A Half-yearly Peer Reviewed Journal of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute
Plantation Trial Unit Division of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (BFRI) carried out a research in the central coastal belt (Noakhali area) of Bangladesh with Areca catechu L., Cocos nucifera L., Phoenix sylvestris Roxb., and Borassus flabellifer L.from 2019 to 2021 in order to assess the growth performance of these four native palm species. Seedlings of these species, except C. nucifera, were raised in polybags, and 10—12-months-old seedlings were planted in the field in June of every year. The study was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replications and the spacing was 1.82 m for A. catechu and 5.48 m for other three species. A. catechu had the highest survivability (96.67 and 70.33%) after 0.5 and 2.5 years of plantation, and C. nucifera had the highest (86.67%) survivability after 1.5 years of plantation. On the other hand, B. flabellifer had the lowest survivability (77.78%) after 0.5 years of plantation and P. sylvestris had the lowest (58.87 and 40.07%) after 1.5 years and 2.5 years. After 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5 years of plantation, C. nucifera had the highest (1.13, 1.67, and 6.62 m) and B. flabellifer had the lowest (0.51, 0.75, and 1.08 m) height. After 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5 years of plantation, the highest numbers of new fonds were found for C. nucifera (3.51 nos.), A. catechu (3.69 nos.), and P. sylvestris (4.67 nos.), respectively. But the lowest numbers (2.04, 3.34, and 3.33 nos.) of new fonds were found for B. flabellifer. This result will be helpful for raising large-scale plantations with these four palm species in the Noakhali coastal belt areas of Bangladesh.