Physical and chemical properties of schizostachyum brachycladum in different parts of Year 1 and Year 5

Schizostachyum brachycladum of 1 and 5 year old were harvested from the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) that located in Jeli, and studied their physical and chemical properties. The physical properties that were determined in this study were moisture content and basic density. The physical properties between the two age-group of bamboo were observed to have some degrees of variation, since the maturity level between both the samples differ a lot. This showed that the bamboo physical structure has strong correlation with age. The highest moisture content for the year 1 bamboo samples is 154.82% in the top portion, and lowest is 82.56% in the bottom portion. The highest moisture content for the year 5 bamboo samples is 73.56% in the bottom portion, and lowest is 33.79% in the top portion. The highest basic density for the year 1 bamboo samples is 0.461gml⁻¹ in the bottom portion, and lowest is 0.283gml⁻¹ in the top portion. The highest basic density for the year 5 bamboo samples is 0.557gml⁻¹ in the middle portion, and lowest is 0.364gml⁻¹ in the bottom portion. The highest extractive content for the year 1 bamboo samples is 54.22% in the bottom portion, and lowest is 45.96% in the top portion. The highest extractive content for the year 5 bamboo samples is 64.46% in the bottom portion, and lowest is 57.37% in the top portion. The highest lignin content for the year 1 bamboo samples is 24.02% in the top portion, and lowest is 17.41% in the bottom portion. The highest lignin content for the year 5 bamboo samples is 11.62% in the top portion, and lowest is 10.22% in the bottom portion. The highest holocellulose content for the year 1 bamboo samples is 71.21% in the bottom portion, and lowest is 62.32% in the top portion. The highest holocellulose content for the year 5 bamboo samples is 66.32% in the bottom portion, and lowest is 51.82% in the top portion. The highest a-cellulose content for the year 1 bamboo samples is 41.90% in the bottom portion, and lowest is 31.02% in the top portion. The highest a-cellulose content for the year 5 bamboo samples is 41.50% in the bottom portion, and lowest is 31.04% in the top portion. The majority portion that has high percentage for both physical and chemical properties is at the bottom portion of year 5 bamboo samples. It is because, bamboo samples had a very strong correlation with the age, since year 1 culms are still in early maturation level. The bottom portion can more readily uptake and absorb nutrients and water from the soil, since the xylem and phloem vessels are well developed if compared with the top and middle portions.