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
Survival, establishment and early growth of six major and economically important
mangrove plant species, namely sundri (Heritiera fames), gewa (Excoecaria agallocha),
goran (Ceriops decandra), passur (Xylocarpus mekongensis), kankra (Bruguiera sp.) and
baen (Aviccnnia officinalis) were studied in two salinity zones (moderate and strong
saline) of the Sundarbans mangrove forests of Bangladesh at the age of five years after
planting. The objective of the study was to enrich the vacant and poorly regenerated
areas of the Sundarbans for its sustainable production and management.
The percentages of planted seedling’s survival and establishment by fencing at
moderate saline zone were 84.9, 74.3, 63.5, 60.6, 40.6 and 38.9 for gewa, goran, sundri,
kankra, passur and baen respectively. The average height growths of these species were
1.94 m, 1.04 m, 0.90 m, 1.18 m, 1.71 m and 2.90 m respectively. Except gewa and goran
all the seedlings of other four species died due to deer browsing when planted in
unfenced condition.
Teak (Tectona grandis Linn, f) is one of the most
well-known versatile timbers in the world. Its
large scale cultivation is much hampered by various
factors. Among them poor germination of
drupes (fruit with seed) is a major constraint. The
causes of poor germination are many such as
emptiness, prolonged and protracted germination,
season and method of seed collection, age of
mother tree and innate problems prevailing in the
seed itself (Dharmalingam 1995). Several informations
exist on method and season of seed collection
of many tree species. But such informations
are scanty in teak. Against this backdrop, a study
was made to find out the influence of collection
methods on germination and seedling attributes
of teak.
Teli garjan (Dipterocarpus turbinatus), dhakijam (Sygyzium grande) and teak (Tectona
grandis) are the three most important timber species included in the plantation
programme in Bangladesh. Sometimes, trees are being removed without recording
the diameter at breast height (dbh) and total height. As such it is not possible to
estimate the volumes of the removed trees. But, it is necessary to have an estimate of
volumes of the removed trees for different purposes. The stump diameters can be
measured while the stumps are still there after removal of the trees. Therefore, stump
diameter and dbh relationships have been established in the present paper so that we
can estimate the dbh of removed trees first followed by estimation of the volumes
using the.dbh volume relationships. It was identified that some mistakes were done
in converting the previously selected imperial volume equations to metric units for the
species teli garjan and dhakijam. These equations and tables have also been corrected.
The shoots of ten bamboo species of Bangladesh have been tested in respect to taste, flavour, texture and colour of the edible parts. The shoot colour and shape of each species were described. The weight of outer cover (sheaths) and internal edible portions of shoots are more or less same in most the ten bamboo species. Only three species, Bambusa polymorpha, Melocantia baccifera and Dendrocalaimis longispathns were found to produce shoots with somewhat slight bitter to sweet taste and pleasant flavour a t raw state. Shoots of the remaining seven species B. banibos, B. Longispicidata, B.vidgaris, B. tidda, D. gigaiiteus, Schizostachyum dullooa, Thyrsostachys oliveri possessed varying degree of bitterness or astringency. Fairly acceptable taste and easy availability of shoots of M. baccifera made the species most common bamboo vegetable for the tribal people of Bangladesh.
In all the species shoots production both by number and weight per clump was found to increase in the second and third year, if continuously harvested. However, the shoot production decreased per clump after third to fifth year if the harvesting continued, and after sixth year of continuous harvest some species even stopped shoot production. Continuous harvesting of bamboo shoots has been discouraged and selective harvesting in every year has been advised.
In November 1989 two clumps of Thyrsostachys regia (Munro) Bennet (T. siamensis Kurz ex Gamble) flowered in Bangladesh Forest Research Institute Bambusetum, Chittagong. Flowering was of gregarious type and the clumps died after flowering. Floral buds bloomed after 4-5 weeks of their initiation. There are two florets in a spikelet and the flowers are protandrous. Anthesis generally occurred in the morning and occasionally in the afternoon. Anther dehiscence started at noon and continued for the whole afternoon. When in full bloom two bee species (Apis dorsata and an unidentified one) were found to visit the flowers. Fruits matured after 60-70 days of blooming. Squirrels and three bird species, Lonchura punctulata, L. striata andL. malabarica) were found to feed on matured seeds.
The beetle, Podontia quatuordecinipunctata Linn. (Chrysomelidae : Coleoptera) is a major defoliator of amra (Spondias pinnata (L. f.) Kurz and S. dulcis Forst, f.) in Bangladesh. Besides Spondias spp., the pest also attacks Ficus elastica Roxb. and Duabanga grandiflora (Roxb. ex DC) Walp. Both the adult and the larva cause partial or complete defoliation affecting the growth of the plant seriously. The peak infestation period occurred during August and September. Younger trees are most heavily attacked. The incidence is more pronounced in the hilly areas than in the plains. The pest was controlled by foliar application of cypermethrin (Ripcord 10 EC) @ 12 ml/10 litres of water.
Gamar defoliator, Calopepla leayana Latr. (Chrysomelidae : Coleoptera) is a major defoliator of gamar (Gnielina arborea Roxb.) in Bangladesh. Both the larva and the adult feed on the leaves making irregular holes on them. The distribution, description and biology of various developmental stages of the pest are provided. The pest has three generations in a year, hibernating as an adult from November to May. A common pupal parasite, Brachymeria sp. and an egg parasite, Tetrasticlnis sp. were recorded. Biological, chemical, physical and mechanical method for the control of the pest have been discussed.
Village forests of Bangladesh cover an area of 0.27 million ha while state owned forests cover 2.25 million ha. Village forests, mostly privately owned are more productive than the government forests, and supply about 85 per cent of timber requirements of the country.
Both indigenous and exotic trees are the major components of the village forests in Bangladesh. They are represented by about 183 species belonging to 136 genera under 48 families. Floristic elements of this flora consist mostly of native, African and New World taxa. About 50 species are exotics and many of them have been naturalized. Exotics are still being introduced.
Most of the village trees in Bangladesh have multiple uses. About 40 are fruit trees, and others produce timbers, fuel woods, fodders, tannins, pharmaceutical products, etc.
Other than species diversity, genetic variations also occur in these village forests. Homestead tree production system in villages is a mode of species and genetic conservation for a good number of trees.
This paper reports the infestation of teak canker grub, Dihammus cervinus Hope (Cerambycidae : Coleoptera) in teak plantations of Bangladesh. It deals with the nature and extent of damage, distribution, life history, number of generation and host plants of the pest and its control measures. The pest affected on an average 14% of the saplings. The attack was found mainly during the age of 2 – 6 years with a peak in the third year. The pest was more prevalent in Chittagong Hill Tracts (North and South) than in Chittagong or Cox’s Bazar Forest Divisions. An infested sapling often contained one canker, but it might have up to four cankers. A canker usually contained one larva but it might have 2-3 larvae. Most of the cankers were found at or near the base of the saplings. About 10% of the infested saplings were found broken at the cankered site. As regards to control measures, application of carbofuran 5G @ 6 gms/sapling at thebase and subsequently watered gave nearly 70% mortality
of the larvae.
The growth and biomass production of twelve provenances of Eucalyptus brassiana were studied at the degenerated sal forest areas of Madhupur, Tangail. The trial assessed at the age of seven year showed poor survival (18 – 33%). The provenances also showed both height and diameter growth differences but the differences were not significant. Considering the above ground biomass estimation, Provenance No. 13411, Weipa, Queens land showed the highest productions both for mean trees (44.4 kg/tree) and per hectare basis (52.6 t/ha) followed by Provenance No. 13396 E. Morehead, PNG.
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