Chemical Properties and Fiber Morphology of Fargesia fungosa at Different Culm Ages and Heights

Abstract

The chemical properties and fiber morphology of Fargesia fungosa at different culm ages and height portions were investigated. The variations in moisture, ash, SiO2, and toluene–alcohol extractive contents with culm ages were greater than they were with heights. The holocellulose varied neither significantly with age nor with height. The fiber length, width, length-to-width ratio, and wall thickness of F. fungosa increased with culm ages. Meanwhile, the middle portions of culms at all age classes had the highest values of fiber length and width. The lumen diameter decreased, whereas the wall-lumen ratio increased, with increasing bamboo ages and heights. The 3-year-old culms of F. fungosa are suitable for pulp and papermaking based on their fine chemical properties and fiber morphology.

Keywords

• Culm
• Chemical properties
• Fargesia fungosa
• Fiber morphology