A Half-yearly Peer Reviewed Journal of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute
The goal of this research was to determine the physical (water absorption and thickness swelling) and mechanical (modulus of rupture, internal bond strength) properties of the experimental bamboo mat overlaid particleboard (MOPB) from the planer wastage of Borak (Bambusa balcooa} bamboo in which Mitinga (Bambusa tulda} bamboo was used as mat covering. All the bamboos were 50-60 feet tall and 3-4 years old. Before manufacturing of composite boards, bamboo mats were treated with an aqueous solution of 10% borax-boric acid (w/v) maintaining borax to boric acid ratio of 1:1 to extend their service life. Urea-formaldehyde glue was used for manufacturing the MOPBs as a resin binder. Five single-layer bamboo MOPBs measuring 500 mm x 500 nun x 12 mm were prepared using a laboratory hot press machine with a target density of 750 kg/m3. The results demonstrate tliat the MOPBs made from bamboo planer wastage with a density of 750 kg/m3 have a significant modulus of rupture (MOR) and internal bond (IB) strength value. The values of modulus of rupture of the MOPBs fulfilled both the Indian (IS 3087: 2005) and ANSI (A208.1-1999) standards, whereas internal bond strength values exceeded the Indian (IS 3087: 2005), ANSI (A208.1-1999) and British (BS 5669-2: 1989) standards specifications.
Artocarpus chanta Bmich, Ham. ex Wall. (Chapalish) is a large, deciduous indigenous forest tree species grown in natural forests. The seed of Chapalish is recalcitrant and loses viability within a few days of maturity that makes problem in storage of the seeds. Optimum storage conditions found useful for prolonging the viability of recalcitrant seeds through preventing water loss. The study was taken to identify the suitable storage methods in order to prolong the seed viability of A. chanta. Nmsery trial was conducted at the National Forest Seed Centre, Seed Orchard Division, Bangladesh Forest Research Institute to evaluate the effects of storage conditions and duration on germination of chapalish seeds. Seeds were stored in five different storage media, viz. i) open room (control), ii) sand, lii) chalk powder, iv) ash and v) sawdust with 8 different storage periods (days), viz. 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 days. The effects of storage media and storage periods (days) were assessed through seed germination and seedling growth performance. Viability and seedling growth performance were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by storage media, storage periods and their interactions. The results revealed that chalk powder media exhibited significantly higher germination percentage, root length, shoot length and vigor index. It also revealed that it can prolong the viability of Chapalish seeds up to 40 days with 60% germination and was statistically significant at 5% level. The findings may be useful to nursery practioners, foresters, and private plant growers for Chapalish seeds. The storage condition is convenient, low-cost and easily applicable to all nursery owners.
There is no abstract for full volume.
Salicylic acid (SA) produced by different plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is a key phytohoimone that regulates plant growth and defenses against pathogens. Pseudomonas aeruginosa UPMP3 and Burkholderia cepacia UPMB3 are the most important types of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria isolated from oil palm rhizosphere. The aim of this study was to detect and optimize SA production by the two PGPR in vitro. Production of SA was extracted, purified, detected, confirmed and optimized from these two rhizobacterial strains through Thin Layer Chromatography analyses (TLC). Different parameters i.e. casamino acid, pH, temperature, static and shaken condition were considered to optimize the SA production. Salicylic acid production by the two strains was confirmed by TLC analyses, in which the Rf (Retention factor) value was 0.74 respectively that were matched with the authentic SA. Both of these Rhizobacterial strains produced SA, with a maximum yield of 16.29 and 11.13 pg/ml in casamino acids at a concentration of 0.50%, 13.13 and 10.11 pg/ml under pH 7.0, 13.14 and 10.34 pg/ml under 30°C temperature, 12.95 and 9.95 pg/ml at 150 rpm in shaking condition for 3 days incubation period respectively. Therefore, the present study indicates that the rhizobacterial strains P aeruginosa UPMP3 and B. cepacia UPMB3 have merits to be beneficial bacteria for the plant protection inducing defense mechanism.
Bamboo is an abundant source of biomass that is underutilized despite having a chemical composition and fiber structure similar to wood. However, there is limited information about the chemical characterization of its culms for its utilization and processing. This paper investigated the main chemical compositions of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years old B. longispiculata (Talla bamboo) at their three specific positions (top, medium and bottom). All the tests were conducted following the standard TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry) methods. The water-soluble extract of the bamboo is in the range of 3.94-7.09%, 4.56-7.20% and 19.12-27.64% for cold water, hot water and caustic soda (1% NaOH) solubility respectively for 1-5 years old bamboo at their different ages and heights. The top culm position of 5 years old bamboo had the maximum holocellulose content (72.83%). The bottom part of 5 years old bamboo showed the highest (6.39%) benzene-ethanol extract. On an average 3 to 5 years old of bamboo showed the highest lignin content (30.86%) while the minimum lignin content (25.75%) was obseived for the top culm position of one-year-old bamboo. Thus, the chemical characterization in the bamboo species will facilitate the alternative use of their processing and utilization-related industry.
