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
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.
This experiment was conducted to evaluate the suitability of medium density fiberboard (MDF) made from hybrid Acacia wood fiber as raw material and urea formaldehyde (UF) as resin binder. Single layer fiberboards were fabricated by five different densities e.g. 700, 725, 750, 775 and 800 kg/m3 using hybrid Acacia wood fiber. Mechanical and physical properties including modulus of rupture (MOR), internal bond strength (IB), thickness swelling (TS) and water absorption (WA) of the fiberboards were tested according to the Indian Standard (IS 2380:1977). The results of the physical and mechanical properties of the fiber boards were compared with Indian Standard (I 12406: 2003), Euro Standard (D-6300, 1990) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) MDF standard (A208.2, 1994). The results showed that the 800 kg/m3 density fiberboards made from hybrid Acacia wood had the best MOR value and maximum IB strength characteristics among the others. For 800 kg/m3 density fiberboards the MOR value was above the Indian & ANSI Standard but lower than the Euro Standard; and the IB strength value was above the Indian, Euro & ANSI Standard specifications. Water absorption and thickness swelling properties were used to determine the water resistance of the fiberboards.
The paper deals with seed germination behavior and seedling growth performance of Calamus latifolius Roxb; with 5 pre-sowing treatments in the nursery and field conditions. The pre-treatments of seeds were i) seeds soaked in tap water for 24 hours, ii) soaked in tap water for 48 hours iii) soaked in 20% H2SO4 for 10 minutes iv) scarification with wire net and v) control (Seeds were sown without any treatment). Pre-treated seeds were sown in the seed bed filled with soil and decomposed cow dung at 3:1 ratio. The growth performance of the seedlings were determined by transferring 30-35 days old seedlings (having 2-3 leaves) from germination bed to the polybags filled with soil and decomposed cow dung media. Plantation in the field was made with one year old seedling. Germination percentage significantly (p ≤ 0.05) enhanced with pre-sowing treatments and maximum germination percentage (70) was recorded in seed scarified by wire net and the lowest (44%) was in control. Growth performance was also influenced by pre-sowing treatments in the nursery and highest (1008) vigor index was found in seed scarified by wire net and lowest (475) in control. Seedlings survival percentage was over 92% after one year of plantation in the field. Average height was recorded 123.1 cm after two years of planting. Thus, seeds scarified by wire net can be suggested for nursery raising and one-year old seedlings may be out planted at 2m ×2m spacing for successful plantations of the species.
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.
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.
In this study, six Trichoderma strains viz. Trichoderma virens IMI-392430, T. pseudokoningii IMI-392431, T. harzianum IMI-392432, T.
harzianum IMI-392433, T. harzianum IMI-392434 and T. viride FPDTV and one commercial formulation of Trichoderma (Bio derma) were evaluated alone and in combination with F. solani, to assay their efficacy in suppressing root rot disease and promoting growth and yield ofW. somnifera. A pot trial experiment was conducted at the forest protection division nursery, Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI), Chattogram, Bangladesh from July 2014 to December 2014. Application of T. harzianum IMI-392433 alone (T12) or in combination with F solani (T5) significantly (p = 0.05) decreased the area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) (300.9 and 52.4) compared to F. solani (Tl) treatment. The highest seed germination rate (90.4 %) and the highest growth and yield were also recorded in the same treatment; while F. solani treatment (Tl) alone significantly decreased these values. The correlation matrix showed that root yield of W. somnifera had significant and positive correlation with plant height (r = 0.734**), number of leaf (r = 0.725 **), number of primary branch (r = 0.863 **), number of secondary branch (r = 0.878**), fresh shoot weight (r = 0.749**), dry shoot weight (r = 0.708**), number of flower at maximum flowering time (r = 0.734**), number of pod (r = 0.774**), number of seed (r = 0.642**), hundred seeds weight (r = 0.688**), seed yield/plant (r =
0.817**), root length (r = 0.711**), root diameter (r = 0.970**) and fresh root weight (r = 0.819**). The significant and negative correlation (r = – 0.619 **) was observed with the root yield/plant and area under disease progress curve (AUDPC). These results revealed that T. harzianum IMI-392433 has growth promoting effects and this strain may be used as an effective biocontrol agent to control root rot disease of W. somnifera.
Wood is widely used in all over the world because of its excellent physical, mechanical and finishing properties. However, the machining and
handtool properties of mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) wood were ascertained for the characterization of working properties in this study. The effects of machining properties, such as- planing, shaping, boring, mortising and turning were tested on this wood species along with handtool test. The evaluation of each test was based on frequency of occurrence of defect free sample. The applications of two types of polishing materials, namely: shellac and carpa were used for the purpose of finishing property evaluation. Each sample was visually observed and classified based on five quality grades. This wood showed an excellent working performance in all properties except handtool property in planing test.
Selecting exceptionally Heritiera fames seedlings from nursery is a promising and low-cost means of tree improvement, according to the study. From 2010 to 2016, 18,000 outstanding seedlings were chosen from nursery in the Sundarban and out planted. The final assessment as to efficiency of seedlings selection from selected trees of top-dying affected and non-affected (Healthy) areas awaits comparison of progeny from chosen selects with those from similarly chosen controls to see how much of the phenotypic gain is truly genetic. This investigation involved more selections and plantations than had not been tried for H. fomes in the past. The next step in evaluating nursery selection is to compare progeny from selects with those of controls to see how much of the phenotypic gain is truly genetic. The great promise of Ls, L4, L12, Lie, Lso, L35 & L36 line of H. fomes trees has been achieved with expected superior genetic material of unknown origin. This is reflected in the high variability observed in growth amongst individuals. Using advanced propagation techniques, these can be cloned and potentially provide the genetic base for a highly successful clonal forestry program for creation of top dying resistant H. fomes trees.
A rapid micro-propagation protocol was established for Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr., an important medicinal plant for the treatment of
various ailments such as diabetes, hypertension and urinary tract infection. The shoot tips of three months old plants were used as the explants for the initiation of in vitro culture in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with Img/L BAP. Optimization of rapid proliferation of shoots was carried out by culturing the in vitro derived shoots onto MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of BAP and KIN (0.0, 0.5, 1.0,1.5, 2.0 mg/L). Maximum shoot proliferations an average of 21.33 shoots were produced per culture from each shoot in 1.0 mg/L BAP. The effect of different strength of sugar (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 gm/L) and sub culturing on culture medium were observed for optimization of shoot producing. The micro-shoots produced normal roots within two weeks of culture on the basic % MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L IBA. The rooted plantlets of G. procumbens were transferred in soil and kept under green house for hardening with a temperature of 25-29°C and 90% relative humidity for two weeks. About 99% of the plantlets survived after two weeks of transferring into polybag with soil:cowdung (3:1) in the nursery bed. The tissue culture plants showed normal growth and development in poly bag within 6-8 weeks. The regenerated shoots were macro proliferated and produced a large number of new plants in the nursery within a short period of time.
A nursery trial was conducted at National Forest Seed Centre, Seed Orchard Division, Bangladesh Forest Research Institute, Chittagong to evaluate the effect of storage condition and duration on germination of Agar seed. Agar seed were stored at five different storage condition viz. open air (control), sand, chalk powder, normal refrigerator (0-40C) and saw dust for different storage durations viz. 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33 and 36 days. Storage condition, duration and their interaction were found significant on germination of Agar seed. Refrigerator (0~40C) showed the highest germination (82%) at 3 days duration. It also prolonged the seed viability (12%) up to 33 days. Such technique of maintaining viability of Agar seed may be useful for raising seedlings and plantations at large scale.
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