospeciesusedforpaper
are DendrocalamusasperandBamboobluemanea.Itisalsopossibletomake dissolvingpulp from
bamboo.The average fiberlengthissimilarto hardwoods,butthe propertiesof bamboopulpare closer
to softwoodpulpsdue toithavingaverybroadfiberlengthdistribution.[31]
Withthe helpof molecular
tools,itisnow possible todistinguishthe superiorfiber-yieldingspecies/varietiesevenatjuvenilestages
of theirgrowth,whichcanhelpinunadulteratedmerchandise production.
5. Asianmartial arts :In the ancientTamil martial art of Silambam,fighterswouldhiteachotherrapidly
withbamboosticks.Inthe Japanese martial art Kendo,bambooisusedtomake the Shinaisword.A
bamboostickcan be made intoa simple spearbysharpeningone of the ends.Inarchery,the longbow
and recurve bowlimbsare commonlycraftedwithflatgroundbamboo,andalsousedtomake superior
weaponsforbowhuntingandtargetarchery.History's firstgunpowder-basedweapons,suchasthe fire
lance,were made of bamboo.
6.Textiles:
Because the fibersof bambooare veryshort (lessthan3 mm),theyare impossible totransform into
yarn ina natural process.[27]
The usual processbywhichtextileslabeledasbeingmade of bambooare
producedusesonly rayonmade fromthe fiberswithheavyemploymentof chemicals.Toaccomplish
this,the fibersare brokendownwithchemicalsandextrudedthroughmechanical spinnerets;the
chemicalsinclude lye,carbondisulfide andstrongacids.[22]
Retailershave soldbothend productsas
"bamboofabric"to cash inon bamboo'scurrentecofriendlycachet;however,the Canadian Competition
Bureau[28]
andthe US Federal Trade Commission,[29]
asof mid-2009, are crackingdownon the practice of
labelingbamboorayonasnatural bamboofabric.Underthe guidelinesof bothagencies,these products
mustbe labeledasrayonwiththe optional qualifier"frombamboo.Bamboofabricisspunfrombamboo
pulpmanufacturedfrombamboogrownonbambooplantationsprimarilyinChina.Becausebamboohas
so manyusesand derivedproducts,growingbamboohasbecome asignificantindustryinChina
7.Buildingmaterials:
House made entirelyof bamboo
In itsnatural form, bambooas a constructionmaterial istraditionallyassociatedwiththe culturesof
SouthAsia,East Asiaand the SouthPacific,tosome extentinCentral andSouthAmerica,andby
extensioninthe aestheticof Tiki culture.InChinaandIndia,bamboowasusedto holdup simple
suspensionbridges,eitherbymakingcablesof splitbambooortwistingwholeculmsof sufficiently
pliable bambootogether.One suchbridge inthe areaof Qian-Xianisreferencedinwritingsdatingback
960 AD,and may have stoodsince asfar back as the thirdcenturyBC, due largelytocontinuous
maintenance.[17]

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Bamboohas alsolongbeenusedasscaffolding;the practice hasbeenbannedinChinaforbuildingsover
six storeys,butisstill incontinuoususe forskyscrapersinHongKong.[18]
Inthe Philippines,the nipa
hut isa fairlytypical exampleof the mostbasicsort of housingwhere bambooisused;the wallsare split
and wovenbamboo,andbambooslatsandpolesmaybe usedas its support.In Japanese architecture,
bambooisusedprimarilyasa supplementaland/ordecorativeelementinbuildingssuchasfencing,
fountains,gratesandgutters,largelydue tothe readyabundance of qualitytiVariousstructural shapes
may be made by trainingthe bambootoassume themas it grows.Squaredsectionsof bambooare
createdby compressingthe growingstalkwithinasquare form.[20]
Archesmaysimilarlybe created by
forcingthe bamboo'sgrowthwiththe desiredform, andcostsmuch lessthanit wouldtoassume the
same shape inregularwoodtimber.More traditional formingmethods,suchasthe applicationof heat
and pressure,mayalsobe usedtocurve or flattenthe cutstalks.
