A Half-yearly Peer Reviewed Journal of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute
This study was carried out to investigate the suitability of particleboards using uprooted tea plants (Camellia sinensis). Wastage and uprooted tea plants were collected from Neptune Tea Garden, Chattogram. The uprooted tea plants were cut into the clipper machine into small portions. Following that, they were processed into chips using a hammer mill machine, which was then dried in a batch oven to the suitable moisture content (5%). Single-layer particleboards were fabricated in a laboratory hot press machine with four different densities i.e. 650, 700, 750 and 800 kg/m3 using liquid urea formaldehyde as an adhesive. Finally the physical and mechanical properties of particleboards made from uprooted tea plants were studied. Characteristics of particleboards such as modulus of rupture (MOR), internal bond strength (IB), water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling (TS) were measured as a part of the experiment. Results show that particleboards made from uprooted tea plants of 800 kg/m3 density had good static bending MOR property (112.00 kg/cm2) and excellent IB strength pioperty (10.04 kg/cm2). The mean MOR value of the 800 kg/m3 density particleboards was above the Indian (IS 3087, 2005) and ANSI (A208.1-1999) standaid specifications but lower than the British (BS 5669-2:1989) standard specification. Moreover IB strength value was above the Indian, ANSI and British standaid specifications.
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.
An efficient in vitro protocol was established for large production of Aloe vera (Aloe indica Royle). The shoot tip explants, collected from the axenic cultures were used for the optimization of rapid shoot production on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mg/L) of BAP and Kn. The maximum shoot number were recorded as 14.33 per culture on medium added with MS + 1.0 mg/L BAP + 4% sucrose + 2.8 g/L gelrite after 30 days of culture. The shoots were rooted under in vitro and in vivo condition. About 90% shoots produced root on medium, Vi MS + 0.5 mg/L IBA+ 2% sugar after 30 days of culture. Simultaneously in vitro grown shoots were inoculated in the sand made propagation bed for ex vitro rooting under mist house condition. In the propagation bed 100% of the micro shoots survived and well rooted while taking a longer time (8 weeks) than that of in vitro rooting. The rooted seedlings were transferred in polybag containing garden soil, compost and sand with the proportion of 1:1:1 respectively. After hardening 99% seedlings survived in polybag and showed excellent growth.
The experiment was undertaken to investigate the retention of clnomated-copper-boron (CCB) preservatives in Pitali (Trewia nudiflora L.) wood applying soaking as well as diffusion method. The assessments were applied for 5, 7, 9 and 11 days for both the method. The retention of the preservatives were recorded 12.29 kg/m3, 14.97 kg/m3, 15.11 kg/m3 and 15.72 kg/m3 in Pitali wood where soaking method applied. Moreover, retention was found 11.43 kg/m3, 23.49 kg/m3, 24.14 kg/m3 and 25.38 kg/m3 in Pitali when diffusion method applied. In case of both the method, highest retention was recorded 15.72 kg/m3 and 25.38 kg/m3 in pitali wood after 11 days. Considering the Standard of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), i.e., 15.72 kg/m3 and 25.38 kg/m3 in Pitali can meet the suitability of the study. According to BDS code, the required retention of CCB is 8-16 kg/m3.
Functioning and productivity of forest ecosystems vastly dependents on the phenological characteristics of the tree species. The study was carried out from June 2017 to December 2018 to explore the phenological traits of 74recalcitrant seed bearing tree species of natural forests and plantations in Bangladesh. Data were collected from Chittagong University campus, Hathazari, Boalkhali, Hazarikhil, Dohazari, Rangamati, Kaptai, Ukhiya, Bandarban and Khagrachari through repeated field visits including review of published papers. The results showed that flowering, fruiting and seed maturity periods varied from species to species. The Seventy Four tree species belongs to 55 genera of 31 families. Maximum (39.19%) fruits were under the Berrycategory and minimum (1.35%) in Samara. The study revealed that floweringof maximum species occurred during March (54.05%) and fruiting inMay(54.05%). The peak period for collecting viable recalcitrant seeds was foundboth in May and June (36.49% respectively). The study will be a readyreference with information on flowering, fruit initiation and seed collection time of 74 recalcitrant seed bearing trees of Bangladesh. The findings of thestudy may be useful to the nursery owners, foresters, and private plant growers for collection of seeds in right time and establishment of the plantations. This paper may also be a supportive document to the policymakers in taking decision on raising seedlings of recalcitrant seed bearing trees for mass plantations towards the greening program of the country.
