Chemical composition of Bamboo vinegar and its effectiveness on termite attack in eucalyptus grandis and GC550
Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the efficiency of bamboo vinegar pyrolysed from Bambusa giganteus and Vulgaris vitata as a wood bio-preservative against termites. Bamboo vinegar was extracted from culms of mature Bambusa giganteus and Vulgar is vitata at Uganda Bamboo Association. Wood samples of Eucalyptus grand is and GC550 were obtained from Core Woods Limited while termites were collected from various sites around the forested areas at Kabanyoro. The termite species were collected and identified before carrying out the mortality tests. The effective concentration of vinegar on termites was determined by treating randomly collected termites with varying concentrations of bamboo vinegar of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. The effect of vinegar on deterring termite attack in Eucalyptus grandis and GC550 was assessed by determining weight loss of treated pieces of Eucalyptus grandis and GC550 while the active components in vinegar with termicidal effects were identified using laboratory tests. The most effective concentrations of vinegar from Bambusa giganteus and Vulgaris vitata was 100% concentration. Vinegar from Vulgaris vitata resulted into an average improvement in termite resistance by 41.15% while Bambusa giganteus vinegar resulted into a 34.8% improvement in termite resistance. Vulgaris vitata vinegar had a relatively high concentration of active organic compounds compared to vinegar from Bambusa giganteus. The use of bamboo vinegar in protecting Eucalyptus grandis was recommended for effective protection against termites. More so, promotion of vinegar from Vulgaris vitata was recommended