Variation in Fiber Lengh of the 3-Year-Old Bambusa oldhamii Culm

Abstract

The objectives of this investigation were to determine the variation in fiber length of 3- year-old Bambusa oldhamii. Both the variation between bamboo culm, i.e. the same age class, and the variation within single culm, i.e. within cross section and in axial direction, were measured and analyzed. The specimens used in this study were obtained from the Royal Agricultural Station Angkhang, Chaing Mai. Two culms represented in age class were used for fiber length study which was measured in 3 positions of 4 radial samples from 3 different levels in a culm. The unweigted means of fiber length of culm ranged from 2.46 - 2.94 mm. All sources of fiber length variation were non statistically significant difference except culm effect and height-position interaction effect. The variance composition of random effect and fixed effect were high in culm but the fixed effect was lower in height within a culm. The fiber length clearly decreased from the culm base to the tip but, for radial direction, increased from inner to middle and slightly decreased to the outer portion. Morphological fiber of this bamboo culm was determined for pulp and paper. The paper had rough manner and fiber bonding was not good. The physical properties of hand-sheets had high tear strength but slightly lower tensile strength, burst strength and folding endurance.

Keywords: Bambusa oldhamii, fiber length, Royal Project Foundation