Tree Species Of Bangladesh Research Articles

TREE-SPECIFIC EQUATIONS FOR ACCURATE CARBON ESTIMATION OF MAJOR FRUIT TREES IN BANGLADESH

Tropical fruit trees play an important role in mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. However, estimating their carbon sequestration potential requires tree-specific equations. This study aimed to develop such equations for five major fruit tree species in Bangladesh i.e. Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), Mango (Mangifera indica), Litchi (Litchi chinensis), Guava (Psidium guajava), and Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba). The study was conducted in four major ecosystems of Bangladesh namely, the Coastal ecosystem, Barind ecosystem, Terrace ecosystem, and Hill ecosystem. Vegetation data were randomly collected from each ecosystem. The equations were derived for Jackfruit W (lb) = 0.26 × D² × H (for diameter <11 inches) and W (lb) = 0.14 × D² × H (for diameter >11 inches); for Mango W (lb) = 0.26 × D² × H (for diameter <11 inches) and W (lb) = 0.13 × D² × H (for diameter >11 inches); for Litchi W (lb) = 0.23 × D² × H (for diameter <11 inches) and W (lb) = 0.13 × D² × H (for diameter >11 inches); for Guava W (lb) = 0.22 × D² × H (for diameter <11 inches), and for Jujube W (lb) = 0.22 × D² × H (for diameter <11 inches) and W (lb) = 0.12 × D² × H (for diameter >11 inches). The equations will help in developing effective carbon management and climate change mitigation strategies in tropical agroforestry systems, aiding researchers, land managers, and policymakers in understanding tree growth and carbon sequestration.

Carbon Stock Mapping Utilizing Accumulated Volume of Sequestrated Carbon at Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh

The potential to sequester carbon by tree species in tropical regions such as Bangladesh is promising in regard to carbon sequestration (CS) potentiality and reducing CO2 emissions. This study focuses on perennial tree species within 488 hectares of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) to assess the CS and to produce a C stock map for BAU. To compute the green and dry weight, weight of C and CO2 sequestration in the tree, a simplified methodology from the National Computational Science Institute of the Shodor Education Foundation was applied. A total of 27,543 trees comprising 424 species were taken into consideration, dividing the whole study area into four segments. B. ceiba and L. acidissima received the maximum and minimum green, dry, and C weight values. The topmost five carbon stock accumulating trees are M. longifolium (264,768 kg yr−1), S. mahagoni (257,290), A. lebbeck (118,310), M. indica (78,906), and T. grandis (51,744) whilst A. lebbeck is the major C stock accumulating tree within BAU. The top five CS potential are found for B. ceiba (181 kg), A. columnaris (139 kg), S. siamea (116 kg), F. elastica (113 kg), and F. religiosa (83 kg). To reveal the prospects of tree species in Bangladesh for emission reduction, the CS potential could be incorporated with the C trading scheme of the CDM (clean development mechanism) of the Kyoto Protocol.

Effect of Pre-sowing Treatments on Germination and Initial Growth of Terminalia citrina: A Medicinal Tree Species in Bangladesh

Terminalia citrina (Gaertn.) Roxb. ex. Fleming (local name-Hatiyal) is an important medicinal tree species naturally grown in Sal and hill forests of Bangladesh. An experiment was conducted at the Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh, to find out the effects of pre-sowing treatments on germination and vigor seedling production capability. Seeds were treated with six pre-sowing treatments, e.g. T0-seeds without any treatment (Control), T1-seeds soaking in normal water for 24 hours and sown in polybags (24º C), T2-seeds soaking in normal water for 48 hours and sown in polybags (24º C), T3-fruits sown in seedbed, T4-seeds soaking in hot water for 1 minute and sown in propagator house (80º C), and T5-seeds sown in propagator house. Highest germination percentage (95.83%), germination energy (37.5%), and germination value (1.0506) were found in T5 treatment (seed sown in propagator house) and significantly (p<0.05) different from other treatments. Collar diameter and leaf number were recorded after three and four months of seed germination. After 3 months of the last germination, maximum shoot height (46.6 cm) was revealed in T2 (seeds immersed in normal water for 48 hours and sown in polybags) treatment. Collar diameter (6.02 mm) and leaf number (12.6) were recorded highest in T2 treatment. The lowest diameter (4.23 mm) and leaf number (5.8) were found in T4 treatment (seeds soaking in hot water for 1 minute and sown in propagator house). Finally, seeds sown in the propagator house (sand media) revealed comparatively better germination behaviour but low growth performance. Seeds treated with normal water for 48 hours treatment revealed appropriate for vigour and quality seedlings production for T. citrina.

Allometric models for estimating aboveground biomass of selected homestead tree species in the plain land Narsingdi district of Bangladesh

Globally allometric equations based biomass estimation is a popular non-destructive method for estimating biomass and sequestered carbon. However, the destruction process is involved in the development of allometric models. This study developed allometric models of aboveground biomass (AGB) for five frequently planted homestead tree species in Bangladesh. The tree species were Aphanamixis polystachya, Ficus hispida, Mangifera indica, Melia azedarach, and Swietenia mahagoni. Fifteen individuals from each species were randomly selected and felled. The felled trees were cut into manageable sections and processed for calculation of fresh and dry biomass. The considered explanatory variables were diameter at breast height (DBH), total height (TH), DBH × TH, and DBH2 × TH. For each category of fresh and dry biomass of the five tree species, the study developed a total of 40 models. However, based on the goodness-of-fit statistics, the study primarily selected 17 models for fresh biomass and 22 models for dry biomass. Finally, the best-fit model for each species was selected based on the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and Residual Standard Error (RSE). The whole study shows that a combination of Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) at 1.3 m above the ground and the total height of the trees are the essential explanatory variable for most of the species. The relationship between the AGB and the selected dendrometric variables were significant at p < 0.05 levels. The allometric models developed by this study will be useful for better estimation of biomass and sequestered carbon in the plain land homestead forests of Bangladesh.

