• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.281-289
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• 2020

The study was conducted to observe the effects of compost of faecal sludge (FSC) and food waste (FWC) on seed germination and initial growth performance of Acacia auriculiformis and Swietenia mahagoni seedlings at the nursery of Chittagong University, Bangladesh. Before sowing the seeds, different combinations of FSC and FWC were incorporated with nutrient-deficient natural forest soils. Seed germination and growth parameters of seedlings were recorded after two, three and four month of seed sowing. We observed that seed germination (%) and seedlings growth parameters varied significantly (p<0.05) in the soil added with FSC and FWC in comparison to control. The highest germination was observed 88.89% for A. auriculiformis in combination of soil and FSC at 3:1 and 92.59% for S. mahagoni where soil combined with FWC at 4:1. The seedling biomass and other growth parameters of A. auriculiformis and S. mahagoni was also observed with combinations of soil with FSC 3:1 and soil with FWC 4:1. Therefore, the study revealed that the compost of both FS and FW can be a good soil conditioner for the initial growth of forest seedlings and the proven combinations can help to grow quality seedlings in the nursery.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.95 no.5
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• pp.516-523
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• 2006

Marginal soils such as BRlS (Beach Ridges Interspersed with Swales) soils and ex-tin mining land make up approximately 0.5 million ha or about 2% of Malaysia's land area. In the coastal areas of the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia impoverished sandy BRIS dominates the landscape with most lying idle as there is no national management plan for their utilization. A field study was carried out to see whether mycorrhizal application had any effect on the growth of three exotic Acacia spp., i.e. Acacia auriculiformis, A. mangium and Acacia hybrid (A. auriculiformis ${\times}$ A. mangium) on BRIS soils. Two types of mycorrhizal inoculum, namely, a commercially available arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculum marketed as $MycoGold^{TM}$ and an indigenous ectomycorrhizal Tomentella sp. inoculum were tested. In the initial six months, height growth of all three tree species inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculum was significantly improved compared to the ectomycorrhizal inoculated and uninoculated control plants. The mycorrhizal effect was not evident thereafter and repeated application of the arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculum may be necessary for continued growth enhancement. Of the three species, A. mangium had the highest relative height growth rate over the 24 months on BRlS soils.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.22-32
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• 2017

An experiment was set to assess the effect of mixed plantings on initial growth and biomass yield of two common plantation tree species of Bangladesh namely Acacia auriculiformis (A) and Gmelina arborea (G). Study was carried out in the nursery bed of the Seed Research Laboratory and Nursery of Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Chittagong University (IFESCU), Bangladesh during February to November, 2015. The treatments consisted of two pure planting plots (100% A and 100% G) and five mixed planting plots (50%A: 50%G, 35%A: 65%G, 25%A: 75%G, 65%A: 35%G and 75%A: 25%G) of these two species. In nursery, seedlings were raised in a randomized blocks with four replicates of seven treatment plots. Periodic increments on height (cm), collar diameter (cm) and leaf/phyllode number of the seedlings was taken in every month and continued up to 10 months. The growth and biomass yield of seedlings were measured 10 months after the first seed was emerged. The effects of mixed plantation on growth and biomass were compared to that of seedlings grown in pure plantation. At the age of 10 months it was found that G. arborea seedlings were significantly tallest (240.13 cm) when planted with A. auriculiformis in a proportion of 25%A: 75%G, whereas A. auriculiformis were tallest in the pure 100% A plot, with an average mean height of 135.36 cm. Maximum collar diameter (1.38 cm) was recorded for G. arborea in the mixed plots 75%A: 25%G. Fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots of the seedlings were found significantly (p<0.05) highest in 50%A: 50%G plot for G. arborea. G. arborea also showed highest quality index when mixed with A. auriculiformis in a proportion of 50:50, with an average value of 8.96. The results revealed a positive correlation between seedling growth and various planting patterns.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.277-284
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• 2014

Status of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) colonization in seven tree species (Albizia saman, Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth., Albizia lebbeck, Chickrassia tabularis A. Juss., Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnn., Gmelina arborea (Roxb) DC, Swietenia macrophylla King.) collected from the hilly areas of Chittagong University (CU) was investigated. Roots and rhizosphere soil samples were collected in different seasons (pre-monsoon, monsoon and post monsoon). Percentage of AM colonization in root and number of spores/100 gm dry soil were assessed. The result of the investigation reveals that the intensity and percentage of AM colonization varied in different forest tree species in different seasons. In this study, maximum AM colonization and spore population were found in pre-monsoon and minimum were in monsoon season. The intensity of colonization was maximum in C. tabularis (74.43%) in pre-monsoon, A. lebbeck (69.45%) in monsoon and S. macrophylla (67.8%) in post monsoon seasons and minimum in A. auriculiformis (53.75%) during pre-monsoon, A. saman (24.4%) in monsoon and A. saman (19.36%) in post monsoon. The number of spores found per 100 g dry soil ranged between 164-376 during pre-monsoon, 27-310 during monsoon and 194-299 in post monsoon season. Out of six recognized genera of AM fungi, Glomus, Sclerocystis, Entrophospora, Scutellospora, Acaulospora and other unidentified spores were observed.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.212-219
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• 2012

