A Half-yearly Peer Reviewed Journal of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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