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
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).
Mature seeds of Uvaria cordata (Dunal) Alston were sown in polybag, nursery bed, propagator
house, and root trainer and investigated to find out the suitable media for raising seedlings for
conservation programs of species in Chittagong University Campus. The germination percentage,
germination index, germination value, shoot length, collar diameter, leaf number were assessed for
12 months old seedlings in the nursery. The germination percentage (92.31%), germination energy
(35.89%), and germination value (2.6493) were found the highest in T2 treatment (seed sown in
nursery bed) and significantly (p<0.05) different from other treatments except for To (polybag).
Maximum germination index (0.2713), germination uniformity (0.0039), and minimum
germination start time (30 days) observed in To (polybag), significantly (p< 0.05) different from
other treatments. After 12 months of germination, maximum shoot height (25.57 cm), collar
diameter (6.32 mm) and leaf number (16.40) revealed highest in T3 treatment. Seeds sown in
polybags were revealed comparatively better germination behavior than other treatments. Seeds
sown in root trainer were found suitable for vigorous seedlings production for Uvaria cordata.
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.
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.
The mangrove of Sundarbans in Bangladesh is intended to be managed on a
sustained yield basis. But a remarkable decline in the growing stock of the merchantable
trees is reported in recent decades. This necessitates exploring avenues for improving
productivity of the forests. There are sizeable areas in the Sundarbans with scanty or
little vegetation due to failure in natural regeneration. Rehabilitation of poorly
stocked and vacant areas by enrichment planting could play a vital role in increasing
the wood production of the forests.
This paper discusses the scope of artificial regeneration in the Sundarbans to
improve the stocking and the yield. Research findings available in this direction have
been reviewed. Excoecaria agallocha and Ceriops decandra appear to be suitable for
planting in less productive but normally inundated areas. Plantations of Nypa
fruticans can be established on vacant canal or riverbanks over the greater parts of the
forests. The raised lands that do not support mangrove vegetation can be planted
with non-mangrove species like Sanianea saman, Albizia procera, Lagerstroemia speciosa
and Acacia nilotica. Studies have been initiated for a remedy to the problem of top
dying of Heritiera fonies, the dominant species of the forest. Research activities from
various aspects are underway to evolve methods to increase tree density and forest
cover.
Physical and chemical properties of some soils from the offshore islands of
Bangladesh have been studied. Results of particle size distribution, pH, ECe, organic
carbon, total nitrogen and cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the soils on profile basis
have been determined. The predominantly loamy texture of the soils indicate that they
are physically suitable for agricultural use.
Daily tidal inundation during the monsoon months and moderate salinity along
with poor drainage conditions are the characteristic features of these soils which may
favour the growth of mangrove species. In fact, in some of the older islands the
mangrove species such as keora (Sonneratia apetala) are growing luxuriantly.
The life cycle of the gall wasp, Andricus quercuscalicis (Burgsdorf) (Cynipidae :
Hymenoptera) involves the alternation between a sexual generation on the male
inflorescences (catkins) of the Turkey oak, Quercus cerris L. in the spring and an
agamic generation on the acorns of the English oak, Quercus robur L. in the autumn.
This study concerns with only the sexual generation of the wasp and its guild of
parasitoids. The generation was followed from the appearance of galls on catkins
until the adult gall wasp emergence in May-June and its parasitoids emergence in late
June.
The density of galls was positively correlated with the density of catkins on the
trees. The distribution of gall was clumped over the catkins. The sex ratio of the wasp
was highly male biased (68% male and 32% female), and the males were protandrous.
The sexes were patchily distributed over the trees. The sexual generation suffered
21.7% mortality through pupal parasitism by four oak-gall generalist parasitoids,
such as Mesopolobus xanthocerus (Thompson), M. tibialis (Westwood), M. fuscipes
(Walker) and M. dubius (Walker) (Pteromalidae : Hymenoptera) and 27.8% through
non-emergence, the cause of which was unknown. The parasitoids emerged from the
sexual galls of A. quercuscalicis were extremely male biased being virtually all males.
Survival, establishment and early growth of six major and economically important
mangrove plant species, namely sundri (Heritiera fames), gewa (Excoecaria agallocha),
goran (Ceriops decandra), passur (Xylocarpus mekongensis), kankra (Bruguiera sp.) and
baen (Aviccnnia officinalis) were studied in two salinity zones (moderate and strong
saline) of the Sundarbans mangrove forests of Bangladesh at the age of five years after
planting. The objective of the study was to enrich the vacant and poorly regenerated
areas of the Sundarbans for its sustainable production and management.
The percentages of planted seedling’s survival and establishment by fencing at
moderate saline zone were 84.9, 74.3, 63.5, 60.6, 40.6 and 38.9 for gewa, goran, sundri,
kankra, passur and baen respectively. The average height growths of these species were
1.94 m, 1.04 m, 0.90 m, 1.18 m, 1.71 m and 2.90 m respectively. Except gewa and goran
all the seedlings of other four species died due to deer browsing when planted in
unfenced condition.
Evaluation was made on growth response of one year old Eucalyptus camaldulensis
seedlings to various dose-combination of NP fertilizers under a comparatively poor site
condition of Silvicultural Research Station at Keochia. Results indicate that the maximum
average height (262.17 cm) and diameter (2.08 cm) of the seedlings in one year were
attained through application of urea and triple super phosphate (TSP) combinedly at the
rate of 30 and 20 g/pit respectively with a basal dose of muriate of potash (MP) at
20 kg/ha. Application of the above mentioned fertilizer dose promoted above-ground
green biomass production almost 8 times higher than the control. Subsequently, the
biomass distribution to shoot, leaf and twig was modified. The intake of nutritional
elements by the seedlings was found to increase due to application of fertilizer
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.
