Two provenance trials of Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis were established in randomised complete block design in 1983 and later in 1984 at Keochia Silviculture Research Station, Chittagong, Bangladesh. It was observed that there was no significant difference among the provenances in respect of survival percentage, height and diameter growth and volume yield till December, 1989. All the provenances are doing well in the area. The mean height, diameter at breast height and volume yield per plot of 148.84 m² ranged from 9.5-10.4 m, 12.5-13.8 cm and 1.242-1.663 m³ respectively for the 1982 trial at the age of 7.5 years. The corresponding data for the 1984 trial at the age of 5.5 years were 4.2-5.4 m, 6.0-7.7 cm and 0.102-0.300 m³ respectively.

The variation of strength properties of mangium (Acacia mangium) wood treated with the CCA preservative has been studied. It is found that compression parallel to grain, tension perpendicular in radial face and shear parallel to grain in tangential face have been significantly affected by the treatment. The treatment causes reduction in modulus of rupture, stress at proportional limit in static bending and shear parallel to grain. All other strength properties are observed to increase from 3 to 81 percent by treatment.

The growth and distribution of root systems of an annual crop (French dwarf bean) and a young tree species (poplar) in large soil columns at three different soil water supply regimes were studied in a simulated agroforestry under a greenhouse condition at the University of Edinburgh, UK. The root biomass production of bean plants was found unaffected under the limited soil water supply whether grown in a monoculture or in mixed stands in contrast to that of poplar plants. The root system of bean explored only top 36 cm of soil column whereas poplar root system explored beyond the depth of 36 cm . These differential responses of an annual crop and a young tree species may be used as a basis for selecting complementary agroforestry components in a dry area.

EUCALYPTS were introduced in Bangladesh probably in 1930. The Bangladesh Forest Research Institute started trials on this species in 1963. It was established through research that the soil and climate of this country are suitable for Eucalyptus canialdulensis, E. brassiana and E. teriticomis. The research results and experience gained by the foresters of Bangladesh, India and some other countries show that eucalypts do not disturb the ecosystem even if planted in a large-scale.

Eucalypts can be planted for the production of timber, fuelwood, aroma, oil, gum and pulp. Therefore, this species may be highly economic if properly managed. Its only bad side is that the absentee farmers and rural landowners may find planting of eucalyptus more profitable and advantageous than the traditional agriculture. This may induce rural unemployment.

The effectiveness of the preparation with borax, boric acid and copper sulphate salt (BBC) as a water borne wood preservative was studied in the laboratory soil-block test. Blocks of civit (Swintonia floribunda) and chapalish (Artocarpus chaplasha) wood were dip-treated with the preservative solution and exposed to a common white rot fungus (Polyporous versicolor) and a brown rot fungus (Poria nionticola). The loss in weight of the wood blocks due to the fungal decay was recorded to be in the range 0-1.4%. This showed that the preservative was very effective. The field test of the preservative is being carried out with chapalish and garjan (Dipterocarpus spp.) wood stakes along with untreated ones. All the untreated stakes deteriorated due to fungi or other wood destroying agents within two years, but the treated stakes remained uneffected even after five years of exposure.

A greenhouse type solar kiln developed at the Bangladesh Forest Research Institute for seasoning timber has been extensively tested for the last ten years. Twenty-one such solar kilns have been installed by the private and public wood industries for commercial seasoning of timber. Timbers of different species for various enduses have been satisfactorily seasoned. The technique is found simple, inexpensive and effective throughout the year. Solar seasoning of timber thus offers an excellent prospect in Bangladesh.

The physical characteristics, physical and mechanical properties of Calamus ereclus have been studied at three height positions. The variation of physical properties due to node and internode have also been investigated. The moisture content and shrinkage increase, whereas the specific gravity decreases with the height of the stem. The specific gravity is higher at the node than that at the internode. The bottom portion is stronger in respect of compressive strength, bending strength, nail withdrawal and side hardness.

Pulping of bamboo-hardwoods in a mixture showed that H-factor required in soda + AQ and low sulphidity kraft + AQ was slightly lower than the calculated value from the mixture of the components. The total pulp yield for kraft15 + AQ was higher than the calculated value. But for soda + AQ it was lower from the theoretical value. The tensile strength of the pulp obtained in soda + AQ process was better upto 60% bamboo chips in the mixture. It showed superior quality with more than 60% bamboo in the component in low sulphidity kraft pulping. The bursting strength of the pulp decreased as the bamboo chips increased in kraft15 + AQ pulping. The tear strength behaved almost linearly with any proportion of bamboo chips with wood chips.

The Chakaria Sundarbans has been subjected to severe biotic interferences in the recent decades. A study was carried out to assess the present status, past condition, process of destruction and also to examine the feasibility of reforestation in this mangrove forest. The remnants of most of the commercially important species are available. The greater part of the forest has been converted to shrimp farms. The entire area is virtually without any vegetative cover. The land is apparently suitable for reforestation with mangrove species. However, a rehabilitation programme is only possible if the cooperation of the shrimp farmers and local people can be ensured.

Minjiri (Cassia siamea Lam.) is a promising fast growing tree species indigenous to Bangladesh and is included in the plantation programme. An attempt has been made to prepare the biomass tables for the species. The biomass equations were selected to estimate the green weight of the whole tree, weights of the stem, the branches, leaves and twigs, branches and stem; branch, leaves and twigs. The diameter at breast height (D) – biomass and D-height – biomass relationships were determined. It was observed that the logarithmic function to the base “e” gives a good fit model. The conversion factors were also determined to estimate the air-dry and oven-dry weights of the components.