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 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.
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.
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 of Bangladesh. 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 Bruguiera, 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 and Naithani(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.
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