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
This paper presents the assessment of both the natural and planted species
diversity of the Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Eco-park, Chattogram. A total
of 267 plant species from 101 families are recorded in three zones namely
disturbed, undisturbed and planted areas. Among them 153 plant species
recorded from the natural undisturbed area belonging to trees (45 species),
shrubs (44 species), herbs (34 species) and 30 species of climbers. Fifty two
species were documented from disturbed and planted areas. Mikania cordata,
Chromolaena odorata, Hyptis suaveolens, Mimosa pudica and Ageratum
conyzoides are dominant species in the disturbed zone and Ficus hispida are the
most dominant tree species in the undisturbed zone. The highest Importance
Value Index (IVI) showed 28.08 for Holarrhena antidysenterica and the lowest
1.05 for Mangifera sylvatica in natural patch. Syzygium fruticosum showed the
highest IVI of 27.81 and Pinus caribaea showed the lowest (0.93) IVI in
plantation site. Most of the species are regenerating from the root suckers.
Protection measures shall help the regeneration and conserve the species
diversity in this Botanical Garden and Eco-park.
Germination percentage of Tamarindus indica L. seeds were observed with 4
pre-sowing treatments viz, i) soaked in cow urine for 24 hours, ii) soaked in
cow dung slurry for 24 hours, ii) soaked in tap water for 24 hours, iv) soaked in
hot water (100 0 C) for 30 seconds and followed by one hour in tap water and v)
control, in the nursery of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute, Chattogram.
Growth performances of seedlings were also determined in nursery and field
conditions. The germination test was conducted in nursery bed filled with soil
and decomposed cow dung at a ratio of 3:1. The growth performance of
seedlings were determined by transferring the young seedling after 30-45 days
of germination having 5-6 leaves from germination bed to polybags (15 cm ×
23 cm) filled with soil mixed with cow dung. Growth performance in the field
was observed by out planting one year old seedling at 1.5 m × 1.5 m, 2.0 m ×
2.0 m and 2.5 m × 2.5 m spacing. Germination percentage was significantly
(p<0.05) influenced by pre-sowing treatments and highest germination
percentage (86%) was obtained in cow urine treatment for 24 hours and lowest
(44%) was found in hot water treatment. Growth performance of seedlings was
also influenced by pre-sowing treatments in the nursery and highest vigor index
was observed in cow urine treatment (3988) and lowest in hot water treatment
(1629). Survival percentage of seedlings was highest 98% at 2.0 m × 2.0 m
spacing in the field and average height was more than 68 cm after 12 months of
out planting. Therefore, pre-sowing treatment of seed in cow-urine for 24 hours
suggested for nursery raising and one old year seedlings may be planted at 2.0
m × 2.0 m spacing in the field for successful plantation of the species.
Mangrove forests are the most productive coastal ecosystems of the tropical and sub-tropical areas (Hutchings and Sanger 1987). Mangroves play a crucial role in protecting the life and properties of the coastal communities from the cyclone and tidal surges. It provides habitats for many crustaceans, fishes and marine animals and deliver plant species that can produce both the timber and non-timber forest products that supports the livelihood of the coastal people (Tomlinson 1986; Hellier 1988; Pemadasa 1996; Kathiresan and Qasim 2005).
The paper deals with seed germination and seedlings growth performance of Calamus erectus in the nursery and field conditions. Clean seeds were sown in the seed bed filled with soil and decomposed cow dung at 3sl ratio. Seeds started germination after 52 days of sowing and completed within 76 days with maximum 78% germination. The survival performance of the seedlings was determined by transferring the seedlings from germination bed to the polybags from 10-80 days after germination with 10 days interval. Optimum survival (100%) was found significant (p<0.05) transferring after 30-40 days of germination from seedbed to polybag. Plantation in the field was made with one year old seedling at 2.0 m x 2.0 m spacing. Average seedlings survival was 94% after one year of plantation in the field. Mean seedling height was recorded 94.6 cm after two years of planting. Survival of seedlings and growth performance in the field were satisfactory when one year old seedlings were out-planted. Clean or decoated seeds for nursery raising and one year old seedlings were found suitable for successful plantation raising of Calamus erectus.
Propagation and conservation by vegetative means were attempted for better preservation of true-to-type genetic characteristics with higher yield planting materials of Acacia hybrid. In this regard, in vitro micro propagation of Acacia hybrid through shoot tip culture was initiated from outdoor mature plant on MS basal medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L BAP. The shoot tip cultures produced axillary shoot bud and used for multiple shoot production. The multiple shoot production rate was optimized on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of cytokinins. The highest number (20) of multiple shoots per culture was recorded on MS medium augmented with 2.0 mg/L BAP after 8 weeks of culture. The rooting was initiated on Yi MS medium enriched with different concentrations of IBA. The best rooting rate 90% was obtained on medium having 2.0 mg/L IBA after 28 days of culture. The well-developed rooted plantlets were transferred to in vivo condition for further growth and acclimatization. More than 95% of transplanted plantlets survived and grew well in polybag under natural condition.
