**4. Biotechnical properties of bamboo**

The plants' biotechnical properties are those plant traits contributing to a good performance and effectiveness of the bioengineering work.

Published literature notes approx. 1400 different species (grouped in one herbaceous and three woody types) identified and designated as bamboo (https://www.eeob.iastate.edu/

The Use of Bamboo for Erosion Control and Slope Stabilization: Soil Bioengineering Works

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.75626

113

Bamboo is globally distributed between 51°N and 47°S, particularly in subtropical, tropical and equatorial regions. It also covers a high altitude range, reaching up to 4000 m above sea level and thriving at temperatures as low as −20°C. The main area of occurrence is Asia where

This wide distribution does not mean that all species or even natural stands thrive without problems. Many forest stands are being intensively exploited, endangering a high number of species, namely, several mammal, bird and even bamboo species all classified as 'endangered' by IUCN. Several hundred species of bamboo occupy remaining natural forest stands not big-

Due to its versatility, physical characteristics, rapid growth, and easy establishment, it is intensively exploited, not only in terms of harvesting natural forests but also in growing areas of cultivation, where there is a selection of the economically more attractive species (few dozens). The exploitation is mainly located in China, India and Southeast Asia (but also, with increasing importance, in Central and South America) and predominantly aimed at species with applicability in construction or other industries (e.g. paper pulp or laminated and other

There is also a growing interest for bamboo as an ornamental plant, which brought the spread of several species to areas outside their natural ecological areas. This also raised some prob-

The strength of bamboo culms, their straightness and their lightness combined with hardness, range and size of hollowness make them potentially suitable for a variety of both structural and nonstructural applications. With good physical and mechanical properties, low shrinkage and good average density, bamboo is well suited to replace wood/timber in soil bioengi-

For example, from more than 100 bamboo species native to India, only around 20 have been systematically tested, and 16 have been found to be adequate for use in construction

four times the value of most timber species. The range can be explained by the different test methods and used samples. Bamboo with low moisture content has a higher compressive strength than bamboo with high moisture content (https://www.bambooimport.com/en/blog/

times higher than most conventional construction grade timber materials (https://www.bam-

which is twice to

which is around three

lems such as turning into invasive species and threatening natural habitats [13].

**4.3. Mechanical properties of bamboo for soil bioengineering applications**

The compressive strength of bamboo ranges between 35 and 70 N/mm<sup>2</sup>

The average tensile strength of bamboo is approximately 160 N/mm<sup>2</sup>

booimport.com/en/blog/what-are-the-mechanical-properties-of-bamboo).

research/bamboo/index.html).

ger than 2500 km<sup>2</sup>

neering applications.

(**Table 1**, [14]).

the largest number of species can be found.

[11].

composite productions, biomass production) [12].

what-are-the-mechanical-properties-of-bamboo).
