Imperative Seasoning Characteristics of Yushania alpina (Highland Bamboo) Culms Grown in Dire-Inchini, Ethiopia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47540/ijias.v2i3.546Keywords:
Bamboo Culms, Density & Shrinkage, Stacking & DryingAbstract
Bamboo is the world's fastest-growing plant and the finest conceivable substitute for future wood. It has a wide range of applications, from traditional use to industrial manufacture in many countries. Bamboo has been traditionally used in Ethiopia for the construction of huts and fencing, furniture, containers, beehives, and other small-scale objects. Lack of proper processing practices such as seasoning among the reasons for its low use. When bamboo culms are not properly seasoned, they have a high split and shrinkage rate that led to biological and physical degradations. 3–5year-old samples of Yushania alpinia culms were gathered from Dire-Inchni (Oromia Region). After harvesting culms, were cut into three portions (bottom, middle and top) to investigate the imperative characteristics of the material during the drying process. Kiln and air-drying procedures were used to dry the culms. Regression analysis was used to describe the functional relationship between moisture loss in the kiln and air drying. They had an average initial MC 103.67%, final MC 12.33%, and basic density 0.69 g/cm3. Bamboo culms dried in the kiln took 7.7 days to attain about 12 % final MC, while air-seasoned culms took 97 days. proper stacking, drying, and handling is critical for improving the quality, productivity, and service life of bamboo culms-based constructions and goods in the future.
References
Desalegn, G. & Tadesse, W. (2014). Resource potential of bamboo, challenges and future directions towards sustainable management and utilization in Ethiopia. Forest Systems, 23(2): 294-299.
Desalegn, G. (2015). Durability of highland bamboo (Arundinaria alpina K. Schum) and lowland bamboo (Oxytenanthera abyssinica) (A. Rich.) Munro culms and alternative damage control measures against biodeteriorating agents. Ethiop. J. Biol. Sci., 14(2): 89-123.
Desalegn, G. Abegaz, M., Teketay, D., & Gezahgne, A. (2012). Commercial timer species in Ethiopia: Characteristics and Uses - A Handbook for forest industries, construction and energy sectors, foresters and other stakeholders. Addis Ababa University Press, Addis Ababa.
Desalegn, G. Kelemwork, S., Gebeyehu, D. (2015). Forest Products Utilization Research in Ethiopia: Highlights on Major Achievements and Contributions. ISBN: 978-3-659-94786-5. Ethiopian Environment and Forest Research Institute, Addis Ababa.
ISO (2004) ISO 22157-2: Bamboo determination of physical and mechanical properties-Part II: Laboratory manual. International Standards Organization, Geneva
Kamruzzaman, M., S. K. Saha, A. K. Bose & M. N. Islam. (2008). Effects of age and height on Physical and Mechanical properties of bamboo, Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 20 (3): 211–217.
Kassahun E. (2004). Potentials of Ethiopian bamboo forests in biodiversity conservation, environment improvement and socio-economic development. Proceedings of the First National Workshop on Non timber Forest Products in Ethiopia, 5-6 April 2004. Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization and International Plant Genetic Resources Institute. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Kassahun, E. (2003). Ecological aspects and resource management of Bamboo forests in Ethiopia. Doctoral dissertation, ISSN 1401-6230, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
Liese W. & Köhl M. (eds.) (2015). Bamboo: The plant and its uses. Tropical Forestry. Springer International Publishing Switzerland.
Hinde, O. Kaba, G. (2018). Bamboo Utilization Practices and Challenges of Cottage Industries: The Case of Selected Towns in Ethiopia. International Journal of Advanced Research and Publications, 2 (8), 50-55.
Santhoshkumar, R., and K.V. Bhat, 2015. Variation in Density and Its Relation to the Distribution, Frequency and Percentage of Tissues in Bamboo Culms, Dendrocalamus Strictus Nees. J. Indian bot. Soc., 94 (1 & 2): 104-110.
Tang TKH, Welling J, Liese, W., 2013. Kiln drying for bamboo culm parts of the species Bambusa stenostachya, Dendrocalamus asper and Thyrsostachys siamensis. J Indian Acad Wood Sci, 10(1):26–31.
Vetter, R. E., Ruy A. Sa´ Ribeiro, Marilene G. Sa´ Ribeiro, Ires P. A. Miranda, 2015. Studies on drying of imperial bamboo. Eur. J. Wood Prod. DOI 10.1007/s00107-015-0900-6.
Wakchaure M.R. and Kute S.Y., 2011. Effect Of Moisture Content on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Bamboo. Asian Journal of Civil Engineering (Building and Housing). 13 (6), 753-763.
Wahab R., A. Mohamed, M.T. Mustafa and A. Hassan. (2009). Physical Characteristics and Anatomical Properties of Cultivated Bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris Schrad.) Culms, Journal of Biological Sciences, 9(7): 753-759.
Yigardu, M. & Mengistie, K., (2010). Status of bamboo resource development, utilization and research in Ethiopia: a review. Ethiopian institute of agricultural research, forestry research center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
Zhaohua, Z. (2001). Sustainable Development of the Bamboo and Rattan Sectors in Tropical China. Proceedings No. 6. International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), Beijing, China.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2022 Gemechu Kaba, Mahadi Mussa, Getachew Desalegn, Anteneh Tesfaye, Tsegaye Wubishet, Getachew Mezgebu

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.