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
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 were separated from one another by earthen embankment to prevent movement of water and other material among the plots. Each plot was planted with 180 rhizomes at a spacing of 1 m x 1m. The experimental areas remained inundated for four months in a year. Data were recorded on survival, emergence of shoots, heights of main shoots and their diametersfrom different clumps at every three months interval for 15 months following fertilizer treatment. Leaving the two peripheralrowsin a plot, data were collected only from the remaining interior clumps.
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 mori. 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)
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.
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.
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.
Casuarina equisetifolia seedlingsinoculated with different biofertilizerssuch as Azospirillum, Phosphobacterium, VAM fungi and Frankia and their combinations were planted in farmland. Growth parameters were collected at bimonthly intervals up to 30 months. Biomass was estimated 24 months after planting. Maximum height, girth at breast height (gbh) and total biomass were obtained in the combined application of Azospirillum, Phosphobacterium, VAM and Frankia. The combination of VAM + Frankia among double inoculation, and the combination of Azospirillutn, VAM and Frankia in triple inoculation also proved to be the best treatment in promoting the significant total height, gbh and total biomass production.
The bagworm, Cryptothelea crameri Westwood (Psychidae : Lepidoptera) is an important pest of many ornamental, horticultural and forest plants in Bangladesh. The larva feeds on young leaves and tender bark by making and living within a portable bag of leaves, twigs, barks, spines, etc. The biology, host range, number of generations, and seasonal abundance of the pest have been dealt with in this paper. Brachymeria sp. (Braconidae: Hymenoptera) wasfound to parasitize its larva. The pestcould be collected and destroyed by hand. It could also be controlled by the foliar application ofmalathion (Malathion 57 EC) at 0.1% concentration.
The paper describes the fibre length and ray height of the five tree species, namely Calophyllum polyanthum Wall., Garcinia cowa Roxb., G. xanthochymus Hook., Kayea floribimda Wall, and Mesua ferrea Linn, of the family Guttiferae. In G. cozva and G. xanthochymusthe fibre length and ray height are higher and longer than those of the other species. These two microscopic features work as good characters in delimitating the species of Guttiferae. There is a progressive trend of increase of fibre length and ray height from near pith to sapwood for all the species
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.
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.
