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 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 χ2 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 (Nypa fruticans), a palm species, grows naturally in patches along the stable banks of the rivers in larger proportionsin the lesssaline zone of the Sundarbans. This species 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 Heritage Site’ by the UNESCO.Thispaper gives a briefaccount of 31 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 Nypa fruticans were collected in November 1996 and in April 1997 from the Chakaria Sundarbans for the production of sugar, 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 azeotropic mixture) was obtainedwhen the sap solution contained 13.0% sugar and 0.6% (w/v) yeast. This shows that N. fruticans sap 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. viminalis) and gollabet (Dacmonorops jenkinsiana) raised in semi-evergreen/deciduous forests of Bangladesh. Clump expansion with increasing age was highest for C. tenuis and C. viminalis in Chittagong, and for D. jenkinsiana in Sylhet. Mean annual height increments ofmain shoot of a clump of C. tenuis,
C. viminalis 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. viminalis 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. viminalis 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.
Several studies were previously conducted on pulping of jute plant by alkaline processes. But the response of the plant to alkaline pulping is poor. In the present study neutral sulphite anthraquinone (NS – AQ) process proved more advantageous over alkaline processes. The process is capable of producing a significantly higher yield compared to the alkaline processes. The physical strength properties of NS – AQ jute plant pulp stand in between hardwood and softwood kraft pulps. However, success of commercial utilization of jute plant in pulp making largely depends on efficient means of collection, transportation and storage of the plant. Hence, due attention to these problems must be given.
Ipil-ipil {Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit} is considered as an outstanding tree because of its worldwide success as a highly nutritious forage tree. Thisstudy is an attempt to determine suitable spacing for maximum biomass production. Widerspacing (60 cm x 60 cm) provided maximum seedling growth (height 177.9 cm and collar dia. 15.3 mm) and biomass production (green weight 276.0 g/seedlingand dry weight 166.5 g/seedling) at the age of nine months of the seedlings. However, closer spacing (15 cm x 15 cm) produced significantly higher biomass(green weight 28.21 ton/ha and dry weight 11.68 ton/ha) on an area basis. Small land holding farmers may rear their livestock by planting this legume and harvesting under a ‘cut-and-carry’ system which will supply high quality forage that uses to supplement low quality roughage such as crop residues.
The colonization status of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi of Melia azedarach L. seedlings grown from seven different types of pre-sowing treated seeds and the spore population in the rhizosphere soils were studied. The percent root colonization varied significantly and ranged between 14.81-95.0 in different treatments. The superior seedlings showed heavy root colonization as compared to otherseedlings. The intensity of colonization and spore population also varied significantly in different treatments. Spore population was not correlated with the percent root colonization and seedling growth parameters. Four AM genera such Glomus, Acaidospora, Entrophospora and Gigaspora were identified from the rhizosphere soils of the seedlings. The importance of AM fungi has been ensured from this study for the primary establishment of M. azedarach seedlings in the nursery.
Physical and chemical properties of some soils from Madhupur rubber plantation area in Bangladesh have been studied. Results of particle-size distribution, oven dry/air dry ratio, field moisture capacity, pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and exchangeable cations of the soils on depth basis have been presented. The nutrient contents of these soils have also been reported. With respect to nutrient status and physico-chemical properties, these soils are considered to have good potentiality and prospect for increased production of rubber, if proper attention and management practices are adopted.
The paper presents the anatomical features of bamboo leaves in transverse section for 26 bamboo species underseven genera occurring in Bangladesh both in wildand in cultivation. The results are presented in a tabular form. The findings indicate that anatomical features of bamboo leavesin transverse section work as taxonomic characters at species level. The paper also provides a dichotomous key to identify bamboo species
occurring in Bangladesh based on leaf anatomical characteristics.
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