Absorption, accumulation and distribution of bamboo (Bambusa textilis) to the main nutrients

【Objectives】 Bamboo, Bambusa textilis, is one of the important dual-use materials for wood and bamboo shoot. It can be sustainably harvested and obtained long-term benefit after once forestation, but little is known about the nutrition characteristics of Bambusa textilis. In this study, the absorption, accumulation and distribution to the main nutrients by Bambusa textilis in the above-ground parts were investigated to provide basic data information for the nutrient management in Bambusa textilis plantition. 【Methods】 In January 2013, four typical Bambusa textilis forest blocks (20 m 20 m) were selected basing on comprehensive investigation related to typical forest type, composition, structure, growth condition and site conditions. The age of every bamboo plant was investigated and the average breast diameters of bamboo plants at different ages were calculated. From each plot, one bamboo plant with the same average diameter at the same age was chosen for sampling. The plant heights, fresh weights of leaves and culms of bamboo were measured. Branches and culms at the top, middle and below were separately sampled and mixed as samples, and were collected for lab analysis of the contents of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu. 【Results】 The nutrient contents in bamboo peels of different ages (1-3 a) and different organs (leaves, branches, culms) are: Cu and Zn in the order of branches ＞ leaves ＞ culms, the other seven nutrients in the order of leaves ＞ branches ＞ culms. The highest nutrient content in the various organs is N, the lowest is Cu. The total nutrient accumulation in the above-ground parts is 489.96 kg/ha, and the accumulation amounts are in the order of culms(331.05 kg/ha)＞ leaves(101.14 kg/ha)＞ branches(57.77 kg/ha). The nutrient accumulation amount is in order of N＞K＞P＞Ca＞Mg＞Fe＞Mn＞Zn＞Cu. The maximum accumulation in various organs is N(219.59 kg/ha), accounting for 44.82% of the total accumulation in the above-ground parts, which indicates a strong absorption capacity and requirement to N by bamboo. The nutrients distribution in the above-ground parts is in orderof culms (67.57%)leaves (20.64%)branches (11.79%). 【Conclusions】The contents and accumulation of nutrients represent the requirement of plants to soil nutrition. The net biomass production per ton of the bamboo Bambusa textilis forest needs 10.00 kg of macro-elements. Among the investigated nutrients, the accumulation of N is the highest with total absorption of 219.59 kg/ha and accounting for 44.82% of the total nutrients absorption. Therefore, the application of appropriate nitrogen fertilizer should be considered for promoting the growth of Bambusa textilis, especially the economic parts of bamboo culms.