A rapid assessment of KEFRI bamboo trial sites Victor Brias Oprins Plant NV UNIDO Consultant EASTERN AFRICA BAMBOO PROJECT funded by executed by supervised by

Kenya logging ban – extended to Bamboo ( Y. alpina ) Forests Trials of exotic bamboos by KEFRI in Appraisal conducted by B. Kigomo & G. Sigu in 1995 Renewed interest in Bamboo due to ongoing projects (EABP) Very Great Interest in Giant Bamboos ! Study conducted by V. Brias & G. Sigu in Aug Field visits and analysis conducted between 7 Aug. – 6 Sept. 2006

Analyze the trial plantations in order to provide up to date information on species to site matching with specific focus on identifying suitable species for developing bamboo plantations in the Lake Region, highlands and coastal regions of Kenya.

Kakamega Muguga Jilore Gede

SiteKAKAMEGAMUGUGAGEDEJILORE RegionLake RegionHighlandsCoastal (Malindi) Coordinates0°14’S / 36°38’E1°54’S / 34°15’E3°20’S / 40°5’E3°12’S / 39°55’E Altitude1,675 m asl2,050 m asl50 m asl80 m asl Temperature (min)17°C11°C22°C24°C Temperature (max)33°C28°C33°C34°C Annual Rainfall mm mm mm mm SoilsDark Brown Loams Deep Dark Red Clay Loams Sandy White Loams Sandy-red compact sandy soils Source: Kigomo & Sigu, 1996.

Bambusa vulgaris Bambusa bambos Bambusa tulda Cephalostachyum pergracile Dendrocalamus asper Dendrocalamus brandisii Dendrocalamus giganteus Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Dendrocalamus membranaceus Dendrocalamus strictus Thyrsostachys siamensis Phyllostachys species

5 x 5 planting for all species Inadequate for large bamboos Suitable for some species (T. siamensis) Sites were unmanaged no systematic harvesting Weeds rotting / dead culms fire damage in some areas Plots not marked with species names - Some species not located/identified - D. giganteus, Ph. pubescens, etc. - Mix up of species at time of planting Noticable difference in species growth Highland (Kakamega /Muguga) Coastal (Gede / Jilore )

Sampling Clumps in each site Count new shoots / culms per clump Calculate average culms/clump per species / location Measure height / diameter / thickness Mathematical estimate of average dry weight of culms using 0.65 g/cm³ specific gravity as working assumption (less accurate than weighing the culms ! ) Estimate potential yield in tons/ha (dry basis) based on harvesting 25% of culms (1/4 of standing culms or culms > 3 years old. Benchmark results with published info about species in native habitats

Sampling Clumps in each site Count new shoots / culms per clump Calculate average culms/clump per species / location Measure height / diameter / thickness Mathematical estimate of average dry weight of culms using 0.65 g/cm³ specific gravity as working assumption (less accurate than weighing the culms!) Estimate potential yield in tons/ha (dry basis) based on harvesting 25% of culms (1/4 of standing culms or culms >3 years old.) Gauging results using info about species in native habitats as a benchmark

Mathematical estimate of average dry weight of culms using 0.65 g/cm³ specific gravity as working assumption (less accurate than weighing the culms!) Estimate potential yield in tons/ha (dry basis) based on harvesting 25% of culms (1/4 of standing culms or culms >3 years old.) Benchmark results with published info about species in native habitats

RESULTS Trial Site : Gede Performance in Asia Comparative Performance SPECIES H (m) D (cm) WT (mm) H (m) D (cm) WT (mm) HDWT D. brandisii %83%100% B. vulgaris %86%80% T. siamensis %63% D. strictus %38% D. membranaceus % D. hamiltonii %50% B. bambos %42%

RESULTS Trial Site : JILORE Performance in Asia Comparative Performance SPECIES H (m) D (cm) WT (mm) H (m) D (cm) WT (mm) HDWT D. membranaceus %70%100% B. bambos % D. hamiltonii %60%

RESULTS Trial Site: KAKAMEGA Performance in Asia Comparative Performance SPECIES H (m) D (cm) WT (mm) H (m) D (cm) WT (mm) HDWT B. vulgaris %100%90% D. brandisii %92%83% D. strictus %88%83% D. hamiltonii %100%67% D. membranaceus %70%80% T. siamensis %63%60% B. tulda %70%59% B. bambos %58%56%

RESULTS Trial Site: MUGUGA Performance in Asia Comparative Performance SPECIES H (m) D (cm) WT (mm) H (m) D (cm) WT (mm) HDWT B. vulgaris %100%90% D. brandisii %83%100% C. pergracile %75%83% D. hamiltonii %100%67% D. strictus %75%77% T. siamensis %75%60% B. tulda %70%59% D. membranaceus %60% B. bambos %50%

Exotic Species Planted by KEFRI have shown reasonably good adaptability in various sites in Kenya. Culm Height is generally stunted, especially for giant bamboo species Notably good performance of B. bambos in coastal region (drought resistance).

Very Good Performance of B. vulgaris in Lake Region & T. siamensis in Highlands Exotic Species are especially valuable in Coastal regions (Gede / Jilore) due to demand by tourism industry in Malindi / Mombasa region

Thank You !

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