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.
Jarul (Lagerstroemia speciosa L. Pers., Family- Lythraceae) is a semi-deciduous medium to large-sized tree with fluted bole, small buttress and slightly flaky bark tropical flowering tree species. It is a common ornamental tree planted along roadsides, gardens and parks in Bangladesh. The main aim of this study is to develop mathematical models for total volume estimation of jarul. To meet the quest we have tested 21 models for volume equation by regression technique. The best-fitted model for studied species have been selected by highest value of R2 (coefficients of determination), the lowest value of Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). The selected models also validated by Chi-square test of goodness of fit, Paired t-test, Percent Absolute Deviation (%AD) and 45 degree line test. The study appearance that, for one way analyses the model ln (V) = a+b ln (D) and for two way analyses ln (V)= a+b ln (D)+c ln (H) appeared to the best model for estimating the standing tree volume of jarul. Conversion factors equation has been determined to estimate under bark volume and under bark volume of different top end girth of 30, 35, 40 and 45 centimeters from these models. The best-fit volume model showed the highest efficiency in volume estimation compared to previous developed volume model of this species in terms of Model Prediction Error (MPE), Model Efficiency (ME) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE).
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.
Dendrocalamus giganteus is one of the biggest and largest bamboo of Bangladesh which is locally known as bhudum bansh. The conventional
propagation methods of bamboos are not economically viable for large scale production due to their scarcity of seeds, low multiplication rate, labor intensive and high cost. In vitro propagation is becoming a promising tool for conserving and mass propagation of different bamboo species. In this study establishment of a reliable and reproducible protocol for the micro propagation of D. giganteus from axenic culture of in vitro germinated seedlings has been reported. Highest 83.33% seeds were germinated on MS (Murashige and Skooge 1962) medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L BAP (6-benzyl -amino-purine) after 7 days of culture. MS supplemented with different concentrations (0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 mg/L) of BAP and Kn (6-furfuralaminopurine) at evaluated either singly or in combinations for multiple shoot production. Maximum 16.33 numbers of young shoots per culture were recorded in medium supplemented with MS + 3.0 mg/L BAP + 1.0 mg/L Kn + 4% sugar + 2.75 g/L after 28 days of culture. Rooting ability of the shoots was assessed in half strength MS media supplemented with different concentrations (0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 mg/L) of IBA (Indole-3-butyric acid). The highest rooting percentage (66.67%) was achieved from the half strength MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L IBA 2 after weeks of culture. The rooted plantlets were successfully hardened in soil under greenhouse and nursery of Silviculture Genetics Division, Bangladesh Forest Research Institute. The survival percentage of tissue culture plantlets in nursery was found to be 90-95% after 60 days of acclimatization. The protocol developed through this study enable to produce large number of D. giganteus bamboo seedlings for mass propagation in a short period of time.
Aglaia cucullata (Roxb.) Pellegr. is a less salt-tolerant tree species of Sundarban mangrove ecosystem. The present study was conducted to investigate the influence of salinity on the survival and growth ofA. cucullata seedlings and nutrient distribution in seedling parts. All (100%) the seedlings of A. cucullata was found to survive at non-saline to slightly saline (0 to 5 PSU) condition and no seedlings were survived beyond 15 PSU salinity. Seedling growth in terms of biomass, height and collar diameter showed a significant (p<0.05) negative relationship with the salinity gradient. The highest concentration of nitrogen (42 to 25 mg/g) and potassium (34 to 30 mg/g) was found at leaves. While roots contained the highest phosphorous (4 to 3 mg/g) and sodium (34 to 13 mg/g). However, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium in different parts ofseedlings showed significant (p >< 0.05) negative correlations with the salinity gradient, while sodium showed a significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation. In conclusion, A. cucullata is very sensitive to salinity for survival, growth and nutrient distribution in their parts, and that the distribution of this species may be confined only in the less saline areas of Sundarban.
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.