Does over-abundance of Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss. alter edaphic properties?

A preliminary study was conducted to determine any modifications to basic soil properties following over-abundance of Bambusa bambos, a native bamboo species, that rapidly expanding its population in Intermediate and Dry Zone forests in Sri Lanka. Soil samples taken from representative sites of bamboo-dominated (BAM) and non-bamboo (NBM) forest patches were analyzed for pH, total nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), soil moisture and microbial biomass carbon (MBC). A growth assay was carried out with Ricinus communis seedlings in BAM and NBM soils (sterilized/unsterilized) in a glasshouse. The soil analysis revealed significantly higher N, P and moisture in BAM soils than in NBM. BAM soils were clayey in nature compared to silty soils in NBM. Ricinus communis grown in BAM soils performed better throughout the experimental period, perhaps due to higher soil nutrients. Ricinus communis grow better in unsterilized soils irrespective of bamboo, indicating a facilitative role of soil microbes on the growth of plants. The preliminary results suggest that either B. bambos spread has the potential to increase the soil fertility status or else B. bambos expands its population preferably on nutrient-rich clayey soils. Therefore, further studies are needed in order to confirm the impacts of B. bambos on edaphic properties which may eventually influence the growth of co-occurring native species.