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
A study was conducted on butterflies of Baraiyadhala National Park (BNP) between August 2015 and July
2016 to know the occurrence of species diversity, their status and habitats. One hundred and thirty four
species of butterflies belonging to 93 genera and 6 families were recorded during the study. Family
Nymphalidae had the highest number of species (43 i.e., 32.1%) followed by Lycaenidae (37 i.e., 27.6%),
Hesperiidae (25 i.e., 18.7%), Pieridae (15 i.e., 11.2%), Papilionidae (13 i.e., 9.7%) and Riodinidae (1 i.e.,
0.75%). The status of recorded species was calculated in term of Very Common (30 species), Common (41
species), Uncommon (35 species) and Rare (28 species). The butterflies in the BNP prefer to live in
different types of habitat viz., Grass Land, Crop Land, Open Forest, Scrub Forest, Dense Forest and
Bamboo Patch. Among them 33 species were found in all kinds of habitat, 71 in multiple types and 30 were
in single type. Moreover, mud-puddling habits of 50 species (37.3%) were also observed. It is notable that
59 (44%) of total recorded species are threatened in Bangladesh (39 Vulnerable and 20 Endangered) and 6
(4.5%) are not still included in the red list of IUCN, Bangladesh.
Bamboos of different sizes are generally used for fencing, poles and sticks in betel leaf farms. Bamboo
sticks are used as climber for betel leaf vine. These bamboo materials have 2-3 years service life because these
are being used without having any preservative treatment. After treatment, the service life of these materials
can be increased by four to five times. These treated materials are not required to change or to repair every
year. A study has been undertaken to disseminate the preservative treatment technology among the common
people through the distribution of treated bamboo sticks in the betel leaf farmers. The objectives of the study
were to determine the service life of bamboo sticks used in the betel leaf farms and to motivate people for
using the treatment technology. In this regard, the bamboo sticks namely baijja (Bambusa vulgaris) and
mitinga (Bambusa tulda) bamboo were treated by soaking methods using water borne preservatives, copper
sulphate, sodium dichromate and boric acid (CCB). The treated materials were distributed to the betel leaf
farmers in three different areas of Bangladesh. Data were collected at the interval of every six months to
determine the durability of the bamboo sticks. It was found that after four years the treated materials were in
sound condition. It was observed that the preservative technology would enhance the service life of the
bamboo, which will help people to save their hardly earned incomes and conserve forest resources.
This paper deals with the effects of soil physical properties on sissoo (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.)
mortality. A research was conducted at different severely affected sissoo mortality sites of Chittagong,
Chuadanga, Comilla, Kushtia, Meherpur and Tangail districts of Bangladesh during 2008-2010. During
pre-and post monsoon and drought period soil and root samples were collected from the different sites. Soil
properties (soil texture, pH, organic matter, moisture content and bulk density) were analyzed and fungal
strains, mites and bacteria were isolated. From the analyses of data, average moisture content at the 0-30 cm
soil depth was found higher in Daulotpur (18.58%) followed by Jibonnagar (18.11%), Potia (15.92%) and
Mehepur Sadar (15.02%) respectively and lower in all sites of Tangail district (5.52-1.76%). It is observed
that fine textured soil and root interference enhances pathogenic attack. Findings reveal to conclude that
moisture stress period as well as temperature supports activities of Fusarium solani and mortality symptoms expressed prominently.
Wood working properties is very important in order to select wood for particular use. The study
was conducted to assess the working properties of five wood (main stem portion) species- lambu, aijun,
jhau, palmyra palm and acacia hybrid. The working properties were carried out in two different methods,
namely : machining and handtools. The effects of machining properties, such as- sawing, planing, shaping,
boring, mortising and turning were tested on these five wood species along with handtools test. The sawing
qualities of these wood were determined by manual feeding of logs to the saw blade. The evaluation of each
operation was based on frequency of occurrence of defect free samples. Finishing properties were evaluated
with the application of two different types of polishing materials, viz.: shellac and carpa as well. Each
sample was visually observed and classified based on five quality grades. The results indicated that acacia
excellent working performance in all properties. All rated excellent shaping result in handtools operation except palmyra palm. Palmyra palm yielded very poor results in shaping, boring, mortising and turning tests.
A study was conducted on the preservative treatment of Acacia mangium poles to determine the
treatment schedule for out door use. The poles contained 52.27% sapwood which is generally perishable by
wood destroying organisms. In this study, 27 poles were treated with 10% CCB (Copper-Chrome-Boron)
aqueous solution by Lowry empty-cell process. Three different pressure and three time periods were
applied to evaluate the depth of penetration and amount of retention of the preservative chemicals. It was
observed that preservative chemicals penetrated the entire sapwood portion of the poles which is the main
criteria for the protection of poles. But, a little bit increase was observed in penetration with the increasing
pressure and time period. Although, the retention of the preservatives was found to increase significantly
with the increasing pressure and time. The highest retention of 22.98 kg/m3 and full penetration of sapwood
was observed at 1.04 N/mm2 pressure for three hours. It is expected that the applied preservative with the
treating schedule can protect the Acacia mangium poles from wood destroying organisms in outdoor
condition.