Keora (Sonneratia apetala Buch.-Ham.) is one of the most important tree species for large scale plantations in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. The aim of this study was to generate a common volume equation and table for predicting the total and merchantable volume of planted and natural stand of S. apetala in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. A total of430 sample trees having different girth classes were sampled from the plantation stands of Chattogram, Noakhali, Bhola and Patuakhali. Twenty one (21) models were tested to derive best-fit models for the volume over bark and under bark. The best fit models were selected based on the highest value of R2 (co-efficient of determination), the lowest value of Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). The selected models were validated by Chi-square test of goodness of fit, Paired t-test, Percent Absolute Deviation (% AD) and 45 degree line test. The best-fit one-variable and two-variable basic models were and respectively. The best-fit models showed the highest efficiency in volume estimation compared to previous developed model in terms of Model Prediction Error (MPE), Model Efficiency (ME) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE).
The physical and mechanical properties of Jhau (Caswarma equisetifolia) grown in Chattogram
timber species were studied. The results indicate that jhau wood is fallen in very heavy and very
strong categories. The specific gravity and the volumetric shrinkage of Jhau timber is higher than
that of Chattogram teak which was recommended as standard for comparison of other timber
species in Bangladesh. The species can be used for house posts, agricultural implements, tool
handles and other household articles.
Kaptai National Park (KNP) is a protected area and represents a tropical semi-evergreen hill forest
and home of widest variety of biodiversity in the country. Floristic composition and regeneration
status of Kaptai National Park was assessed through stratified random sampling method.Atotal of
200 sample plots were taken of 20 m * 20 m in size for trees and 2m * 2 m in size for regeneration
data collection. Result of the study showed that there were 114 tree species belonging to 42
families and 77 regenerating species belonging to 35 families were recorded from the sample
plots. The highest tree stem and regenerating seedlings density was found 373 stem ha-’ and 11788
stem ha1 for Aporosa dioica. The study indicated that A. dioica is the most dominant tree species
and its natural regeneration was also abundant in Kaptai National Park. On the other hand,
Shannon-Wiener’s diversity index, Margalef’s diversity index, Simpson’s and Pielou’s diversity
index were recorded for all the tree species. The percentage distribution of seedlings was
maximum (56.56%) in 0-50 cm height range for all species. The number of seedlings reduced
proportionately with height growth indicating a reduction of recruitment to next growth stage.
Among the regenerating species, Grewia nervosa showed maximum (9.15%) seedling
recruitment. The study is made baseline information on the natural regeneration of tree species
diversity in the protected area which is helpful to future research work on plant population change,
conservation and sustainable management planning for Kaptai National Park.
A study was investigated to assess the preliminary growth performance of sal (Shorea robusta) in
mixture with its four associates e.g. chakua koroi (Albizia chinensis), motor koroi (Albizia
lucidor), shimul (Bombax ceiba), udal (Sterculia villosa) and other three site suitable species e.g.
neem (Azadirachta indica), teligaijan (Dipterocarpus turbinatus), dhakijam (Syzygium firmum) in
degraded sal forest in the northern region of Bangladesh. Two experiments were established in
June 2017 and June 2018 at Charkai Silviculture Research Station, Birampur, Dinajpur. Sal and
motor koroi, chakua koroi, neem and teli gaijan were planted in four treatments with four
replications in 2017. In 2018 sal and shimul, udal, dhakijam were planted in three treatments with
four replications. Randomized complete block design was followed. Plantation was established in
June-July. Each replication plot was 14 m x 14 m in size with 49 seedlings for mono-plantation
and 49 seedlings for mixed plantation in 483 ratio at 2 m x 2 m spacing. Single line alternate was
applied in mixed plot for raising plantation. In the experiment, preliminary data on the survival
rate, height (cm) and diameter (mm) of two-years-old and one-year-old seedlings of sal and
associate species from single and mixed plantation data were collected in July, 2019. Analysis of
data showed significant differences among sal and selected treatment species at 5% significant
level other than neem. These findings revealed that, as site suitable species, gaijan and dhakijam
showed the significant growth performance in mixture with sal as well as in mono-plantation.
Moreover, chakua koroi, motor koroi and udal can also be considered as good associates of this
suggested sal mixed plantation.
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Mature seeds of Uvaria cordata (Dunal) Alston were sown in polybag, nursery bed, propagator
house, and root trainer and investigated to find out the suitable media for raising seedlings for
conservation programs of species in Chittagong University Campus. The germination percentage,
germination index, germination value, shoot length, collar diameter, leaf number were assessed for
12 months old seedlings in the nursery. The germination percentage (92.31%), germination energy
(35.89%), and germination value (2.6493) were found the highest in T2 treatment (seed sown in
nursery bed) and significantly (p<0.05) different from other treatments except for To (polybag).
Maximum germination index (0.2713), germination uniformity (0.0039), and minimum
germination start time (30 days) observed in To (polybag), significantly (p< 0.05) different from
other treatments. After 12 months of germination, maximum shoot height (25.57 cm), collar
diameter (6.32 mm) and leaf number (16.40) revealed highest in T3 treatment. Seeds sown in
polybags were revealed comparatively better germination behavior than other treatments. Seeds
sown in root trainer were found suitable for vigorous seedlings production for Uvaria cordata.
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