Bamboocan be cut and laminatedintosheetsandplanks.Thisprocessinvolvescuttingstalksintothin
strips,planingthemflat,boilinganddryingthe strips;theyare thenglued,pressedand
finished.[22]
GenerallylongusedinChinaandJapan,entrepreneursstarteddevelopingandselling
laminatedbambooflooringinthe Westduringthe mid1990s;[22]
productsmade from bamboolaminate,
includingflooring,cabinetry,furnitureandevendecorations,are currentlysurginginpopularity,
transitioningfromthe boutique markettomainstreamproviders,suchas Home Depot.The bamboo
goodsindustry(whichalsoincludessmall goods,fabric,etc.) isexpectedtobe worth$25 billionby
2012.[23]
The qualityof bamboolaminate variesbetweenmanufacturersandthe maturityof the plant
fromwhichit washarvested(six yearsbeingconsideredthe optimum);the sturdiestproductsfulfil their
claimsof beingupto three timesharderthan oak hardwood,butothersmaybe softerthanstandard
hardwooBamboointendedforuse inconstructionshouldbe treatedtoresistinsectsandrot.The most
commonsolutionforthispurpose isa mixture of boraxandboricacid.[24]
Anotherprocessinvolves
boilingcutbambooto remove the starchesthatattract insects.[22]
8. Medicine
Bamboois usedin Chinese medicine fortreatinginfectionsandhealing.In Ayurveda,the Indiansystem
of traditional medicine,the siliciousconcretionfoundinthe culmsof the bamboostemis
calledbanslochan.Itisknownas tabashiror tawashirinunani-tibb the Indo-Persiansystemof medicine.
In English,itiscalled"bamboomanna".Thisconcretionissaidtobe a tonicfor the respiratory
diseases.[citation needed]
Itwas earlierobtainedfrom Melocanna bambusoides andisveryhardto get.In
mostIndianliterature, Bambusa arundinaceous isdescribedasthe source of bamboomanna.Japanese
scientistsrecentlydiscoveredthatbambooshootscontainanti-canceragentsandmakingthemaregular
part of yourdieteffectivelyeliminatesthe free radicalsthatcanproduce dangerouscarcinogens.
9. Cultural:

13. 13
The use of bamboogoesback a longtime.In fact, bamboohasbeenconsideredtobe asymbol of good
fortune inAsianculturesforover4,000 years.Itsabilitytogrow quicklyandstronglyhaslongdeemedit
a symbol of successand healthysustenance.It’sone of the mostpopularlysoughtafterFengShui
symbols,highlyrecommendedbythe mastersforcreatingaspace of safe energy.Bamboo’slonglasting
life hasinstilleditasa Chinese symbol of longevity,anditisconsideredtobe symbolicof longlasting
friendshipinIndia.Itsrare blossomingflowershavealsobeenconsideredasignof impendingfamine,
probablydue torats feedingonthe flowerstomultiplyanddestroythe area’sfoodsupply
10. Weapons
Bamboowas traditionallyusedasa raw material formakingweaponsof manydifferentsorts.The
earliestbambooweaponswere simpleblowgunsdesignedbyprimitive peoplestoprojectadart witha
quickburstof air. Bamboohas alsobeenusedtomake lightandstrong bowsandarrows. BambooGrove
reportsthat gunpowdergunshave beenconstructedoutof bamboo.Treatedbamboopolesare still
oftenusedinmartial arts as trainingweapons
11. Musical Instruments:
Dizi (Chinese flute) is made of bamboo. Bamboo has long been used as a raw material for making
musical instruments. The practice originated in Asia but has since spread around the world. Sunreed
and other musical instrument manufacturers produce a wide range of bamboo instruments, including
clarinets, pentatonic flutes, shakuhachi, saxophones, wind chimes, pipe organs, gongs, pan pipes,
whistles, drums, shakers and didjeridoos
12. Art
Bamboo painting is an important part of Chinese traditional painting.
13.Hedge ;
In landscaping, uses for bamboo include as a hedge (for privacy screens) and as a specimen plant. I
deal with bamboo privacy screens .Yes, bamboo can be an excellent choice, both as a noise buffer and
as a privacy screen.
14. KitchenImplements
In additiontoeatingbambooshootsandmakingbeerfroma fermented bamboopreparation,
traditional humancultureshave usedbambootomake anumberof differentkitchenimplements.
