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
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.
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 formaximumbiomass
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 ofnine months of the
seedlings. However, closerspacing (15 cm x 15 cm) produced significantly higher
biomass(greenweight 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.
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.
This paper deals with detailed macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of
five timber species, namely Calophylluni polyanthum Wall., Garcinia cowa Roxb.,
G. xanthochynius Hook., Kayea floribimda Wall, and Mesuaferrea Linn, of Guttiferae from
Bangladesh. Dichotomous keys based on both the macroscopic and microscopic
features have been developed for their identification.
Kadam (Anthocephalus chinensis (Lam.) Rich ex. Walp.}, a fast growing
multipurpose tree species, is grown in the homesteads and planted in the forest areas of
Bangladesh. The plantations of this species often suffer from the attack of the defoliator,
Arthroschista (=Margaronia) hilaralis Walker (Pyralidae : Lepidoptera). This paper
describes distribution, host plants, nature and impact of damage, life history, number of
generation, population fluctuation, natural enemies and management of the pest. The
pest completes its life cycle within 23.0 + 3.0 days. It has 9-10 generations in a year.
Younger trees, usually 2-5 years of age, were found most heavily infested. The peak
infestation occurred during August-September. Two parasites, Apanteles balteatea Lal.
(Braconidae : Hymenoptera) and Brachytneria lasus Walk. (Chalcididae: Hymenoptera),
caused a mortality of about 40% of the pest population. Application of Thuricide
(Bacillus thnringiensis) 40 WP or Malathion (malathion) 57 EC @ 0.1% concentration was
effective in controlling severe infestation. Hand collection and destruction at the initial
stage of infestation could suppress and provision of overhead orside shade for the tree
could prevent the attack of this pest
Dendrocalamus giganteus, known as giant
bamboo, is the tallest among the bamboos,
measuring on an average about 25 m high and 25
cm diameter. It is cultivated in Cox’s Bazar,
Banderban, Chittagong, Mymensingh, Panchagar,
Jessore and some other Districts ofBangladesh. Its
local names are wara bans, bhudumbans, bombai
bans, raja bans, kanchan bans, etc. It grows
luxuriantly in all the flood free areas.
It was reported earlier that D. giganteus
flowered at Calcutta Botanical Garden, India in
1860-61 and again in 1888 and in Burma in 1892
(Gamble 1896). Lahiri (1974) reported that one
clump introduced during 1880-88 at Kurseong
Division, India flowered in 1974. Bahadur (1979)
reported flowering of this species at Forest
Weight
(gm)
0.042
Weight
(gm)
0.050
Length
(cm)
0.726
Width
s/s (cm)
0.32
Width
v/d (cm)
Average* 0.286
Maximum
Research Institute campus, Dehra Dun in 1979. As
reported by Gupta (1982), one clump flowered in
1981 along the Tuli-Wokha road of Nagaland,
India.
The Sundarbans mangrove forest is well
known for its rich biodiversity and probably has
the maximum flora and fauna as compared to
other mangrove forests of the world. Prain (1903)
reported 334 plant species in the Sundarbans and
surrounding areas. It is a matter of concern that
there is a loss of biodiversity in the Sundarbans
mangrove forest. Sattar and Faizuddin (1998)
reported that one species of Briiguiera, that is
B. parviflora, has become extinct, and many other
plant species such as Luninitzera racemose,
Xylocarpus granatum, Aviceunia marina, Rhizophore
mucronate, R. apiculata, Kandelia candel, Excoecerie
indice, Cynometra remiflore and Amoora cuculate are
already threatened. Chaudhuri andNjiithani(1985)
did not mention the presence of B. parviflora in the
Indian part of Sundarbans but noted its presence
in the Andamans mangrove forests. It used to be
found associated with other mangrove species in
the Sundarbans on the bank of rivers and creeks
(Naskar and Guha Bakshi 1987). The timber of B.
parviflora is used as fishing pole and firewood. It is
also a fodder plantfor deer and other herbivorous
animals
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.
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.
