A Half-yearly Peer Reviewed Journal of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute
This experiment was conducted to evaluate the suitability of medium density fiberboard (MDF)
made from hybrid Acacia wood fiber as raw material and urea formaldehyde (UF) as resin binder.
Single layer fiberboards were fabricated by five different densities e.g. 700, 725, 750, 775 and 800
kg/m3 using hybrid Acacia wood fiber. Mechanical and physical properties including modulus of
rupture (MOR), internal bond strength (IB), thickness swelling (TS) and water absorption (WA) of
the fiberboards were tested according to the Indian Standard (IS 2380:1977). The results of the
physical and mechanical properties of the fiber boards were compared with Indian Standard (IS
12406: 2003), Euro Standard (D-6300, 1990) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
MDF standard (A208.2, 1994). The results showed that the 800 kg/m3 density fiberboards made
from hybrid Acacia wood had the best MOR value and maximum IB strength characteristics
among the others. For 800 kg/m3 density fiberboards the MOR value was above the Indian &
ANSI Standard but lower than the Euro Standard; and the IB strength value was above the Indian,
Euro & ANSI Standard specifications. Water absorption and thickness swelling properties were
used to determine the water resistance of the fiberboards.
The paper deals with seed germination and seedlings growth performance of Calamus erectus in the nursery and field conditions. Clean seeds were sown in the seed bed filled with soil and decomposed cow dung at 3sl ratio. Seeds started germination after 52 days of sowing and completed within 76 days with maximum 78% germination. The survival performance of the seedlings was determined by transferring the seedlings from germination bed to the polybags from 10-80 days after germination with 10 days interval. Optimum survival (100%) was found significant (p<0.05) transferring after 30-40 days of germination from seedbed to polybag. Plantation in the field was made with one year old seedling at 2.0 m x 2.0 m spacing. Average seedlings survival was 94% after one year of plantation in the field. Mean seedling height was recorded 94.6 cm after two years of planting. Survival of seedlings and growth performance in the field were satisfactory when one year old seedlings were out-planted. Clean or decoated seeds for nursery raising and one year old seedlings were found suitable for successful plantation raising of Calamus erectus.
Mangrove forests are the most productive coastal ecosystems of the tropical and sub-tropical areas (Hutchings and Sanger 1987). Mangroves play a crucial role in protecting the life and properties of the coastal communities from the cyclone and tidal surges. It provides habitats for many crustaceans, fishes and marine animals and deliver plant species that can produce both the timber and non-timber forest products that supports the livelihood of the coastal people (Tomlinson 1986; Hellier 1988; Pemadasa 1996; Kathiresan and Qasim 2005).
Germination percentage of Tamarindus indica L. seeds were observed with 4
pre-sowing treatments viz, i) soaked in cow urine for 24 hours, ii) soaked in
cow dung slurry for 24 hours, ii) soaked in tap water for 24 hours, iv) soaked in
hot water (100 0 C) for 30 seconds and followed by one hour in tap water and v)
control, in the nursery of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute, Chattogram.
Growth performances of seedlings were also determined in nursery and field
conditions. The germination test was conducted in nursery bed filled with soil
and decomposed cow dung at a ratio of 3:1. The growth performance of
seedlings were determined by transferring the young seedling after 30-45 days
of germination having 5-6 leaves from germination bed to polybags (15 cm ×
23 cm) filled with soil mixed with cow dung. Growth performance in the field
was observed by out planting one year old seedling at 1.5 m × 1.5 m, 2.0 m ×
2.0 m and 2.5 m × 2.5 m spacing. Germination percentage was significantly
(p<0.05) influenced by pre-sowing treatments and highest germination
percentage (86%) was obtained in cow urine treatment for 24 hours and lowest
(44%) was found in hot water treatment. Growth performance of seedlings was
also influenced by pre-sowing treatments in the nursery and highest vigor index
was observed in cow urine treatment (3988) and lowest in hot water treatment
(1629). Survival percentage of seedlings was highest 98% at 2.0 m × 2.0 m
spacing in the field and average height was more than 68 cm after 12 months of
out planting. Therefore, pre-sowing treatment of seed in cow-urine for 24 hours
suggested for nursery raising and one old year seedlings may be planted at 2.0
m × 2.0 m spacing in the field for successful plantation of the species.
