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
Mangrove forests are the most productive coastal ecosystems of the tropical and sub-tropical areas (Hutchings and Sanger 1987). Mangroves play a crucial role in protecting the life and properties of the coastal communities from the cyclone and tidal surges. It provides habitats for many crustaceans, fishes and marine animals and deliver plant species that can produce both the timber and non-timber forest products that supports the livelihood of the coastal people (Tomlinson 1986; Hellier 1988; Pemadasa 1996; Kathiresan and Qasim 2005).
The study was undertaken to ascertain the growth performance of akashmoni
{Acacia auriculiformis) in the strip and block plantations ofBangladesh. Growth statisticslike
mean diameter at breast height (DBH), totalheight (Ht), volume over bark (Vob), basal area per
hectare per year (ba/ha/yr) and mean annual increment (MAI) were estimated using the
data collected from 6 to 10 years old plantations. The results showed that the growth
performance of the species was better in strip plantations compared to block plantations.
A financial analysis also favoured strip plantations over block plantations.
This paper gives an overview on the initial growth performance ofmahogany
(Swietenia macrophylla King) planted in Chittagong city areas of Bangladesh. A guide
equationwas derived with logarithm to the base e of dominant height as a dependent
variable and reciprocal power of age as an independent variable. The growth
characteristics were estimated by regression techniques based on statistical and
biological criteria. The paper presents the growth statistics ofstand diameter atbreast
height, stand mean height, stand dominant height and basal area per hectare. The
selected models could be used to estimate the growth parameters in the plantations
with 9.0 m to 21.0 m dominant height at the age of 12 years.
Pati-pata (Schumannianthus dichotoma)
belonging to the Family Marantaceae is one of
the important non – timber forest produces in
Bangladesh. It grows naturally in the swampy
areas as well as is cultivated in low-lying areas.
The stem of this shrub is used for the preparation
of mat, basket, bag and various novelty items
(Mohiuddin and Rashid 1988). The plant can be
grown using rhizome, branch cutting, rooted
cutting and seedling (Merry et al. 1997, Siddiqi et
al. 1998). However, the best performance was
obtained from planting rhizomes. It has been
reported that cultivation of pati-pata is more
profitable than that of paddy (Mohiuddin and
Rashid 1988). Thus fertilizer treatment was given
one year after planting before the monsoon to
observe its effect on the profitable enhancement in
yield. The treatment combinations of fertilizer
doses were as follows :
Tj = NPK each at 270 gm/plot
T, = NPK each at 540 gm/plot
T, = NPK each at 710 gm/plot
T() = No fertilizer (control)
The experiment was laid out in a
Randomized CompleteBlockDesign (RCBD) with
four replications at Bangladesh Forest Research
Institute campus, Chittagong. So, there were 16
plots each with a size of 4.5 m x 2 m. The plots
The Sundarbans of Bangladesh, facing the Bay ofBengal, is the largestsingle tract
mangrove forest of the world. This natural forest has three watersalinity zonessuch as
less saline zone, moderate saline zone and strong saline zone. Golpata (Nypafruticans),
a palm species, grows naturally in patches along the stable banks of the rivers in larger
proportionsin the lesssaline zone of the Sundarbans. Thisspecies has been widely used
by the people of the entire south-western part of the country for thatching dwelling
houses. Experimental plantations of this species were established in the newly
accreted lands along the banks of the rivers in three salinity zones of the Sundarbans to
study itssurvival and growth. Fourmonths old seedlingsraised in the nurserybed were
used. Data on survival and plant growth (average leaf length and leaf number) were
collected after every three months for a period of 30 months. The highest survival
(65.35%) and plant growth (leaf length 290.67 cm and leaf number 6.80) were observed
in the less saline zone and the lowest survival (11.54%) and plant growth (leaf length
74.01 cm and leaf number 4.62) in the strong saline zone. The study shows that though
golpata can be grown successfully in the lesssaline and moderate saline zones, it grows
betterin the lesssaline zone of the Sundarbans. However, golpata shouldnotbe planted
in an area where heavy siltation occurs.
