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
This paper gives an overview on the initial growth performance ofmahogany
(Swietenia macrophylla King) planted in Chittagong city areas of Bangladesh. A guide
equationwas derived with logarithm to the base e of dominant height as a dependent
variable and reciprocal power of age as an independent variable. The growth
characteristics were estimated by regression techniques based on statistical and
biological criteria. The paper presents the growth statistics ofstand diameter atbreast
height, stand mean height, stand dominant height and basal area per hectare. The
selected models could be used to estimate the growth parameters in the plantations
with 9.0 m to 21.0 m dominant height at the age of 12 years.
To study the impact of vehicular pollution on the road-side
vegetation, four sites in the eastern Uttar Pradesh of India with varying
vehicular density were selected. Index of dominance of five plant species,
Ageratum houstonianum Mill., Argemone mexicana Linn., Rumexdentatus Linn.,
Salvia plebeja R. Br. and Solatium nigrum Linn., were studied atsix intervalstill
250 mperpendicular to the road at all the foursites. An attempthasbeenmade
to correlate the index of dominance of the species with the load of vehicular
pollution. Three species, A. houstonianum, S. plebeja and S. nigrum, showed
positive correlation with respect to the increasing distance from the road,
showing its susceptibility for the pollution whereas A mexicana and
R. dentatus showed positive correlation with the increase in pollution load.
However, a comparison between the two species showed that A. mexicana
was a better bio-indicator of vehicular pollution.
Bangladesh Forest Department and various NGOs have undertaken large scale
afforestation programmes in the country. This necessitates production of a large number of
seeds and improved methods of theirhandling. It islikely that greaternumber ofspecies will
be included for increased afforestation activities. So, information on time of seed
availability, quantity of seed production, number of seeds per unit weight, germination
percentage, germination period, seed pre-treatment (if any), storage period, etc. will be
required.Thisreport is based on available scientific information and professionalexperience
on seeds of forest trees which could help the nursery and plantation managers in raising
seedlings.
Pati-pata (Schumannianthus dichotoma)
belonging to the Family Marantaceae is one of
the important non – timber forest produces in
Bangladesh. It grows naturally in the swampy
areas as well as is cultivated in low-lying areas.
The stem of this shrub is used for the preparation
of mat, basket, bag and various novelty items
(Mohiuddin and Rashid 1988). The plant can be
grown using rhizome, branch cutting, rooted
cutting and seedling (Merry et al. 1997, Siddiqi et
al. 1998). However, the best performance was
obtained from planting rhizomes. It has been
reported that cultivation of pati-pata is more
profitable than that of paddy (Mohiuddin and
Rashid 1988). Thus fertilizer treatment was given
one year after planting before the monsoon to
observe its effect on the profitable enhancement in
yield. The treatment combinations of fertilizer
doses were as follows :
Tj = NPK each at 270 gm/plot
T, = NPK each at 540 gm/plot
T, = NPK each at 710 gm/plot
T() = No fertilizer (control)
The experiment was laid out in a
Randomized CompleteBlockDesign (RCBD) with
four replications at Bangladesh Forest Research
Institute campus, Chittagong. So, there were 16
plots each with a size of 4.5 m x 2 m. The plots
Antheraea paphia Linn. (Saturniidae :
Lepidoptera) is a wild silkworm that gives us
tassar silk of commerce. The dark buff-coloured
silk is coarse and very strong, but of inferior
quality a,s compared to that obtained from the
domesticated silkworm, Bonibyx niori. This wild
insect is not domesticated, and cannot be reared in
confinement on a commercial basis.
In 1999, some trees of a 3-year old telsur
(Hopea odorata Roxb.) plantation in the campus of
the Bangladesh Forest Research Institute,
Chittagong were found infested by a group of
wild silkworm. The larvae were found feeding on
the tender foliage of the upper canopy of the trees
and were kept under observation. They were pale
green with a yellow line at each side and rather
bulky, distinctly segmented and smooth-bodied
except for rows of ornamental metallic spotsand
tubercles bearing clusters of short spines (Fig. 1).
The full-grown larvae were about 10 cm long.
Pupation occurred in oval cocoons with a compact
surface (Fig. 2). The cocoons were formed in rolled
leaves orsuspended by a thick silken cord from a
twig. The cocoons were collected and reared to
adults which were identified as Antheraea paphia
Linn. (Saturniidae : Lepidoptera). The adult
female is a broad-winged moth with a wing-span
of about 12 cm. It is bright yellow with a circular
semi-transparent area or ‘eye’ on each wing
(Fig- 3)-
The toxic properties of petroleum spirit (40°-60°C) and water-soluble absolute
alcoholic extracts of the bark of Barringtonia acutangula (Gaertn.) were investigated on
laboratory animals. The petroleum spirit extract when administered intra-peritoneally
was found toxic to the experimental mice. The 24-hr LDW value was found 81.47 mg.kg’
1 body weight. The %2 value for the lethal dose was found significant at 0.1% level of
significance. The petroleum spirit and water-soluble absolute alcoholic extracts when
administered orally to rats showed some toxic properties but no mortality. The study
reveals that the petroleum spirit (40°-60°C) extract of the bark of Barringtonia acutangula
(Gaertn.) has a great prospect to decrease or substitute the use of synthetic pesticides,
especially the organophosphates.