Strength properties are very important for paper grading; usually recycled fibre produce low grade paper. However, it is not easy to produce quality paper from recycled paper without addition of virgin pulp. In this study, the paper was made by mixing new pulps in different proportions with recycled pulp from used paper to explore their quality, and hence their various physical and mechanical properties were tested. A mixture of newsprint books and whiteprint books (1:1) was used to make recycled pulp through hydrapulper (a type of pulp-making machine). The reaction conditions were: temperature 50°C, duration 30 minutes, pulp consistency 10%, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) 0.8% (w/w), sodium silicate (Na9SiO3) 0.8% (w/w), detergent 0.15% (w/w) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) 0.8%(w/w). The resulting pulp was thoroughly washed with tap water and the adhesive and plastic substances were removed with the help of a screening machine. Tossa jute fibre was used to make new pulp because its bastfibre and pulp quality is excellent. The fibres were first to cut into 1.5-2.0 inches and then pulp was made using the neutral sulfite anthraquinone (NS-AQ) method with an alkaline rate of 20% at 175°C. The test papers of 8 cm diameter and 1.25 cm thickness were made by mixing the new pulp with the recycled pulp in seven proportions (90:10, 80: 20, 70: 30, 65:35, 60:40, 55:45 and 50:50).Then the physical and mechanical properties of the test papers such as freeness (rate of water removal from the pulp), tear index, tensile index, burst index, folding endurance were determined. Strength factor (Tear index x Tensile nidex) of produced paper are 406.29(90:10), 482.05(80:20), 588.15(70:30), 701.55(65:35), 757.26(60:40),745.53(55:45) and 820.83(50:50). The results showed that the quality of paper was increased with the increased ratio of jute fibre. It was also observed that “A” grade paper was obtained from a minimum 35% mixture of Jute pulp.
The experiment was undertaken to investigate the retention of 10% Chromated-Copper-Boron (CCB) solution (2:2:1) in Kala-koroi (Albizia lebbeck) (L.) Benth. wood applying soaking as well as diffusion method. The assessments were applied for 5, 7, 9 and 11 days for both the method. Retention was recorded 1.96 kg/m3,11.78 kg/m3,12.92 kg/m3and 13.61 kg/m3 iiij4. lebbeck wood where soaking method applied. Moreover, retention was found 5.22 kg/m3, 6.43 kg/m3, 7.32 kg/m3 and 12.36 kg/m3 in A lebbeck wood when diffusion method applied. In case of both methods the highest retention was recorded 13.61 kg/m3 and 12.36 kg/m3 for 11 days. Considering the Standard of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), i.e., 13.61 kg/m3 and 12.36 kg/m3 retention can meet the suitability of the study.
Heat treatment is often used for improve the dimensional stability of wood. In this study, the effect of heat treatment on physical and mechanical properties of Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) and Acacia hybrid (Mangium x Auriculiformis) wood were examined. Samples were exposed to temperature levels of 110°C, 130°C and 150°C for time spans ranging from 3, 6 and 9 hours. Treated samples had higher mechanical properties compared to control samples. Based on the findings, dimensional stability of all types of wood samples improved with heat treatment. It seems that properties of these wood evaluated were more pronounced with increasing temperature and time durations.
A study was conducted from July 2015 to June 2017 in Hazarikhil Wildlife Sanctuary (HWS) of Bangladesh to find out mammalian species diversity, population density and identification of major threats to the mammalian species of this sanctuary. Various methods were used including transect survey to detect diiunal mammals, and camera trap to identify nocturnal mammals. A total of 33 species of mammals were recorded which belongs to 20 families under 9 orders. Among the recorded species, 13 species of carnivores, 4 bats, 2 Primates, and 6 species of rodents constitute the major pail of mammalian community. According to IUCN (2015), among the recorded 33 mammalian species, 11 species were threatened (4 critically endangered, 5 endangered, 2 vulnerable), 15 species were least concerned and 7 species were nearly threatened. Hunting and poaching, human-wildlife conflict, use of poison for fishing, road inside the forest, forest fire, encroachment for gardening, non-insulated electric wire, grazing were identified as major threats to the mammals of this sanctuary.
Ecosystem exists at all scales. Ecosystem ranges from a grain of soil to the entire planet and include
forests, rivers, wetlands, grasslands, estuaries and coral reefs. The global economy has seen incredible
growth over recent decades; growth that has been fuelled by the erosion of the planet’s natural assets.
Ecosystem degradation is an environmental problem that diminishes the capacity of species to survive.
Ecological restoration has a growing role in policy aimed at reversing the widespread effects of
environmental degradation that includes activities to assist the recovery of ecosystem structure and
function; and the associated provision of goods and services. On 1st March, 2019, the United Nations
(UN) General Assembly (New York, USA) declared the decade of 2021-2030 the “UN Decade on
Ecosystem Restoration”. The purpose has been to recognize the need massively accelerate global
restoration of degraded ecosystems, and to fight the climate heating crisis and protect biodiversity on the
planet. The Sundarbans is the largest mangrove forest in the world; and it is known for its’ rich
biodiversity. Due to the increasein salinity, natural disasters, sea-level rise, illegal felling of trees and
over-exploitation of scanty available natural resources, the Sundarbans is losing its rich biodiversity.
Thus, this review aims in highlighting the restoration initiatives taken to reverse and conserve the Indian
Sundarbans ecosystem. Nurturing this vision, there are three main goals of the UN Decade’s strategy:
prevention of degradation, increasing multiple benefits and implementing the idea of ecosystem
restoration in education system. There could be a strong corporation between Indian and Bangladesh
Governments for long term, sustainable and holistic management of the entire Sundarbans region.
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.