It is generally believed that the seedling of palmyra palm (Borassus
flabellifer Linn.) is difficult to transplant and hence requires directsowing. This
hinders mass propagation and plantation of this species. Its propagation is
mostly through natural means, and hence palm trees are found to grow
scatteredly. At present, palmyra palmhasbeen recognized as a priority species
for raising plantations in the coastal embankment. This study has been undertaken to develop technique for raising palm seedlings. Investigations suggest
that the bed mixture comprising 50% soil, 25% sawdust, 20% cowdung and 5%
ash was the best, where tire average elongation of germtubes and coleorhiza/
root-sheath was 37.3 cm by 7 weeks, the mixture depth of 38.1 cm wassufficient
to accommodate theircumulative growth. These elongated germtubes could be
removed from the temporary bed after 7 weeks of sowing seeds, when the tip
of emergent coleoptile is visible on the surface of the bed. Rootlets were also
found to occur in the root-sheath of all tire germtubes by that time. These
germtubes were then detached from theirseeds and transplanted immediately
into suitable polybags of22.9 cm x 30.5 cmsize. All the transplantated seedlings
survived and the emerging leaflets of these seedlings turned to green within a
week after transplantion. The mortality of early and late trasplanted seedlings
was 11% and 25% respectively. Germtubes were found to elongate up to 82.6%
within 4 weeks after sowing seeds. On the other hand, more than 50% elongation of the coleoptile was observed during the 5-7th weeks after sowing
Provenances of mangium (Acacia mangium Willd.) from Queensland (Australia),
Papua New Guinea and Indonesia were planted under three site conditions
of Ilocos Norte, Masbate and Bukidnon regions in the Philippines which are
edaphically, climatically and topographically different from each other.
Highly significant (P<0.01) variations in diameter, height and merchantable
height growth performances of 18 provenances at Ilocos Norte, 12 provenances at
Masbate and 12 provenances at Bukidnon at5.5 years after planting were observed.
The best growth was observed in Bukidnon site, and the provenance 13240
(Ellerbeck Rd. Qld.) of the species exhibited the best growth performance at that site
which could be selected for pilot plantation trials in the Philippines.
The paper presents the method of raising seedlings of Calamus viminalis var.
fasciculatus and their performance after planting out. Germination per cent of C. viminalis
was 24.37. Sunlight was pre-requisite for the germination. Optimum time for seedling
pricking from the seed bed to the polybag was 90 days after germination, and in this 100%
survival could be obtained. A survival of 98% was observed in the wildings when they
were transferred from the field to the polybags at an average height of 8.5 cm. One year
old wildings were significantly lower in height in the nursery than that of one year old
polybag-raised seedlings. Survival of planted seedlings at Hinguli, Chittagong in the
field was 77.5% after one year. Average height increment of the seedlings was 25.5 cm
with usually 4-5 leaves one year following planting under a teak plantation.
Hybridization of Acacia auriculiformis and
Acacia mangium occurs naturally because both are
pollen-pistil compatible, found within the same
habitat with overlapping flowering time and share
common pollinators (Zakaria 1991). Natural hybrids
of these two species are reported in Sabah
(Tham 1976) and Papua New Guinea (Turnbull
et al. 1986). The tree form of the hybrid of these two
species is satisfactory because of better stem
straightness, self-pruning stability, better stem
circularity and more disease resistance (FRIM
1992). Species/provenance trials of A auriculiformis
and A. mangium were established at Charkai,
Dinajpur, Bangladesh in 1983,1985 and 1987 at a
spacing of 1.83 m x 1.83 m covering an area of 1 ha.
The seeds were imported from Australia for these
trial plantations. Eight hybrid trees of these two
fast growing tree species were observed in the
plantation raised in 1983. The hybrids found sporadically
distributed in the plantations were identified
by the light colour of their bark. Banik et al.
(1995) also reported some hybrids of these two
species at Harbang forest areas of Chittagong
Forest Division. Some phenological information
and growth performance of these hybrids found
at Charkai are reported in this paper.
The phenological observations of the hybrids
were made very carefully every day for a period of
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