A Half-yearly Peer Reviewed Journal of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute
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 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.
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.
In Bangladesh invasion of ipil-ipil psyllid Heteropsylla cubana Crawford (Psyllidae : Homoptera) was first detected at Bagachattar near Chittagong in 1989. Later a survey on the pest showed that besides other parts of Chittagong it had spread to some parts of greater Dinajpur and Faridpur districts. Both the nymphs and the adults of the psyllid suck sap from young foliage and tender shoot causing drying up of the terminal portion of the branches. The infestation was prevalent during the dry period from October to April. The psyllid also infested rain tree (Sarnanea sanian) and raj koroi (Albizia richardiana) in Bangladesh. In the nursery the pest was controlled by spraying 0.1% malathion three times at an interval of 15 days. One species of coccinellid, one species of dragonfly and two species of spider were recorded as predators of the psyllid in Bangladesh. As chemical control has some drawbacks, stress should be given on breeding psyllid resistant species/clones and utilization of predators, parasites and pathogens to control the pest. As it is a major pest of ipil-ipil in many countries specially in the South and South-East Asian regions, close cooperation and collaboration in both regional and international levels will be of great advantage to combat the problem.
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 nature and status of the non-wood forest products (NWFP) of Bangladesh have been discussed. The present institutional arrangements for collection and processing of NWFP have been analysed and major problems identified. Some policy and functional/managerial suggestions have been made to improve and augment the production and management of the NWFP.
Seed germination of golla-bet (Daemonorops jenkensiana) after pre-sowing treatment was studied. The seeds treated with HCL and H2SO4 separately showed 64-68% and 50-68% germination respectively irrespective of different concentration of acid. On removing only scally epicarp, germination of golla-bet increased to 51% without any acid treatment. The results indicate that acid scarification turn the hard seed coat into thin and papery resulting easy infiltration of water to accelerate possible enzyme activities in endosperm.
The soil moisture stress significantly affected the growth of the four selected eucalypt species. In case of Eucalyptus citriodora the growth improved as the soil moisture content increased up to 53% of field capacity. In case of other species the growth improved up to 67% of field capacity. The root growth was adversely affected with an increase in soil moisture content and therefore there was a decline in the root/shoot ratio. The overall growth was very poor in this highly acid and low fertility level soil.
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.
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