BANGLADESH JOURNAL OF FOREST SCIENCE
A Half-yearly Peer Reviewed Journal of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute
A Half-yearly Peer Reviewed Journal of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute
The Sundarbans mangrove forest is well known for its rich biodiversity and probably has the maximum flora and fauna as compared to
other mangrove forests of the world. Prain (1903) reported 334 plant species in the Sundarbans and surrounding areas. It is a matter of concern that there is a loss of biodiversity in the Sundarbans mangrove forest. Sattar and Faizuddin (1998) reported that one species of Bruguiera, that is B. parviflora, has become extinct, and many other plant species such as Luninitzera racemose, Xylocarpus granatum, Aviceunia marina, Rhizophore mucronate, R. apiculata, Kandelia candel, Excoecerie indice, Cynometra remiflore and Amoora cuculate are already threatened. Chaudhuri and Naithani(1985) did not mention the presence of B. parviflora in the Indian part of Sundarbans but noted its presence in the Andamans mangrove forests. It used to be found associated with other mangrove species in the Sundarbans on the bank of rivers and creeks (Naskar and Guha Bakshi 1987). The timber of B. parviflora is used as fishing pole and firewood. It is also a fodder plantfor deer and other herbivorous animals.
Pati-pata (Schumannianthus dichotoma) belonging to the Family Marantaceae is one of the important non – timber forest produces in
Bangladesh. It grows naturally in the swampy areas as well as is cultivated in low-lying areas. The stem of this shrub is used for the preparation
of mat, basket, bag and various novelty items (Mohiuddin and Rashid 1988). The plant can be grown using rhizome, branch cutting, rooted
cutting and seedling (Merry et al. 1997, Siddiqi et al. 1998). However, the best performance was obtained from planting rhizomes. It has been
reported that cultivation of pati-pata is more profitable than that of paddy (Mohiuddin and Rashid 1988). Thus fertilizer treatment was given
one year after planting before the monsoon to observe its effect on the profitable enhancement in yield. The treatment combinations of fertilizer doses were as follows :
Tj = NPK each at 270 gm/plot
T, = NPK each at 540 gm/plot
T, = NPK each at 710 gm/plot
T() = No fertilizer (control)
The experiment was laid out in a Randomized CompleteBlockDesign (RCBD) with four replications at Bangladesh Forest Research Institute campus, Chittagong. So, there were 16 plots each with a size of 4.5 m x 2 m. The plots were separated from one another by earthen embankment to prevent movement of water and other material among the plots. Each plot was planted with 180 rhizomes at a spacing of 1 m x 1m. The experimental areas remained inundated for four months in a year. Data were recorded on survival, emergence of shoots, heights of main shoots and their diametersfrom different clumps at every three months interval for 15 months following fertilizer treatment. Leaving the two peripheralrowsin a plot, data were collected only from the remaining interior clumps.
Bangladesh Forest Department and various NGOs have undertaken large scale afforestation programmes in the country. This necessitates production of a large number of seeds and improved methods of theirhandling. It islikely that greaternumber ofspecies will be included for increased afforestation activities. So, information on time of seed availability, quantity of seed production, number of seeds per unit weight, germination percentage, germination period, seed pre-treatment (if any), storage period, etc. will be required.Thisreport is based on available scientific information and professionalexperience on seeds of forest trees which could help the nursery and plantation managers in raising seedlings.
To study the impact of vehicular pollution on the road-side
vegetation, four sites in the eastern Uttar Pradesh of India with varying
vehicular density were selected. Index of dominance of five plant species,
Ageratum houstonianum Mill., Argemone mexicana Linn., Rumexdentatus Linn.,
Salvia plebeja R. Br. and Solatium nigrum Linn., were studied atsix intervalstill
250 mperpendicular to the road at all the foursites. An attempthasbeenmade
to correlate the index of dominance of the species with the load of vehicular
pollution. Three species, A. houstonianum, S. plebeja and S. nigrum, showed
positive correlation with respect to the increasing distance from the road,
showing its susceptibility for the pollution whereas A mexicana and
R. dentatus showed positive correlation with the increase in pollution load.
However, a comparison between the two species showed that A. mexicana
was a better bio-indicator of vehicular pollution.
