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
Seedlings of Bambusa tidda Roxb. and Dendrocalamus strict us Nees were grown in the
nursery under four different light conditions, viz. sunlight, partial sunlight, shade, and
6 hours photoperiod up to nine months of age. Almost all the seedlings were dead (80 to
90%) under shade and 6-hr grolux electric light photoperiod conditions after 200 -270
days. Survival was highest (80-95%) under both sunlight and partial sunlight condition.
The seedlings were comparatively healthy, green and tall under partial sunlight. Under
these two light conditions seedings started clump formation within three months of age.
The clump formation was delayed and a very few bamboo seedlings formed weak clumps
under shade and 6 hours photoperiod conditons.
The paper describes particleboard making characteristics of three common bamboo species, namely, Banibusa balcooa, Banibusa vulgaris and Melocaiina baccifera grown in Bangladesh. Urea formaldehyde resin was used as the binder. The particleboards from these bamboo species compare almost an equal strength properties with those from wood species.
The shoots of ten bamboo species of Bangladesh have been tested in respect to taste, flavour, texture and colour of the edible parts. The shoot colour and shape of each species were described. The weight of outer cover (sheaths) and internal edible portions of shoots are more or less same in most the ten bamboo species. Only three species, Bambusa polymorpha, Melocantia baccifera and Dendrocalaimis longispathns were found to produce shoots with somewhat slight bitter to sweet taste and pleasant flavour a t raw state. Shoots of the remaining seven species B. banibos, B. Longispicidata, B.vidgaris, B. tidda, D. gigaiiteus, Schizostachyum dullooa, Thyrsostachys oliveri possessed varying degree of bitterness or astringency. Fairly acceptable taste and easy availability of shoots of M. baccifera made the species most common bamboo vegetable for the tribal people of Bangladesh.
In all the species shoots production both by number and weight per clump was found to increase in the second and third year, if continuously harvested. However, the shoot production decreased per clump after third to fifth year if the harvesting continued, and after sixth year of continuous harvest some species even stopped shoot production. Continuous harvesting of bamboo shoots has been discouraged and selective harvesting in every year has been advised.
Gamar defoliator, Calopepla leayana Latr. (Chrysomelidae : Coleoptera) is a major defoliator of gamar (Gnielina arborea Roxb.) in Bangladesh. Both the larva and the adult feed on the leaves making irregular holes on them. The distribution, description and biology of various developmental stages of the pest are provided. The pest has three generations in a year, hibernating as an adult from November to May. A common pupal parasite, Brachymeria sp. and an egg parasite, Tetrasticlnis sp. were recorded. Biological, chemical, physical and mechanical method for the control of the pest have been discussed.
The properties of particleboard produced from l-,2-,3- and 4-year old Bambusa vulgaris Schrad, the commonest village bamboo in Malaysia, were ascertained. Culms of two years old or more were found to yield good particles for particleboard manufacture. Three particleboards with the density of 561,641 and 721 kg/m3 were produced by using urea formaldehyde resin as the binder at the resin contents of 6, 8 and 10%, pressing time of 6 minutes and temperature of 160°C. All the boards tested passed the minimum requirements of the British Standards BS 5669-1989.
This indicates the suitability of this bamboo species for the manufacture of particleboard.
The survey on visitors of Bhawal National Park reveals that picnicking was the highest participated outdoor recreation activity (79.62%), and sightseeing was the second highest activity (12.83%) with respect to all socio-economic variables viz. gender, age, education, and income. Male visitors (82.26%) are higher than the female visitors (17.74%). Age-groups of 26-35 and 16-25 years are more interested in participating outdoor recreation activities which are 40.38% and 35.09% respectively. Participation in outdoor recreation activities increases with the increase of
education level. Majority of the visitors are from middle class (47.19%) and high middle class (24.34%). Visitors from all gender, age, education level and class participate in outdoor recreation activities in Bhawal National Park. So, development of proper planning and scientific management of outdoor recreation facilities of the park are needed in order to ensure sustainable benefits to the visitors.
Species diversity and economic returns of five different components namely timber, fruit, fuelwood, vegetables and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in homestead agroforestry system were studied at two smallest administrative units (Union) namely Betagi and West Demsha under Chittagong district. Most of the available species under each component at both locations were common. With little exception, the frequency distribution of each component species was similar in all household categories at each study location. Tree components for timber and fruit
were more in West Demsha than in Betagi, whereas components for fuelwood, vegetables and NTFPs were more in Betagi. However, the economic returns from vegetable component were more than those from any other component in both the study locations. The results indicated that homestead agroforestry systems in the study locations were traditional, and generally immediate income generating component like vegetables had been selected by the small and medium households in the establishment of such system.
Twelve high density (density range 0.775-1.031 g/cm3 lesser used/unused hardwood species, viz. bhadi (Lannea coromandelica), bahera (Terniinalia belerica), haritaki (Tarminalia chebula), jam (Syzygium sp.) kanak (Schima wallichii), minjiri (Cassia simaea), batna (Quercus sp), goda (Vitex peduncularis), gutguttya (Protium surratum), homalium (Homalium bhamanse), itchri (Anogeissus acuminata) and nageshwar (Mesue ferrea) were studied to determine their pulp making characteristics. An active alkali change of 14% and sulfidity of 25% were used in all cooks. It has been observed that most of these species produce good quality pulp.
In November 1989 two clumps of Thyrsostachys regia (Munro) Bennet (T. siamensis Kurz ex Gamble) flowered in Bangladesh Forest Research Institute Bambusetum, Chittagong. Flowering was of gregarious type and the clumps died after flowering. Floral buds bloomed after 4-5 weeks of their initiation. There are two florets in a spikelet and the flowers are protandrous. Anthesis generally occurred in the morning and occasionally in the afternoon. Anther dehiscence started at noon and continued for the whole afternoon. When in full bloom two bee species (Apis dorsata and an unidentified one) were found to visit the flowers. Fruits matured after 60-70 days of blooming. Squirrels and three bird species, Lonchura punctulata, L. striata andL. malabarica) were found to feed on matured seeds.
Seed germination remains to be an unsolved problem in teak. Studies made on radiography and seed technological aspects using drupes from India and Thailand disclosed certain important features. Radiography has been standardised for sharp image to read the anatomical potential of seed. Teak drupes from two provenance differed in size and weight within and between seedlots. Radiograms revealed the development of 4, 3,2 and 1 seed in the tetracarpellary ovary in the order of 1,5,19 and 48% with 27% empty drupes. When drupe size decreased the percentage of
single-seeded and empty drupes increased correspondingly. Teak drupes possess ontogenic and dormancy problems posing challenge to germination
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.