This paper presents the assessment of both the natural and planted species
diversity of the Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Eco-park, Chattogram. A total
of 267 plant species from 101 families are recorded in three zones namely
disturbed, undisturbed and planted areas. Among them 153 plant species
recorded from the natural undisturbed area belonging to trees (45 species),
shrubs (44 species), herbs (34 species) and 30 species of climbers. Fifty two
species were documented from disturbed and planted areas. Mikania cordata,
Chromolaena odorata, Hyptis suaveolens, Mimosa pudica and Ageratum
conyzoides are dominant species in the disturbed zone and Ficus hispida are the
most dominant tree species in the undisturbed zone. The highest Importance
Value Index (IVI) showed 28.08 for Holarrhena antidysenterica and the lowest
1.05 for Mangifera sylvatica in natural patch. Syzygium fruticosum showed the
highest IVI of 27.81 and Pinus caribaea showed the lowest (0.93) IVI in
plantation site. Most of the species are regenerating from the root suckers.
Protection measures shall help the regeneration and conserve the species
diversity in this Botanical Garden and Eco-park.
The study was conducted at Bangladesh Forest Research Institute, Chattogram
to assess the effect of different growing media on germination and growth of
Dipterocarpus turbinatus and Artocarpus chama seedlings in the nursery. The
media used in the experiment were T1: Soil and Cow dung (3:1), T2 : Cocomoss/
processed coir dust and T3: Processed saw dust. Experiment was conducted by
using Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with five replications of each
three media. Germination percentage, survival percentage and growth
performance of both species were recorded and analyzed. The result showed
that the highest germination percentage (78%) of Dipterocarpus turbinatus in
T3 and highest survival % in T1 while T2 had shown the highest rate of height
(28.5cm), root collar diameter (3.8 mm), leaf number (10) and root length
(30.2cm) of seedlings of D. turbinatus. On the other hand, highest rate of
germination percentage (82%), survival percentage (78%), height (32.5cm),
root collar diameter (4.52 mm), leaf number (9.0) and root length (29.7cm) for
seedlings of A. chama also found in T2 media than two others media T1 and T3.
Both species showed the highest growth performance in T2. The findings also
explored T2 as a good quality co-supplement and substitute of T1 media for
raising the seedlings of selected species in the nursery.
Jarul (Lagerstroemia speciosa L. Pers., Family- Lythraceae) is a
semi-deciduous medium to large-sized tree with fluted bole, small buttress and
slightly flaky bark tropical flowering tree species. It is a common ornamental
tree planted along roadsides, gardens and parks in Bangladesh. The main aim of
this study is to develop mathematical models for total volume estimation of
jarul. To meet the quest we have tested 21 models for volume equation by
regression technique. The best-fitted model for studied species have been
selected by highest value of R2 (coefficients of determination), the lowest value
of Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE).
The selected models also validated by Chi-square test of goodness of fit, Paired
t-test, Percent Absolute Deviation (%AD) and 45 degree line test. The study
appearance that, for one way analyses the model ln (V) = a+b ln (D) and for two
way analyses ln (V)= a+b ln (D)+c ln (H) appeared to the best model for
estimating the standing tree volume of jarul. Conversion factors equation has
been determined to estimate under bark volume and under bark volume of
different top end girth of 30, 35, 40 and 45 centimeters from these models. The
best-fit volume model showed the highest efficiency in volume estimation
compared to previous developed volume model of this species in terms of
Model Prediction Error (MPE), Model Efficiency (ME) and Root Mean Square
Error (RMSE).
Dendrocalamus giganteus is one of the biggest and largest bamboo of
Bangladesh which is locally known as bhudum bansh. The conventional
propagation methods of bamboos are not economically viable for large scale
production due to their scarcity of seeds, low multiplication rate, labor intensive
and high cost. In vitro propagation is becoming a promising tool for conserving
and mass propagation of different bamboo species. In this study establishment
of a reliable and reproducible protocol for the micro propagation of D.
giganteus from axenic culture of in vitro germinated seedlings has been
reported. Highest 83.33% seeds were germinated on MS (Murashige and
Skooge 1962) medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L BAP (6-benzyl
-amino-purine) after 7 days of culture. MS supplemented with different
concentrations (0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 mg/L) of BAP and Kn
(6-furfuralaminopurine) at evaluated either singly or in combinations for
multiple shoot production. Maximum 16.33 numbers of young shoots per
culture were recorded in medium supplemented with MS + 3.0 mg/L BAP +
1.0 mg/L Kn + 4% sugar + 2.75 g/L after 28 days of culture. Rooting ability of
the shoots was assessed in half strength MS media supplemented with different
concentrations (0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 mg/L) of IBA (Indole-3-butyric acid).
The highest rooting percentage (66.67%) was achieved from the half strength
MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L IBA 2 after weeks of culture. The
rooted plantlets were successfully hardened in soil under greenhouse and
nursery of Silviculture Genetics Division, Bangladesh Forest Research
Institute. The survival percentage of tissue culture plantlets in nursery was
found to be 90-95% after 60 days of acclimatization. The protocol developed
through this study enable to produce large number of D. giganteus bamboo
seedlings for mass propagation in a short period of time.
mvims‡
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