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
Bamboos of different sizes are generally used for fencing, poles and sticks in betel leaf farms. Bamboo
sticks are used as climber for betel leaf vine. These bamboo materials have 2-3 years service life because these
are being used without having any preservative treatment. After treatment, the service life of these materials
can be increased by four to five times. These treated materials are not required to change or to repair every
year. A study has been undertaken to disseminate the preservative treatment technology among the common
people through the distribution of treated bamboo sticks in the betel leaf farmers. The objectives of the study
were to determine the service life of bamboo sticks used in the betel leaf farms and to motivate people for
using the treatment technology. In this regard, the bamboo sticks namely baijja (Bambusa vulgaris) and
mitinga (Bambusa tulda) bamboo were treated by soaking methods using water borne preservatives, copper
sulphate, sodium dichromate and boric acid (CCB). The treated materials were distributed to the betel leaf
farmers in three different areas of Bangladesh. Data were collected at the interval of every six months to
determine the durability of the bamboo sticks. It was found that after four years the treated materials were in
sound condition. It was observed that the preservative technology would enhance the service life of the
bamboo, which will help people to save their hardly earned incomes and conserve forest resources.
The study was initiated to evaluate economic impact of the treated and untreated bamboo materials using in
betel leaf farms. A large number of bamboo culms were consumed because of frequently replacement of
bamboo materials in betel leaf farms. Due to growing population and rising demand for bamboo materials,
these resources were in decreasing day to day. For preserving bamboo materials into treated form that were
needed only 35% to 40% additional cost of its’ existing market price. The usable durability of these treated
form of thickness basis bamboo materials would be increased and stand for at least 2 to 5 years. A notable
number of 1127 ha-1 (64%) bamboo culms were being saved per year in the study areas because of treated
technology adaptation. The mean IRR, B-C ratio and PVNB were determined to be 40%, 1.21 and Tk.12.1
lakh ha’ for treated farms and 19%, 1.04 and Tk. 3.2 lakh ha-1 respectively for untreated ones. If the treated
materials arc able to be disseminated and covered in betel leaf farms of the country, a significant number of
1.44 crore bamboo culms will be saved. Therefore, using treated bamboo materials in betel leaf farms were
economically viable and environmentally most desirable.
This paper deals with the effects of soil physical properties on sissoo (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.)
mortality. A research was conducted at different severely affected sissoo mortality sites of Chittagong,
Chuadanga, Comilla, Kushtia, Meherpur and Tangail districts of Bangladesh during 2008-2010. During
pre-and post monsoon and drought period soil and root samples were collected from the different sites. Soil
properties (soil texture, pH, organic matter, moisture content and bulk density) were analyzed and fungal
strains, mites and bacteria were isolated. From the analyses of data, average moisture content at the 0-30 cm
soil depth was found higher in Daulotpur (18.58%) followed by Jibonnagar (18.11%), Potia (15.92%) and
Mehepur Sadar (15.02%) respectively and lower in all sites of Tangail district (5.52-1.76%). It is observed
that fine textured soil and root interference enhances pathogenic attack. Findings reveal to conclude that
moisture stress period as well as temperature supports activities of Fusarium solani and mortality symptoms expressed prominently.
Wood working properties is very important in order to select wood for particular use. The study
was conducted to assess the working properties of five wood (main stem portion) species- lambu, aijun,
jhau, palmyra palm and acacia hybrid. The working properties were carried out in two different methods,
namely : machining and handtools. The effects of machining properties, such as- sawing, planing, shaping,
boring, mortising and turning were tested on these five wood species along with handtools test. The sawing
qualities of these wood were determined by manual feeding of logs to the saw blade. The evaluation of each
operation was based on frequency of occurrence of defect free samples. Finishing properties were evaluated
with the application of two different types of polishing materials, viz.: shellac and carpa as well. Each
sample was visually observed and classified based on five quality grades. The results indicated that acacia
excellent working performance in all properties. All rated excellent shaping result in handtools operation except palmyra palm. Palmyra palm yielded very poor results in shaping, boring, mortising and turning tests.