This paper gives an overview on the initial growth performance ofmahogany
(Swietenia macrophylla King) planted in Chittagong city areas of Bangladesh. A guide
equationwas derived with logarithm to the base e of dominant height as a dependent
variable and reciprocal power of age as an independent variable. The growth
characteristics were estimated by regression techniques based on statistical and
biological criteria. The paper presents the growth statistics ofstand diameter atbreast
height, stand mean height, stand dominant height and basal area per hectare. The
selected models could be used to estimate the growth parameters in the plantations
with 9.0 m to 21.0 m dominant height at the age of 12 years.
The paper describes the fibre length and ray height of the five tree species, namely Calophyllum polyanthum Wall., Garcinia cowa Roxb., G. xanthochymus Hook., Kayea floribimda Wall, and Mesua ferrea Linn, of the family Guttiferae. In G. cozva and G. xanthochymusthe fibre length and ray height are higher and longer than those of the other species. These two microscopic features work as good characters in delimitating the species of Guttiferae. There is a progressive trend of increase of fibre length and ray height from near pith to sapwood for all the species
The bagworm, Cryptothelea crameri Westwood (Psychidae : Lepidoptera) is an important pest of many ornamental, horticultural and forest plants in Bangladesh. The larva feeds on young leaves and tender bark by making and living within a portable bag of leaves, twigs, barks, spines, etc. The biology, host range, number of generations, and seasonal abundance of the pest have been dealt with in this paper. Brachymeria sp. (Braconidae: Hymenoptera) wasfound to parasitize its larva. The pestcould be collected and destroyed by hand. It could also be controlled by the foliar application ofmalathion (Malathion 57 EC) at 0.1% concentration.
Casuarina equisetifolia seedlingsinoculated with different biofertilizerssuch as Azospirillum, Phosphobacterium, VAM fungi and Frankia and their combinations were planted in farmland. Growth parameters were collected at bimonthly intervals up to 30 months. Biomass was estimated 24 months after planting. Maximum height, girth at breast height (gbh) and total biomass were obtained in the combined application of Azospirillum, Phosphobacterium, VAM and Frankia. The combination of VAM + Frankia among double inoculation, and the combination of Azospirillutn, VAM and Frankia in triple inoculation also proved to be the best treatment in promoting the significant total height, gbh and total biomass production.
The paper presents the anatomical features of bamboo leaves in transverse section for 26 bamboo species underseven genera occurring in Bangladesh both in wildand in cultivation. The results are presented in a tabular form. The findings indicate that anatomical features of bamboo leavesin transverse section work as taxonomic characters at species level. The paper also provides a dichotomous key to identify bamboo species
occurring in Bangladesh based on leaf anatomical characteristics.
The colonization status of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi of Melia azedarach L. seedlings grown from seven different types of pre-sowing treated seeds and the spore population in the rhizosphere soils were studied. The percent root colonization varied significantly and ranged between 14.81-95.0 in different treatments. The superior seedlings showed heavy root colonization as compared to otherseedlings. The intensity of colonization and spore population also varied significantly in different treatments. Spore population was not correlated with the percent root colonization and seedling growth parameters. Four AM genera such Glomus, Acaidospora, Entrophospora and Gigaspora were identified from the rhizosphere soils of the seedlings. The importance of AM fungi has been ensured from this study for the primary establishment of M. azedarach seedlings in the nursery.
Welcome to the Bangladesh Journal of Forest Science (BJFS) – a leading platform for advancing the knowledge and understanding of forest science in Bangladesh and beyond. Established with a commitment to excellence, BJFS serves as a cornerstone for researchers, practitioners, and enthusiasts dedicated to the sustainable management and conservation of forest ecosystems.