Bamboosteamershave beenusedforcenturiestoprepare steamedfoodsoverboilingwater.Utensils,
such as chopsticks,spoons,knives,eggbeatersandforkshave longbeenmade of bamboo.Mostdishes,
includingcups,plates,bowls,place matsandstorage containers,have beentraditionallymade of
bamboo.
15. TRADITIONAL FORMULAS
The following four tables present examples of traditional formulas that have incorporated bamboo .The
formulas have been divided as follows:
1. Bamboo leaf formulas for febrile conditions. Generally, these formulas were designed to treat
an acute feverish disease that did not resolve in a few days, and sometimes caused a drying of

14. 14
the fluids (particularly of the stomach) as well as affecting the other internal organs. Typical
symptoms are fever, irritability, and insomnia. The formula ZhuyeShigao Tang (Bamboo Leaf and
Gypsum Combination) has been adopted in modern treatment of some chronic ailments,
including diabetes.
2. Bamboo shavings formulas for upflowing qi from the stomach. These are formulas that are
used for stomach heat syndromes that produce incorrect flow of qi, commonly causing nausea
and loss of appetite, as well as symptoms of hiccups or vomiting (for acute and chronic cases).
The formulas JupiZhuru Tang (Aurantium and Bamboo Combination) and Wendan Tang (Bamboo
and Hoelen Combination) are widely used for these symptoms; the latter formula also addresses
irritability and insomnia.
3. Bamboo shavings and tabasheer formulas for phlegm mist affecting the brain. These
formulas clear heat and resolve phlegm to treat a syndrome in which "phlegm mist obstructs the
orifices of the heart" (tanmixinqiao) or, in cases where there is significant heat present, phlegm
fire disturbing the heart (tanhuoraoxin). Symptoms may include severe agitation and insomnia, or
convulsions (epilepsy, spasms, etc.), mania (emotional outbursts, incoherent speech), and even
coma. The tabasheer formulas typically include many animal and mineral agents to make a highly
potent (and toxic) treatment that can be given in very small amounts for only a few days; these
were designed for treatment of infants. Ditan Tang (Phlegm-Scouring Decoction)
and ZhuruWendan Tang (Bamboo and Ginseng Combination) are non-toxic formulations with
bamboo shavings that are still used today in the treatment of epilepsy (or other convulsive
disorders) and mental illnesses (including those of children); these formulas can be used for
prolonged treatment, if necessary.
4. Bamboo shavings and bamboo sap formulas for cough with excess sputum. Although
bamboo is used in formulas for lung heat, especially when there is excessive sputum (often quite
sticky in nature), it is not a common ingredient, since other herbs have very similar applications,
particularly fritillaria, with which it is often combined. Both formulas listed are still in common use,
primarily through Japanese and Taiwanese interest in them.
16. Erosion Control:
Bamboo has other advantages. Itsroots grab onto soil and hold it fast. Plant bamboo on a steep
slope or riverbank and it prevents mudslides and erosion.
17, Bamboo Charcoal
Charcoal, of course, is not the only thing that can be made of bamboo. Its tensile strength makes it a
good constructionmaterial, and it is also used for furniture, flooringand textiles, among other
things. Paradoxically, harvestingbamboo to make durable goods is greener than not harvesting
bamboo. Here’s why: bamboo culms — the poles — do not live as long as hardwood trees, usually up
to a decade. When an old culm decays, it releases carboninto the atmosphere. (The root system,
which hold 30 to 40 percent of its carbon, last much longer.)This means that an untouchedbamboo
forest is a poor carbonsink. Fortunately, the best way to turn bamboo into an excellent carbonsink
is to make money with it — harvest the bamboo to make durable productsbefore it starts its decay.
Treatedbamboo flooringor furniture will last as long as wood, storing its carbonthe whole time
18. Fuel and reforestation
Along with the fuel possibilities, bamboo has the fastest reforestation potential of any plant,
making a new canopy in burnt landscapes in a matter of months. Bamboo is an
environmentally safe, renewable source of fuel and building material that has a positive

15. 15
effect on the environment in an age ridden with ecological problems brought on by the
widespread use of fossil fuels.
