This document summarizes information about bamboo harvesting and processing. It discusses selecting mature bamboo culms for harvesting based on age and diameter. Ideal harvesting times are during the dry season when bamboo has lower moisture content. Processing involves soaking bamboo in water or a boric acid solution to remove nutrients and prevent pest infestation. Proper drying and storage after treatment can increase bamboo's lifespan from 2 years to over 20 years. The document emphasizes best practices for harvesting, treating, and storing bamboo to improve quality and durability.

1. Bamboo Harvesting and Processing
Speaker :- Dr. Yogesh Y. Sumthane
Wood Technologist
BRTC

2. Agenda / Topics
1. Selection and Harvesting of Bamboo culms
1.2.Determining the age of Bamboo culms Harvesting
2.Bamboo Preservation
2.1. Why preserve Bamboo?
2.2. Proposed methods of preservation
3. Preparation of Bamboo culms for Treatment
3.1. Vertical soak diffusion treatment
3.2. Horizontal dip diffusion treatment
4. Drying
5. Storage
6. Conclusion

3. Why Bamboo?
Bamboo Addresses THREE Major National Concerns
ECOLOGICAL SECURITY: conservation of forests through timber substitution, alternate
materials to non-biodegradable & high energy consuming materials like metals and plastics.
SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY: Bamboo based agro -forestry system,
maintenance of soil fertility of adjoining agricultural lands, and bamboo
shoots.
LIVELIHOOD SECURITY: Generation of employment in planting and primary
processing for manufacturing mat based composites and other market
driven bamboo products

4. Cont.
MAJOR BAMBOO GROWING
REGIONS / STATES
AREA Gross
( % ) Share
North East 28.066
Madhya Pradesh 20.312
Maharashtra 9.9 5
Orissa 8.7 7
Andhra Pradesh 7.4 2
Karnataka 5.5 3
Other States 20.25
(Kerala, UP,
Jharkhand,
West Bengal)
India is Home to almost 45 % of
world's bamboo forests
4.5 M tons annually produced from
8.96 m ha.
LAND AREA 329 MHa
FOREST AREA 63.3
MHa
BAMBOO AREA
8.96MHa
67% clump forming
33% non clump forming

5. SELECTION AND HARVESTING OF BAMBOO CULMS
 PROPERTIES FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS
• The raw material required depends greatly
on the intended application and desired
characteristics of the product that will be
manufactured. For instance:
• New culms (i.e., younger than 1 year old),
which have very soft and flexible fibers,
can be used as finishing strips for weaving.
• 3 to 4 year old culms are ideal for
Harvesting and Bamboo Products Making
like Furniture, Handicraft, etc.
Results

6. DETERMINING THE AGE OF BAMBOO CULMS
• There are two practical methods to identify the age of culms.
• Colour of the Culm
The photo shows 1,2,3 and 4 year old culms. Note that the older culms are less shiny but they are most
suitable for Use.

7. Cont.
Marking Culms
The photo shows marked culms that emerged in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

8. HARVESTING
 Selection of Culms
 Based on Age
 Based on Diameter

9. When to Harvest?
 Harvesting not possible during rainy season.
 Bamboos grow during the rainy season.
 During the season of growth, the culms have very high moisture
content and also a high starch content which provides nutrients
to the plant and supports its growth and expansion.
 Ideal period for harvesting is Dry season because, at this time
moisture content and starch content of the culms is lowest.
 The culms should be cut between the first and second node, or
around 15 to 20 cm above the ground.

10. Cont.

11. Factors Reducing Bamboo Quality
• Abiotic Factors
• Cracks and Splits
• Weathering
• Fire

12. BAMBOO Processing for Preservation
• Bamboo clumps are rich in starch content and are very
susceptible to biological degradation.
• The purpose of preservation is to remove the
nourishment that attracts insects and other pests that
feed on bamboo. The lifetime of bamboo that is not
preserved is about 2 years. When bamboo is well
preserved it can last for over 20 years.
Why preserve Bamboo?

13. Preservative Methods
Non- Chemical method
Chemical Method

14. Non- Chemical or Traditional Method
• Culm – curing
• Leaching in Water
• Smoking
• White Washing
Culm – curing

15. Leaching in Water
In many cultures freshly cut bamboo is soaked in rivers
or streams to leach out Starch and saps to reduce pest
infestation. Leaching is more effective on smaller
sections of bamboo; therefore it should be done after
cutting to length or split while vascular cells are still
open.

16. Smoking and White Washing

17. Chemical Treatment
Vacuum Pressure Treatment Plant

18. VPT

19. Chemical Composition for Treatment

20. Boric Borax solution

21. Boucherie Method

22. Mechanical use

23. Research and Development
1.Mechanical Training needed
2. Research Needed in Adhesive Sector specially in natural adhesive
3.Awarness needed in layman people about Treatment
4. Handicraft specially kitchen products free from fungus when it
contact with water.

24. Conclution
• Harvesting time, age of the clump, Diameter of the clump must to
check before harvesting.
• Don’t do harvesting practices during rainy season
• Initial Storage place also hygiene and free from Insect
• Treatment is needed for all clumps
• Boric Borax treatment with VPI is highly suitable
• These practices improve the product cost and durability

25. Thank you for Kind Attention
Ask Questions ?