A study was conducted on the status, distribution and morphometry of rats in Jahangirnagar University
campus, Savar, Dhaka, from May 2014 to April 2015. Ten cage traps with baits were placed in six selected
sites for capturing rats and mice. Six species of rats and mice viz, Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus, Bandicota
bengalensis, B. indica, Mus musculus and Vandeleuria oleracea were recorded. Among these R. rattus, M.
niusculus, V. oleracea were very common and R. rattus found in all habitats except grassland whereas M.
musculus found in household condition and bushy area. V. oleracea was mostly distributed in woodland and
bushy areas. On the contrary, B. bengalensis and R. norvegicus were common in household condition and
bushy area. Bandicota indica was uncommon and found only edge of the wetland and cultivated areas. The
mean body length and the tail length of R. rattus and M. musculus were 15.59 cm, 17.20 cm and 6.24 cm,
8.22 cm respectively while the mean body length and tail length of V. oleracea were 13.83 cm and 17.69
cm. The mean body length and the tail length of B. bengalensis were 15.94 cm and 16.31 cm respectively
while the mean body length and the tail length of R. norvegicus were 15.68 cm and 12.84 cm respectively.
B. indica attained mean body length and tail length 26.51 cm and 25.35 cm respectively.
Sal forest covers 32% of the total forest land of Bangladesh. Though there is no record of severe infestation
of sal forest by any defoliator insect in Bangladesh. Recently, Altadighi sal forest of Naogaon district is
completely defoliated by an unknown lepidopteran insect affecting the growth of the plant seriously. The
insect has been identified as Dendrophleps semihyalina Hampson (Lymantriidae: Lepidoptera). It is a new
record of sal defoliator in Bangladesh. More than 95% trees were infested by the pest. The peak infestation
period occurred during March and April. Two insecticides namely Malathion 57 EC (malathion) and
Ripcord 10 EC (cypermethrin) were applied on infested trees @2-4 ml/1 and 1-2 ml/1 of water respectively
after every seven days for 2 to 3 times. The pest was controlled within two weeks.
The study was initiated to evaluate economic impact of the treated and untreated bamboo materials using in
betel leaf farms. A large number of bamboo culms were consumed because of frequently replacement of
bamboo materials in betel leaf farms. Due to growing population and rising demand for bamboo materials,
these resources were in decreasing day to day. For preserving bamboo materials into treated form that were
needed only 35% to 40% additional cost of its’ existing market price. The usable durability of these treated
form of thickness basis bamboo materials would be increased and stand for at least 2 to 5 years. A notable
number of 1127 ha-1 (64%) bamboo culms were being saved per year in the study areas because of treated
technology adaptation. The mean IRR, B-C ratio and PVNB were determined to be 40%, 1.21 and Tk.12.1
lakh ha’ for treated farms and 19%, 1.04 and Tk. 3.2 lakh ha-1 respectively for untreated ones. If the treated
materials arc able to be disseminated and covered in betel leaf farms of the country, a significant number of
1.44 crore bamboo culms will be saved. Therefore, using treated bamboo materials in betel leaf farms were
economically viable and environmentally most desirable.
An in vitro direct regeneration protocol was developed for Phylanthus emblica L. through shoot tip
culture. Shoot tips explants excised from 30 days old aseptically germinated seedlings were inoculated on
Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of BAP, KIN,
NAA and IBA to study in vitro growth responses. MS medium containing 1.0 mg/LBAP was found most suitable
for culture initiation. Although shoot multiplication was achieved on MS medium containing BAP and KJN, the
maximum number of shoot was obtained with 2.0 mg/L BAP+1.0 mg/L KIN. Best rooting response was
observed on media containing half strength MS salts, 0.5 mg/L IBA, 2% sucrose, and 2.8 gm/L gelrite. Plantlets
were hardened initially in culture room conditions and then transferred to mist house. Regenerated plants were
successfully acclimatized and about 90% of plantlets survived under ex vitro conditions. The plant regeneration
system established in this study will facilitate mass propagation of P.emblica in a short period of time.
An attempt was different locations of Bangladesh. In this study, comparative season wise survey was conducted during
2010-2015. Disease incidence % of six commercially cultivated medicinal plants viz. Ashwagandha
(Withania somnifera L.) Dunal, Gritakanchon (Aloe indica L.), Kalomegh (Andrographispeniculata Nees),
Tulsi (Qcimwn sanctum L.), Basok (Adhatoda vasica Nees) and Shotomoly (Asparagus racemosus L.) was
recorded. Common diseases on all the six plants were recorded which included root rot and leaf blight in
Ashwagandha, leafspots and collar rot in Gritakanchon, Powdery mildew and root rot in Tulsi, leafblight
and collar rot in Kalomegh, wilting and die-back in Basok, tuber rot and stem rot in Shotomoly. The causal
organisms were identified as Fusarium equiseti (Corda.) Sacc., Alternaria altemata (Fries) Keissler,
Cochliobolus lunatus (Nelson & Hassig), Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehrenberg ex.
Fusarium oxysporiiun (Schlecht), Colletotrichum sp. respectively. The study revealed that most of the
incidences of the diseases were found in monsoon than pre-monsoon comparatively. Moderate to severe
damage by the diseases were observed in all the six medicinal plant highest (91.45%) disease incidence was
recorded in Ashwagandha for root rot disease and lowest (68.05%) disease incidence was recorded in
Shotomoly for the same disease.
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.
