windbreak planning - is bamboo an option?

[ilex]

Hi,

I'm planning on planting some windbreaks (about 2000 linear meters) and bamboo seems a good choice.

I need advice on which species should I try.

Objective:

main: Windbreak for cattle and for timber (juglans + sorbus + prunus ...)
secondary: eat bamboo shoots and use stakes for various uses (like tree shelters)

soil:

sand - 60%
clay - 9%
lime - 31%
ph - 5.3
conductivity 0.143 mS/cm
phosphorus <4 mg/kg ppm
organic matter 4.3%
carbonates <7%
changeable potassium 0.57 mq/100
changeable magnesium 0.99 mq/100
calcium 7.01 mq/100
sodium 0.22 mq/100
active limestone <3%

------------------------------

climate:

mediterranean (irregular), following data is gathered really close (2 kilometers) on a hill 200 m above us. Expect some dry summers from time to time and temperatures of -15 C (5 F) are common every other year.

Note temperatures are Celsius and rain is in mm

Altitude = 1400 m.

Thermic observation period ......= 1951-1969(19)
Pluviometric observation period..= 1951-1969(19)
----------------------------------------------
Ti Mi mi T'i m'i Pi EPi
----------------------------------------------
JAN 2.2 6.5 -2.1 13.4 -9.6 30 9
FEB 2.0 6.0 -1.9 13.9 -9.6 41 8
MAR 5.3 10.2 0.4 17.2 -6.1 54 27
APR 7.1 11.9 2.3 17.5 -3.8 52 39
MAY 10.9 16.0 5.7 22.2 0.1 67 67
JUN 13.7 18.9 8.5 25.2 3.6 66 86
JUL 17.3 23.4 11.2 29.4 6.8 39 111
AUG 16.8 22.7 10.9 28.3 6.1 42 100
SEP 14.1 19.4 8.9 24.9 3.5 73 74
OCT 9.6 14.1 5.1 19.4 -1.4 121 46
NOV 5.3 9.8 0.8 15.5 -5.4 84 22
DEC 3.0 7.2 -1.1 12.6 -8.8 79 12
----------------------------------------------
Ann. 8.9 13.8 4.1 20.0 -2.0 748 599
48F 294 inches



---------------- BIOCLIMATIC INDEX AND DIAGNOSIS -----------------

Thermicity index............................(It): 130
Compensated thermicity index...............(Itc): 130
Simple continentality index.................(Ic): 15.3
Diurnality index............................(Id): 7.9
Annual ombrothermic index...................(Io): 6.97
Bimonthly estival ombrothermic index......(Ios2): 2.38
Threemonthly estival ombrothermic index...(Ios3): 3.08
Fourmonthly estival ombrothermic index....(Ios4): 3.65
Annual ombro-evaporation index.............(Ioe): 1.25
Annual aridity index.......................(Iar): 0.8
Annual positive temperature.................(Tp): 1073
Annual negative temperature.................(Tn): 0
Estival temperature.........................(Ts): 482
Positive precipitation......................(Pp): 748 -- 294 inches

Nºof years P>4T P:2T a 4T P:T a 2T P>T T<=0
10 2 0 0 0

Continentality - Latitudinal belt: Euoceanic - Eutemperate
Bioclimate(Variant):: TEMPERATE OCEANIC (SUBMEDITERRANEAN)
Bioclimatic belt....: LOW SUPRATEMPERATE (SUPRASUBMEDIT.) LOW HUMID



WATER INDEX CARD
Altitude = 1400 m.
----------------------------------------------------------
T PE P VR R RE DF SP DR HC
----------------------------------------------------------
JAN 2.2 9 30 0 100 9 0 21 32 2.4
FEB 2.0 8 41 0 100 8 0 33 33 4.2
MAR 5.3 27 54 0 100 27 0 27 30 1.0
APR 7.1 39 52 0 100 39 0 13 22 0.3
MAY 10.9 67 67 0 100 67 0 0 11 0.0
JUN 13.7 86 66 -20 80 86 0 0 5 -0.2
JUL 17.3 111 39 -72 8 111 0 0 3 -0.6
AGO 16.8 100 42 -8 0 50 50 0 1 -0.6
SEP 14.1 74 73 0 0 73 1 0 1 0.0
OCT 9.6 46 121 75 75 46 0 0 0 1.6
NOV 5.3 22 84 25 100 22 0 38 19 2.9
DEC 3.0 12 79 0 100 12 0 67 43 5.7
----------------------------------------------------------
Ann. 8.9 599 748 549 51 199 199

T=Average temperatura PE=Potential evapotranspiration P=Precipitation VR=Variation of the reserve
R=Reserve RE=Real evapotranspiration DF=Deficit SP=Superavit DR=Drainage
HC=Humidity coeficient

considerations:

cows are present 4-5 months a year extensively. I know they will eat bamboo which could be ok if they keep in check windbreaks. Will they break existing canes once established? Would keeping cows out for a few critical months solve the problem?

Irrigation is not an option.

Bamboo would grow in full sun (40º latitude)

Thanks

[Mark Meckes]

Hi ilex,
Thanks for providing the details!
You are welcome to post pics of the site.

What info do you have of bamboo species currently growing in your area? - successfully, and not so good.
Knowing how any bamboo species grow in your area will be a great help in determining other possible candidates.