An experiment was set to understand the seedlings growth and nodulation capabilities of five potentially important leguminous agroforestry tree species of Bangladesh in response to application of organic fertilizer. Study was carried out in nursery bed on the seedlings of Acacia mangium Willd., Acacia hybrid, Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth, Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. after sowing their seeds in polybags filled with different medium. Farmyard manure or decomposed cow dung was applied as the source of organic fertilizer with other potting media. The growth and nodulation performance of seedlings of the selected species were measured three moths after the first seed was emerged. The different soil: organic manure ratios' used during the experiment were, 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1. The effects of organic fertilizer on growth and nodulation were compared to that of seedlings grown in control. The results revealed a positive correlation between seedling growth and the different doses of organic fertilization (i.e. seedling growth was enhanced significantly with different treatments containing higher proportion of organic fertilizer). In few cases a negative effect was observed after applying higher levels of organic manure. It was also apparent that the nodulation in terms of nodule number and size was inhibited significantly by the application of organic fertilizer.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.75-83
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• 2012

An explanatory survey was conducted to assess preference and consumption pattern of horticultural species, their sources, location-wise planting preferences and diversity of these species in the rural homestead forest of the offshore island of Bangladesh. Assessment was done through multistage random sampling. Based on homestead size respondents were categorized into small (<0.05 ha), medium (0.05-0.25 ha) and large (>0.25 ha) and twenty from each category were selected randomly for the study. The study revealed that most of the farmer (75.5%) preferred to plant fruit tree species for future plantation followed by timber species (62.2%). But fruit-bearing plants were being gradually replaced by some exotic timber species such as Swietenia mahagoni, Acacia auriculiformis, Tectona grandis, Eucalyptus spp., etc. Diversity and abundance of fruit species was found higher in almost all homestead. A total of 41 horticultural species were identified and seven horticultural species among them were recognized as the most preferred ones in the study area. Consumption pattern was chiefly to meet the nutritional demand and to gain a quick monetary benefit. Average annual income from horticultural species was 7,183.33 Taka (US$102).

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.208-217
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• 2014

Leaf litter is the main and quick source of organic matter and nutrient to the soil compared to other parts of litter. This study focused on the nutrients (N, P and K) leaching from leaf litter of Melia azadirachta, Azadirachta indica, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Swietenia macrophylla, Mangifera indica, Zizyphus jujuba, Litchi chinensis, Albizia saman, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Acacia auriculiformis, Dalbergia sissoo and Khaya anthotheca as the common cropland agroforest tree species of Bangladesh. About (9 to 35) % of initial mass was lost, while Electric Conductivity (EC) and TDS (Total Dissolved Solid) of leaching water increased to (573 to 3,247) ${\mu}S/cm$ and (401 to 2,307) mg/l respectively after 192 hours of leaching process. Mass loss (%) of leaf litter, EC and TDS of leaching water showed significant (ANOVA, p<0.05) curvilinear relationship with leaching time. Initial concentration of NH4, PO4 and K in leaching water was found to increase significantly (p<0.05) up to 48/72 hours and then remained almost constant at later stages (48/72 to 192 hours). Mass loss of leaves; EC, TDS, $NH_4$, $PO_4$ and K in leaching water was varied also significantly (ANOVA, p<0.05) among the studied tree species. All the tree species showed similar pattern of nutrients (K>N>P) release during the leaching process. The highest $NH_4$ (4,097 ppm) and potassium (8,904 ppm) concentration was found for M. azadirachta while the highest $PO_4$ (1,331 ppm) concentration was found for E. camaldulensis in the leaching water. Among the studied tree species, M. azadirachta, A. indica, D. sissoo, E. camaldulensis and Z. jujuba was selected as the best tree species with respect to nutrient leaching.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.167-175
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• 2009

An exploratory study was conducted in Juri Forest Range-2, a proposed biodiversity conservation area of Bangladesh to explore the present growing stock of tree, regeneration condition and status of non-timber forest products (NTFPs). This conservation area contains both natural and artificial plantation was selected by using multistage random sampling method. For determination of plot size and sampling methods, the quadrate size ($10m{\times}10m$) for tree stock measurement, ($2m{\times}2m$) for regeneration survey, ($20m{\times}20m$) for NTFPs survey was determined. Regarding tree stock survey, 14 species under eight families were found where Tectona grandis shows average number of stem/ha was 624 and basal area/ha was (10.36 $m^2/ha$) followed by Acacia auriculiformis (0.2 $m^2/ha$ and 637 stem/ha), Gmelina arborea (0.2 $m^2/ha$ and 600 stem/ha). In regeneration survey, 14 species were found belonging to 9 families where Alstonia scholaris shows highest (3,750) seedling per hectare. Regarding NTFPs, bamboo and cane are the most common resources. In last ten years, the total timber output was 1,28,596.14 cubic feet and total amount of revenue was 4,64,434 US$. The vacant area is 1,335.5 acre which contains 14% of total area. If this vacant area is planted with suitable species and take proper steps for appropriate management of this species it will be a good biologically diversified area.