Studies on Traditional Durability Enhancing Preservation of Bamboo in Assam

Abstract

Deterioration of bamboo against biodegradable agents like fungus, termites, borers and newlinetheir service life have not been widely explored especially after traditional treatment in India. newlineMy study reveals the effect of traditional treatment on the resistance of selected bamboo species newlinetowards biodegradable agents and its durability in service. Culms from different portion viz., newlineapical, middle and basal of Bambusa tulda were cured, smoked and soaked in both stagnant and newlinerunning water for 1, 2 and 3 months. For comparison, some bamboo culms from different newlineportion were left without treatment as control samples. There were 15 samples for each newlinetreatment and 15 samples for control with 5 replicates. The total soluble sugar (TSS) and starch newlinecontent of the bamboo species were estimated using anthrone method and analysed using newlinespectrophotometer. Higher TSS and starch content were found in control samples than the water newlinesoaked samples and the value reduced as the treatment period increases. The average TSS newlinecontent in control was 4.16% and after water soaking (stagnant) it was found to be 3.01%; newline1.83% and 1.55% and the average starch content in control was 3.65% and after water soaking newline(stagnant) it was found to be 1.35%; 1.15% and 0.98% for 1, 2 and 3 month respectively. The newlineaverage TSS content in control was 4.16% and after water soaking (running) it was found to be newline2.67%, 1.65% and 1.46% and average starch content in control was 3.65% and after treatment newlinein running water it was found to be 1.35%; 1.17% and 1.76% for 1, 2 and 3 month respectively. newlineThe percentage biomass loss was also estimated by doing certain durability test like inoculation newlineof white rot fungus; exposed to termite; graveyard test; exposed to borer etc using both control newlineand treated samples and found that control sample got the highest average biomass loss. The newlineleast average biomass loss was observed in the samples treated by water soaking for only 1 newlinemonth. The species was also preserved by curing and smoking method for 1, 2 and 3 month