A Half-yearly Peer Reviewed Journal of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute
This paper presents information about growth, harvesting ages and yields for jalibet (Calamus tenuis), kerakbet (C. viminalis) and gollabet (Dacmonorops jenkinsiana) raised in semi-evergreen/deciduous forests of Bangladesh. Clump expansion with increasing age was highest for C. tenuis and C. viminalis in Chittagong, and for D. jenkinsiana in Sylhet. Mean annual height increments ofmain shoot of a clump of C. tenuis,
C. viminalis and D. jenkinsiana were 0.94 + 0.08,1.11+0.09 and 1.45±0.11 m respectively. Highest number of shoots per clump was noticed for C. tenuis in Sylhet followed by C. viminalis and D. jenkinsiana in Chittagong. Mean diameters of the main shoot of these species were 1.6 ± 0.1, 2.14 + 0.1 and 3.01 ± 0.13 cm respectively. Wildings were found under the clumps with varying numbers. The exploitable ages for C. tenuis, C. viminalis and D. jenkinsiana appeared to be 6-8, 9-11 and 10-12 years respectively. Further information and studies are needed to determine the harvesting cycle and suggest a management plan for rattans.