Bulletin 4371 - Growing bamboo in Western Australia

Authors

Bob Gretton, Private consultant, Denmark, Western Australia
John Burt, Agriculture Western Australia

Files

Publication Date

8-1999

Series Number

4371

Abstract

Bamboo belongs to the subfamily Bambusoidae, a tribe of the Poaceae or grass family. They include 45 genera and over 1000 species. Many bamboo have edible shoots. The culms (stems) are fast growing, strong, light and useful as timber. These characteristics make the bamboo family valuable plants.

In Australia, there has been increasing interest in growing bamboo since the International Bamboo Congress in Bali in 1995. The principal driving forces of this new industry are edible shoot production and timber production. A Bamboo Growers Seminar was held in Brisbane in 1997. A Bamboo Growers Association for Australia was formed in 1998, and for Western Australia in 1999.

The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, based in Canberra, are funding bamboo research in Australia. This research is centred at the Central Queensland University under Professor Midmore, with projects at various locations.

Western Australia has areas with suitable soils, irrigation and climate for bamboo. Bamboo can be grown over a wide geographical area from Kununurra to Denmark, which will allow the production of edible shoots over an extended period.

The New Industries Program of Agriculture Western Australia believes that there is potential for edible shoot production in Western Australia. Once this has been developed, other industries may follow, based on large bamboo culms for timber and furniture.

Number of Pages

21

ISSN

1326 - 415X

Publisher

Agriculture Western Australia

City

Perth

Keywords

Bamboo, Bamboo growing, Western Australia

Disciplines

Agribusiness | Agricultural Science | Agriculture | Agronomy and Crop Sciences | Horticulture | Plant Sciences

Comments

New Industries Program.

Recommended Citation

Gretton, B, and Burt, J. (1999), Bulletin 4371 - Growing bamboo in Western Australia. Agriculture Western Australia, Perth. Bulletin 4371.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/bulletins/347

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