A study was conducted on the preservative treatment of Acacia mangium poles to determine the
treatment schedule for out door use. The poles contained 52.27% sapwood which is generally perishable by
wood destroying organisms. In this study, 27 poles were treated with 10% CCB (Copper-Chrome-Boron)
aqueous solution by Lowry empty-cell process. Three different pressure and three time periods were
applied to evaluate the depth of penetration and amount of retention of the preservative chemicals. It was
observed that preservative chemicals penetrated the entire sapwood portion of the poles which is the main
criteria for the protection of poles. But, a little bit increase was observed in penetration with the increasing
pressure and time period. Although, the retention of the preservatives was found to increase significantly
with the increasing pressure and time. The highest retention of 22.98 kg/m3 and full penetration of sapwood
was observed at 1.04 N/mm2 pressure for three hours. It is expected that the applied preservative with the
treating schedule can protect the Acacia mangium poles from wood destroying organisms in outdoor
condition.
A study was conducted on the status, distribution and morphometry of rats in Jahangirnagar University
campus, Savar, Dhaka, from May 2014 to April 2015. Ten cage traps with baits were placed in six selected
sites for capturing rats and mice. Six species of rats and mice viz, Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus, Bandicota
bengalensis, B. indica, Mus musculus and Vandeleuria oleracea were recorded. Among these R. rattus, M.
niusculus, V. oleracea were very common and R. rattus found in all habitats except grassland whereas M.
musculus found in household condition and bushy area. V. oleracea was mostly distributed in woodland and
bushy areas. On the contrary, B. bengalensis and R. norvegicus were common in household condition and
bushy area. Bandicota indica was uncommon and found only edge of the wetland and cultivated areas. The
mean body length and the tail length of R. rattus and M. musculus were 15.59 cm, 17.20 cm and 6.24 cm,
8.22 cm respectively while the mean body length and tail length of V. oleracea were 13.83 cm and 17.69
cm. The mean body length and the tail length of B. bengalensis were 15.94 cm and 16.31 cm respectively
while the mean body length and the tail length of R. norvegicus were 15.68 cm and 12.84 cm respectively.
B. indica attained mean body length and tail length 26.51 cm and 25.35 cm respectively.
Sal forest covers 32% of the total forest land of Bangladesh. Though there is no record of severe infestation
of sal forest by any defoliator insect in Bangladesh. Recently, Altadighi sal forest of Naogaon district is
completely defoliated by an unknown lepidopteran insect affecting the growth of the plant seriously. The
insect has been identified as Dendrophleps semihyalina Hampson (Lymantriidae: Lepidoptera). It is a new
record of sal defoliator in Bangladesh. More than 95% trees were infested by the pest. The peak infestation
period occurred during March and April. Two insecticides namely Malathion 57 EC (malathion) and
Ripcord 10 EC (cypermethrin) were applied on infested trees @2-4 ml/1 and 1-2 ml/1 of water respectively
after every seven days for 2 to 3 times. The pest was controlled within two weeks.
Agar defoliator, Heortia vitessoides Moore (Crambidae:Lepidoptera) is a major defoliator of agar
tree (Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk.) in Bangladesh. The larva of this pest causes partial or complete
defoliation affecting the growth of the plant seriously. The pest has five to six overlapping generations in
a year. The peak infestation occurred during May-June. The mean percentage of trees infested ranged
from 48-72 %. The intensity of attack was more in the trees grown in the open than under shade.
Chemical pesticides Malathion 57 EC (malathion), Ripcord 10 EC (cypermethrin) and botanical pesticide
Neem oil were applied to control the pest both in the laboratory and field conditions. Among these,
Malathion 57 EC showed best performance followed by Ripcord 10 EC and Neem oil respectively.
A seasoning schedule was developed for different thicknesses of ghora-neem [Melia sempervirens (L.)
All.] wood. The seasoning time of 2.5 cm thickness of sawn wood required 9-10 days to attain 16% moisture
content in solar kiln and 22-23 days in air dry conditions, respectively. On the other hand, for thickness 4.0
cm and 5.0 cm sawn wood required 12-13 days and 16-17 days in solar kiln and 27-28 days and 31-32 days
in air dry conditions, respectively. Moisture content decreased with increase in time duration.
Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre is a fast
growing medium-sized, nearly evergreen tree
species. It attains a height up to 25m, with straight
or crooked trunk up to 50 cm diameter (Allen and
Allen 1981). The crown is broad, spreading or
dropping branches with dense foliage. The species
is found in humid and sub-tropical environments.
It occurs naturally in lowland, near canals, rivers,
waste places, along the edges of mangrove forest
and tidal streams. In Bangladesh, it usually grows
on the sandy mud in the coastal districts and in the
fresh water swamp forests of the north-eastern
wetlands.
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.
