The anatomical, physical, and mechanical properties of 13 Malaysian bamboos and the trend of these properties along the bamboo culms’ height were examined. The results showed that these properties varied between the 13 species and they were also affected by the culm height. From the results obtained, the fibre morphology, as well as radial, longitudinal, and tangential shrinkage from green to oven-dry decreased from the basal to the top of the bamboo culm. In contrast, the opposite trend was observed for the density, modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, and percentage of the vascular bundle. The potential usage of 13 bamboo species is also considered.

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The neutron method of estimating soil moisture content in the field has the advantage that once access tubes are installed no further disturbance to the site is necessary and readings can be taken repeatedly throughout the soil profile at a fraction of the time necessary for the gravitational method. However, measurement of moisture content in the surface layer of soil, the top 10 cm, has proved difficult since the source and detector must be at a depth less than the sphere of influence allowing some neutrons to escape to the atmosphere. This air-soil interface effect can lead to an underestimation of moisture content which is greatest in wet soil (Van Bavel, Hood & Underwood, 1954).