19. Bamboo Poles and ladders
Commercial grade bamboo poles and decorative bamboo sticks are manufactured with only the
highest grade Tonkin and Moso bamboo harvested from 3-5 years of growth to achieve maximum wall
thickness and density. A very versatile building product, our bamboo poles are suitable for indoor,
outdoor and furniture building uses. Bamboo Poles come in a variety of lengths and diameters in
natural, black and speckled bamboo.
20. Other uses
BambooFencing,Thatch,BambooPoles ,ThatchStructures ,BambooRugs,BambooFurniture,Tiki Bar
,Matting,Tiki Statues ,BambooPanels ,Tropical Decor,BambooBorders ,Artificial Thatch ,bamboo
stakes
Summary for Bamboo Cultivation
Althoughthe trendforbambooisgrowingfast,there’sstill alotof questionsoutthere aboutthistall,
strikingplant.InstantJungle International hasbeendealingwith bambooandothertropical plantsfor
our entire 30-yearcareer,sowe wantedtoshare some of our knowledge byansweringsome frequently
askedquestions.
1. Doesn’tall bamboo run rampant once planted?
Bamboocomesin twoforms,clumpingand“grove-like”orrunningbamboo.Runningbamboocanbe
easilycontainedwithrootbarrier.Rootbarrierisusuallya30 or 40 mmpolyethylene plasticsheeting
that encirclesthe areawhere youwantthe “grove-like bamboo”tostaycontained.Itissuppliedin24”,
30” and 36” depthsand shipsinroll
3. How fast doesbamboo grow?
Bamboovarietiesdifferinrate of growth.The timbervarietiesgrow fairlyfastandcangrow quite tall,
rangingfrom25’-45’ inmaturity.Othervarietiesreachashorterheightandgrow somewhatslower.
3. How many kinds of bamboo are there?
There are hundredsof varietiesof bamboo.Mostvarietiesthatare usedornamentallyingardennumber
about20-30.
4. Are there bamboo typesthat can be usedindoors?
Some bamboovarietiesmaybe usedinaninteriorapplication–there mustbe sufficientoverhead
lightingandgoodventilation
5. Is there bamboo that doesn’tneeda lot of water or light?
InstantJungle buildsandsupplies“replica”bamboo,whichare “silk”bamboo.We use real canesand
attach silkleavestothe branches.

16. 16
6. Are there commercial usesfor bamboo?
Bamboois usedinlarge commercial applicationsmore oftenthanmostpeople know.InstantJungle has
suppliedbamboofor“LA Live”,rooftopbuildinggardeninSanFrancisco,manycasinos inLasVegas,
manyoffice parkswhere tall screeninghasbeenrequired,aswell aslivingscreenstohide parking
garagesandto create a more private intimatesetting.
7. What are the most common residential usesforbamboo?
The most commonresidential usesforbambooare for“livingscreens”orspecimenpiecesthatstandon
theirown.
8. How high doesbamboo grow? Can you control it?
There are manyspeciesof bamboothatgrow indifferentways.Some are verydense witha“hedging”
appearance,the most popularbeingBambusaMultiplex“AlphonseKarr”.Othervarietiesgrow quite tall
and are eitherverydense orsomewhatopenatthe base if theyare shaded.These are commonlycalled
timberbambooandcome in bothclumpingandrunningvarieties.Some of the commonnamesare
“tropical timberbamboo”orJapanese Timberbamboo.
9. Does bamboo needconstantwatering?
Bamboois inthe same family(plant) asgrasses,therefore itprefersregularirrigation.Thiscanbe
accomplishedmanyways.InstantJungle uses adripirrigationsystematournursery.
10. Does bamboo needa lotof maintenance?
Bamboodoesnot require asignificantamountof maintenance.We recommendayearlypruningof the
oldercanes,toencourage andprovide space forthe new culms(shoots) to emerge.Thisoccursonce a
year,late springforthe temperate bamboo,andsummertofall forthe tropical bamboo.
11. Where doesbamboo originate?
Many bamboosoriginate inChina
Mr. .Allah Dad Khan FormerDirector General Agriculture ExtensionKhyber PakhtunkhwaProvince
Peshawar