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NORUL HISHAM, H., OTHMAN, S., ROKIAH, H., ABD. LATIF, M., ANI, S. & MOHD. TAMIZI, M. 2006. Characterization of bamboo Gigantochloa scortechinii at different ages. The anatomical, physical and chemical properties of Gigantochloa scortechinii from different ages of 0.5, 1.5, 3.5, 5.5 and 6.5 years were investigated. The bamboo culm from the sixth internode above ground was studied. This study suggests that G. scortechinii is in its growing, development and maturation phases at ages 0.5, 1.5 and 3.5 years respectively. The higher content of inorganic nutrients in bamboo showed its potential as chewing sticks. Bamboo from 3.5 years of age was suitable for any utilization purpose.
Keywords: Age, description, anatomical properties, physical properties, chemical properties
NORUL HISHAM, H., OTHMAN, S., ROKIAH, H., ABD. LATIF, M., ANI, S. & MOHD. TAMIZI, M. 2006. Pencirian buluh Gigantochloa scortechinii pada umur berlainan. Ciri-ciri anatomi, fizikal dan kimia Gigantochloa scortechinii pada umur berlainan iaitu 0.5 tahun, 1.5 tahun, 3.5 tahun, 5.5 tahun dan 6.5 tahun dikaji. Kulma buluh daripada ruas ke-6 dari aras tanah dikaji. Kajian ini mendapati bahawa buluh berada pada fasa-fasa pertumbuhan, perkembangan dan matang masing-masing pada umur 0.5 tahun, 1.5 tahun dan 3.5 tahun. Kandungan nutrient tak organik yang tinggi menunjukkan ia berpotensi sebagai kayu kunyah. Buluh daripada umur 3.5 tahun dan ke atas sesuai untuk sebarang tujuan penggunaan.
INTRODUCTION
Characterization of bamboo in relation to its anatomical, physical, mechanical and chemical properties helps to determine the maturation age towards better processing and utilization. liese (1997) reported that properties and utilization of bamboos are influenced by structural changes brought about by ageing. The relation between bamboo ageing and maturation was reviewed by liese and Weiner (1996). Researchers such as Zhou (1981), Espiloy (1987, 1994), Widjaja and Risyad (1987), Abd. Latif et al. (1990) as well as Sattar et al. (1994) are in general agreement that bamboo culm matures at two to three years, reaching its maximum strength. However, this general agreement did not include overall properties of individual bamboo species. In subtropical countries such as China, bamboo properties have been reported to differ with species, age, location and external factors (Anonymous 2001). In a tropical country such as Malaysia, Abd Latif and Phang (2001) reported that the mechanical properties of bamboo vary significantly with location,...