Nutritional elements in organs of a Phyllostachys edulis stand during its fast growth period

Key words: 
• botany /
• Phyllostachys edulis /
• fast growth period /
• organs /
• nutritional elements

Abstract: To explain the relationship between the explosive growth of Phyllostachys edulis and nutrition accumulation, samples of different aged （1-, 3-, and 5-year old） Ph. edulis and their organs （leaf, branch, stem, and rhizome ） were collected in April, May and June from Linan County, Zhejiang Province in eastern China. The content of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg were studied to determine any discrepancies among the different ages. Results showed that the average nutritional content for leaves （in gkg－1） of the same age during the fast growth period were N, 23.18; P, 2.51; K, 12.28; Ca, 4.08; and Mg, 0.96 with leaves being higher, in turn, than rhizomes, branches, and stems. During the fast growth period, N, P, and K concentrations in leaves were higher in April than in May and June; whereas branch, stem, and rhizome concentrations in April were lower than in May and June. Nutrient content in the same organ for different aged plants varied by month. In April, N, P, and K in leaves, branches, and stems were significantly greater （P ＜ 0.05） in 1-year old stands than 3- and 5-year old; in May, as bamboo age increased, K in leaves significantly decreased （P ＜ 0.05）, but N in 1- and 3-year old leaves was significantly greater （P ＜ 0.05） than 5-year old; in June, N and P in 1-year old leaves were significantly less （P ＜ 0.05） than 3- and 5-year old, but in rhizomes were significantly greater （P ＜ 0.05）. From May to June, among different ages, Mg in leaves, branches, and stems was not significantly different （P ＞ 0.05）. This study indicated that in different organs of Ph. edulis, nutrients existed physiological integration of the fast growth period. ［Ch, 4 tab. 15 ref.］