How much wind?
Do you have high winds frequently or only seasons of high winds?

2000 linear metres is a lot of linear growing space!
2000M X ? How wide is the growing space?

> Minimum temp -15 C (5 F) are common every other year.

This eliminates all but the temperate bamboo species.
Eliminating low growers and shrub sized bamboo would still give you about 100 different varieties from possibly 1/2 dozen Genera that you could pick from.
This number could be reduced further if certain cultivars based more on horticultural appearance are eliminated.
In many (but not all cases) horticultural forms with variegated leaves or striped culms, (though beautiful), do not grow as large and are sometimes not as robust as the species form.

Are you interested in diversity of species or a select few?

Species diversity can offer
- longer shoot harvesting /early-late varieties
- a variety of craft and construction materials

Other factors for a project of this scale that can affect the types of bamboo you use, are ...

- budget
- availability of bamboo
- time period to plant out and spacing of 2000 linear metres.

Mark

[ilex]

First of all, thanks for answering.

What info do you have of bamboo species currently growing in your area? - successfully, and not so good.
Knowing how any bamboo species grow in your area will be a great help in determining other possible candidates.

None. I doubt there is any bamboo growing closer than 15/20 miles from here. There's some growing in the coast, but that's not very useful as climate and soil are completely different.

How much wind?
Do you have high winds frequently or only seasons of high winds?

Up to 60 miles per hour or maybe a bit more. Usually much less, there's always some wind movement. Area is completely flat with no natural protection. Most problematic are winter winds from the north (cold and dry) and summer winds from the west (hot and dry), both are strong, up to 60 miles or a bit more.

2000 linear meters is a lot of linear growing space!
2000M X ? How wide is the growing space?

No limit. Area is about 150 acres with some woods in the middle, the rest is pasture. This means that not all needs protection as the woods offer protection to part of it. Windbreaks can be as wide as needed. "Invasive bamboo" won't be a problem as there will be plenty of space before it gets where it shouldn't be.

> Minimum temp -15 C (5 F) are common every other year.

This eliminates all but the temperate bamboo species.
Eliminating low growers and shrub sized bamboo would still give you about 100 different varieties from possibly 1/2 dozen Genera that you could pick from.
This number could be reduced further if certain cultivars based more on horticultural appearance are eliminated.
In many (but not all cases) horticultural forms with variegated leaves or striped culms, (though beautiful), do not grow as large and are sometimes not as robust as the species form.

Are you interested in diversity of species or a select few?

Species diversity can offer
- longer shoot harvesting /early-late varieties
- a variety of craft and construction materials

Once we know which are the best and more robust for the location, I think it's better to use a selected few as the base of the windbreak. Some more diversification for personal use is more than welcome. My idea is to diversify a bit more at the beginning as a test. I won't plant too many any given year to reduce risk, a bad year can ruin a plantation (remember irrigation is not an option).

Other factors for a project of this scale that can affect the types of bamboo you use, are ...

- budget
- availability of bamboo
- time period to plant out and spacing of 2000 linear metres.

Mark

I'll probably need to get them from France. There's a nursery in Spain but I don't think they've got too many species.
I can plant any time of the year (excluding winter). Late summer/early fall is probably the best time (around September). Still not cold and we get the September and October rains. Great time for plants to establish themselves and have the biggest possibilities to survive their first summer.

I forgot one detail. Cows are not present in spring, they get in early summer. I would think spring is the most critical time for bamboo.

I'll try to post some pics of the site.

[ilex]

any suggestions?

I'm completelly lost about which should I try...

[Mark Meckes]

Hi, one species that has proven resilient to dry conditions and wind here in Texas is Semiarundinaria fastuosa. See pic ...

See larger pic

It is listed as being hardy to -5 F / -21 C.
There are several other species in this Genus.

A note about species and hardiness ...
There are a number of species that have a hardiness rating to 0 F / -18 C , and much fewer species that can survive colder temperatures and not be top killed.
In your situation - with temperatures going down to 5 F / -15 C , high winds, dry conditions, sandy soil, (acid/alkaline?), bamboo species, even at the 0 F /-18 C rating may be reduced in vigor and stature, or even top killed.

Annual addition of organic mulch or compost in any form whatsoever will greatly benefit your plants. It will help retain moisture, add nutrients, and keep the soil insulated and free from compaction.

Bamboo is able to adapt considerably to it's environment, in fact, stronger and tougher canes can be produced in less then ideal growing conditions, though they will be smaller in height and diameter.
(just like giving too much water to grapevines will produce larger grapes and inferior wine)

How do trees and vegetation grow in your proposed planting area?
Do they grow stunted, bent twisted and gnarly from the local conditions or do they grow to a sizable stature?
The surrounding vegetation is a helpful indicator of what to expect.

Bamboo is by nature, a `soil builder'. I have seen bamboo planted in poor conditions here in Texas that after 20 years of growth on their own have increased their height and size.

Following is a list of Genera with (potential craft) species which can survive to 0 F / -18 C or colder.
I will add some species possibilities to this in a day or two.

Mark

--------------------

Arundinaria

Brachystachyum

Phyllostachys

Pleioblastus

Semiarundinaria

Sinobambusa