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
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 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
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.
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 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)
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.
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.
