A Half-yearly Peer Reviewed Journal of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute
Experiments to determine the rok of
wounding alone and fungal infestation in
the formation of the aromatic base, agar,
in the wood of Agar tree (Aquilaria agallocha
Roxb.) were started in two Agar plantations
at Lawachara near Srimangal in
1977. Results of the first assessment of
nine trees after two years indicated that
the formation of agar did not depend on
the activity of a particular fungus, as was
previously believed, but is a general reaction
of the host to injury and invasion by
various microbes. It was, therefore, suggested
that the effect of wounding on the
Forest tree species are generally propagated from seeds, seedlings and stumps.Vegetative propagation from roots and shoot cuttings is another technique by which identical propagules could be perpetuated and proliferated.
Grafting, cutting and air-layeiing are the basic techniques of propagation and
are very useful for tree breeding and improvement work. The importance of
vegetative propagation is gradually increasing for establishment of Seed Orchard and
Clonal Orchard (Jones 1979).
Since long past offset and rhizome
planting have been conventional methods
of small scale bamboo propagation in the
villages of Bangladesh and other
neighbouring countries (Peal 1882). Use of
these propagules, however, is not economic
for large scale bamboo afforestation
programme due to their bulky size, heavy
weight (4-30 Kg) and transportation
problem (Banik 1980). Moreover, a clump
can supply these propagules in only limited
numbers, certainly not enough for large
scale plantation. The availability of bamboo
seeds is also restricted because of long
flowering interval in bamboo. Propagation
of bamboo through branch cutting
A kraft mill, even by utilizing the best available technology,
cannot be made completely odour-free. However, there are several
sulphide-free and non-sulphur pulping methods. Among these, sodaanthraquinone
(AQ) pulping process seems to be promissing.
The most practised chemical to-day is the kraft process. 95% of the present production of chemical 74 Pulp yield can be increased by using polysulphide, H2S or AQ
in the cook. The first two are used exclusively in kfraft cooking, and
so the odour problem cannot be overcome. AQ on the other hand,
is also suitable in a sulphur-free cook which eliminates the odour
problem of the pulp mill. Soda-AQ pulping is more suitable with
hardwoods.
Seedlings of Pinus caribaea var.
hondurensis planted at Keochia Silvicultural
Research Station, Chittagong in 1972
reached an average height of 14.0 m and
started bearing fruits in 1982. The trees
flowered during the months of January-
February and cones ripened in August-
September of the same year. Some seeds
were hand-picked from two selected trees
in 1982 and the seeds were extracted from
the cones by exposing them in the sun.
Germination experiment was carried out
with them. The seeds were first tested by
floatation process with 85% ethyl alcohol
for finding out the empty seeds. After the
test, 220 mature seeds were sown in
polybags filled up with forest top soil. An
appropriate quantity of chemical fertilizer
was also applied. The tops of the bags
Garjan (JDipterocarpus spp.), by virtue
of its availability and strength properties,
happens to be the principal species for
railway sleepers in Bangladesh. This
species is used also for construction and
many other purposes. The wide and
extensive use of this species has created
scarcity and its present supply position is
not adequate to meet the requirement of
sleepers. As a result, sleepers are being
imported from foreign countries to overcome
the supply shortage. It is, therefore,
necessary that other suitable indigenous
species be used as railway sleepers.
Although there are more than 500
hardwood species in the forests of
Bangladesh only a few of them are available
in quantities commensurate with the
requirements of the timber industries. In order
to find out a group of alternative timber
species for sleepers a joint study was undertakenby
Forest Research Institute, Bangladesh
Railway and Forest utilization Division
Loranthaceae includes semiparasitic
plants which are commonly known as
mistletoes. All over the world they cause
more economic loss than any other angiospermic
parasites. They mostly attack
dicotyledons and gymnosperms which
include horticultural plants as well as forest
trees. The effects of parasites on the hosts
are manifold, such as, reduction of vigour
and growth rates, poor fruit and seed
production, formation of burrs on the trunk
or branches, reduction in foliage, drying
of top, predisposition to insect and other
disease attacks ultimately causing premature
death. In tropical and sub-tropical
forests, mistletoe infection sometimes causes
heavy damages to many forest trees.
The Crab-eaitng Macaque, Macaca
fascicularis Raffles is found in the coastal,
rural and urban regions as well as in the
virgin forests of many South-East Asian
^countries like Burma, Philippines, Thailand,
Malaya, Vietnam, Sumatra, Java and
Borneo (Fooden 1969a). It was also
introduced into Mauritius (Napier and
Napier 1967).
The population of this species throughout
the entire range is declining and in
some regions is very much threatened.
Rabor (1965) reported that the population
of Crab-eating Macaque had declined
greatly in the Philippines. Southwick and
Cadigan (1972) also reported very small
population in Malaya. In Bangladesh too
the population of this species has declined
to a great extent.
A. falcataria Forberg Syn Albizia
moluccana Miq. A. falcate Buckets, is a large
fast-growing tree, indigenous to the
Moluccas. From there, it was introduced into
Java and then was distributed throughout
the Far East including Malaysia, Fiji,
Srilanka, Philippines and Africa including
Kenya, Nigeria, Rhodesia, Uganda and
Zanzibar. It is a branchy tree and has light
foliage with a fairly straight bole. The
wood is soft and rather light (416 to 464
Kg/m’ air dry) and non durable. It is
considered satisfactory for rotary peeling for
Grasses such as Blue panic, Guinea grass, Green panic, Rhodes
grass, Signal grass, three cultivars of Buffel grass, two cultivars of
Setaria and Legumes like Centro, Greenleaf desmodium, Highworth
dolichos, Rongai dolichos, Archer dolichos, Tinaroo glycine, Siratro,
Cook stylo, Schofield stylo, Endeavour stylo, Townsville stylo, Verano
stylo were grown at six Silvicultural Research centres of Bangladesh
to study their herbage production. Among grasses Signal grass,
Guinea grass, Green panic and the cultivars of Setaria produced
higher amount of herbage in comparison to other grasses. Legumes
like Schofield stylo, Cook stylo, Endeavour stylo, Townsville stylo
and Verano stylo produced higher yields of herbage in comparison
to other legumes. These promising fodder grasses and legumes have
important bearings on multiple land use in agriculture as well as in
forestry.
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.