The Sundarbans of Bangladesh, facing the Bay ofBengal, is the largestsingle tract
mangrove forest of the world. This natural forest has three watersalinity zonessuch as
less saline zone, moderate saline zone and strong saline zone. Golpata (Nypafruticans),
a palm species, grows naturally in patches along the stable banks of the rivers in larger
proportionsin the lesssaline zone of the Sundarbans. Thisspecies has been widely used
by the people of the entire south-western part of the country for thatching dwelling
houses. Experimental plantations of this species were established in the newly
accreted lands along the banks of the rivers in three salinity zones of the Sundarbans to
study itssurvival and growth. Fourmonths old seedlingsraised in the nurserybed were
used. Data on survival and plant growth (average leaf length and leaf number) were
collected after every three months for a period of 30 months. The highest survival
(65.35%) and plant growth (leaf length 290.67 cm and leaf number 6.80) were observed
in the less saline zone and the lowest survival (11.54%) and plant growth (leaf length
74.01 cm and leaf number 4.62) in the strong saline zone. The study shows that though
golpata can be grown successfully in the lesssaline and moderate saline zones, it grows
betterin the lesssaline zone of the Sundarbans. However, golpata shouldnotbe planted
in an area where heavy siltation occurs.
Sundarbans, the largest single continuous tract of natural mangroves in the world,
is endowed with a diverse group of plants and animals and has recently been given the
status of’World HeritageSite’ by the UNESCO.Thispaper gives a briefaccount of31 species
of insect pests attacking Sundarbans mangroves of Bangladesh. The pests include five
species of defoliators, three stem borers, eight fruit borers, two gall makers, one sap sucker,
one root feeder and 11 wood borers. These include 17 specks of Coleoptera, 11 species of
Lepidoptera, two species of Diptera and one species of Homoptera.
Two sap samples of Nypafruticans were collected in November 1996 and in April
1997 from the Chakaria Sundarbans for the production ofsugar, vinegar and alcohol. The
samples were first analysed to determine tire sugar contents by hand refractometer. The
first sample contained around 10.0% sugar, while the second contained about 8.0%.
Experiments were also conducted to produce vinegar trom the first sample and alcohol
from the second, each with and without addition ofsugar. Various amounts of yeast,such
as 0.2%, 0.6% and 1.0% (w/v) were added to determine the optimum yield of vinegar and
alcohol by fermentation process. It was observed that, in both the cases, addition of 0.6%
(w/v) yeast yielded the highest amount of acetic acid (4.3%) and alcohol (-5.0%) as
azeotropic mixture. There was about 0.2% increase in acetic acid yield with 0.6% (w/v)
yeast and further addition of 2.0% sugar to the original sample. The highest yield of
alcohol, 5.5% (as azeotropicmixture) was obtainedwhen the sap solution contained 13.0%
sugar and 0.6% (w/v) yeast. This shows thatN.fruticanssap may be a prospective source
for production of sugar, vinegar and alcohol in the country
This paper presents information about growth, harvesting ages and yields for
jalibet (Calamus tenuis’), kerakbet (C. viniinalis) and gollabet (Dacmonorops jenkinsiana)
raised in semi-evergreen/deciduous forests of Bangladesh. Clump expansion with
increasing age was highest for C. tenuis and C. viniinalis in Chittagong, and for D.
jenkinsiana inSylhet. Mean annual height increments ofmain shoot of a clump ofC. tenuis,
C. viniinalis and D. jenkinsiana were 0.94 + 0.08,1.11+0.09 and 1.45±0.11 m respectively.
Highest number of shoots per clump was noticed for C. tenuis in Sylhet followed by
C. viniinalis and D. jenkinsiana in Chittagong. Mean diameters of the main shoot of these
species were 1.6 ± 0.1, 2.14 + 0.1 and 3.01 ± 0.13 cm respectively. Wildings were found
under the clumps with varying numbers. The exploitable ages for C. tenuis, C. viniinalis
and D. jenkinsiana appeared to be 6-8, 9-11 and 10-12 years respectively. Further
information and studies are needed to determine the harvesting cycle and suggest a
management plan for rattans.
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.
