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
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.
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/m^ 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.
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.
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 and
L. malabarica) were found to feed on matured seeds.
Diversity and distribution pattern of tree species of Bamu Reserved Forest of
Cox’s Bazar were studied by count plot method for analysing stand composition. A
total of 85 tree species were recorded from the forest of which 77 species belonging
to 30 families were identified. Leguminosae and Moraceae ranked top with seven
species followed by Verbenaceae and Euphorbiaceae each with six species. The
Importance Value Index (IVI) of each species was calculated to characterize the
composition of vegetation. Bursera serrata showed the highest (18.91) IVI followed
by Artocarpus chania (14.82), Pterospernium acerifolium (14.04), Hopea odorata (13.73),
Glochidion multiloculare (13.19) and Vitex peduncularis (10.51). Distribution of the
number of individuals of each species in nine diameter classes ( 80cm with
10cm intervals) were calculated with respect to total individuals. It showed that
maximum percentage of individuals (35.08%) belonged to 80cm) represented the lowest percentage (1.82%).
Bursera serra tahad the highest (8.04%) percentage distribution followed by Glochidion
multiloculare (7.67%), Dipterocarpus turbinatus (5.85%), Hopea odorata (5.36%),
Pterospernium acerifolium (4.87%), Bauhinia acuminata (4.03%) and Lagerstroemia speciosa
(3.05%). The rest of the species had values < 2.8%.
The beetle, Podontia qiiatuordecinipunctata Linn. (Chrysomelidae : Coleoptera) is a
major defoliator of amra (Spondias pinnata (L. f.) Kurz and S. dnlcis Forst, f.) in
Bangladesh. Besides Spondias spp., the pest also attacks Ficus elastica Roxb. and
Duabanga grand iflora (Roxb. ex DC) Walp. Both the adult and the larva cause partial or
complete defoliation affecting the growth of the plant seriously. The peak infestation
period occurred during August and September. Younger trees are most heavily
attacked. The incidence is more pronounced in the hilly areas than in the plains. The
pest was controlled by foliar application of cypermethrin (Ripcord 10 EC) @ 12 ml/10
litres of water.
The Community Forestry Project, undertaken in 1981 was the first governmentinitiated
and large-scale participatory forestry management programme in Bangladesh.
Under this project the participants were promised 50 percent share from the sales
proceeds of final tree harvest in addition to 100 percent of all other benefits generated .
from agricultural crops, thinning materials and pruning. In 1993 five agroforestry plots,
each having an area of 1.21 hectares of land were harvested at Madhyapara, Dinajpur.
Although rotation was planned for a period of seven years trees were actually felled one
year later. It has been the country’s first logged-over area under participatory approach.
Half of the sales proceeds was distributed to the participants. This example inspired both
the participants and the Forest Department.
Financial viability of the system has been explained in terms of internal rate of
return, benefit-cost ratio and present net worth under three situations, viz. a) financial
viability of the whole system, b) financial gain of the participants, and c) financial gain
of the Forest Department. While the system as a whole is found to be highly prospective,
the results also show that the benefits generated to both the participants and the Forest
Department are also much encouraging. A sensitivity analysis allowing probable variations
in cost and benefits reveals no financial risk of the system under any criteria. Social
impacts of the project and some problems have been pointed out.
Green and freshly felled poles have been treated by a simple method and cheap
chemicals. The equipment can be located very close to the site of felling and the
treatment can be carried out by semi-skilled workmen. An experiment was carried
out with this method on five indigenous wood species namely: garjan (Dipterocarpns
turbinatus), kao (Garceniacowa), jam (Syzygiuni grande), kalibatna (Qnerciisfenestrata)
and rai batna (Quercus thonisoni) with 10% copper sulphate solution at the felling site
of Chunati Forest Range, Chittagong. Analysis of the Results on the penetration and
the retention of the preservative inside the pole indicates that the entire portion of
the sap wood around the pole was completely penetrated and the required retention
was obtained.
Albizia falcataria wood has been studied for the suitability of manufacturing
cement bonded particleboard. This species failed to produce board in workable
conditions with the untreated chips. A substantial improvement of properties was
observed when the boards were made with the chips treated in cold water. The
boards were tested for determining the strength and dimensional stability. The
product was found to be dimensionally stable after soaking in water. Even though
bending strength was found to be low, the tensile strength passed the standard
specification. Cement bonded particleboard made with this species can be used
where dimensional stability is necessary.
Studies were made to assess the physiological maturity for harvesting the seed
of Prosopis juliflora with high germination and vigour. Sufficient number of
flowers were tagged at the time of anthesis. The developing pods were collected
at weekly intervals, and pod and seed development were studied at each
collection. Pod and seed weight increased with the increase of age and reached the
maximum at 91 days after anthesis (DAA). In this stage pod colour turned from
green to straw yellow. The seed extracted at this stage resulted in maximum seed
weight, germination and vigour potential. Since the germination potential and
vigour of this species started declining after this stage (91 DAA), the physiological
maturity stage for honey mesquite (P. juliflora ) could be fixed at about 91 days
after anthesis.
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.