Allometric relationships of stand level carbon stocks to basal area, tree height and wood density of nine tree species in Bangladesh

Forest carbon stocks can be estimated using some easily measureable stand variables, such as basal area, mean or maximum tree height and wood density. Estimation of stand level carbon stocks per unit area of forests or woodlands is of great importance for forestry related mitigation options of future climate change such as United Nations-led “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+)” Program. Although tree level common biomass models are available, allometric models to predict stand level carbon stocks are not well represented. The study aims to develop allometric relationships of stand level carbon stocks to basal area, tree height and wood density of nine tree species found in plantations and natural patches in Bangladesh. The stand level allometric models were built based on extensive field data and published tree level biomass models using easily measurable stand variables, e.g. basal area, mean or maximum tree height and species wood density. The allometric models having three variables, such as stand basal area, mean or maximum tree height and wood density of tree species yield high precision estimates of stand level carbon stocks having less than 2% mean prediction errors (MPEs). Although the three-variable model having basal area, wood density and mean tree height was found appropriate for high precision estimates of stand level carbon stocks, the mean tree height can be replaced by stand maximum/dominant tree height depending on availability of spatial data. This study provides a multi-species stand level carbon stocks model as a useful alternative of individual level assessment for estimating the forest carbon stocks from easily measurable stand variables.

Pre-Sowing Treatments Accelerate Germination Percent for Restoration of Fourteen Threatened Tree Species in Bangladesh

Ecologically valuable native tree species are becoming threatened due to deforestation, forest fragmentation and preference of fast-growing exotics than the native ones in plantation. One of the main reasons for the preference of exotic species than the native ones is its higher rate of germination and rapid growth. The effect of different pre-sowing treatments was studied on fourteen threatened tree species of Bangladesh to find out the appropriate treatments for speed up germination rate and initial seedling growth. These species are ecologically valuable multipurpose indigenous trees of Bangladesh. Methanol extract of Castanopsis indica leaves could decrease the tumor Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma volume and weight. Lophopetalum wightianum is a globally threatened tree species. Hard coated seeds of Canarium resiniferum, Castanopsis indica, Protium serratum, Quercus acuminata and Vitex peduncularis were treated with sand paper, nicking, normal water, hot water, H2SO4 and HCl. Soft coated seeds of Brownlowia elata, Dichopsis polyantha, Firmiana colorata, Lophopetalum wightianum, Pterospermum acerifolium, Pterospermum semisagittatum, Pterygota alata, Schleichera oleosa and Sterculia villosa were sown in polybags, propagator house and nursery bed in normal, flat and 45o angle positions. Among all hard-coated seeds, Castanopsis indica showed significantly higher germination percentage (67%) after seeds treated with sandpaper in comparison to control (25%). Soft-coated seeds of Lophopetalum wightianum showed significantly higher germination percentage (90%) among all studied species when sown in propagator house, whereas in natural condition it provides only 26% germination rate. This paper will help to restore ecologically valuable threatened species.

Suitability of eight years kadam tree (Neolamarckia cadamba) in chemical pulping

Abstract Kadam is a fast growing tree species in Bangladesh. The main aim of this study is to observe the influence of tree age of kadam on chemical pulping. In this research 8, 18 and 30 years old kadam wood were pulped under different active alkali of 16, 18 and 19 % maintaining 25 % sulphidity and its effect on chemical composition, kappa number, pulp yield and delignification was investigated. The result shows that the content of extractive, lignin, alpha-cellulose and hemicellulose increase to different content along with the increase of tree age. There are also some differences of pulping properties with different tree age. Pulp yield of 8 years old kadam is higher than other ages of kadam trees. The hand sheets were made and the physical strength properties likely tear, tensile and burst were evaluated at two freeness level. The pulps produced from 8 year kadam tree obsessed reasonable strength properties. These could be used for producing moderate quality writing, printing and wrapping papers. Pulp wood of 8 years kadam is more suitable for pulping, compared to that 18 and 30 years.

Habitat distribution modelling to identify areas of high conservation value under climate change for Mangifera sylvatica Roxb. of Bangladesh

The impact of climate change on ecosystems, especially at the species level, is already being observed across the world. To assess potential future climate change effects on species, scientists often use species distribution modelling (SDM). The estimation of likely changes in the distribution of species under future climate conditions is a crucial first step towards the mitigation and management of future species losses or habitat shifts. Considering this, the aim of the present study is to predict the effect of climate change on a valuable threatened tree species, Mangifera sylvatica Roxb., of Bangladesh using Maximum Entropy. The current potential distribution as by the model suggests that around 5% of the study area is highly suitable wild mango habitat, with between 6% and 11% being moderately suitable. Under the RCP 4.5 scenario, the net decrease in suitable habitat is predicted to be 7% by 2070. Under the RCP 8.5 scenario, the model predicts that the total area suitable for mango will reduce by 12% by 2050, disappearing altogether by 2070. Therefore, urgent measures are required for the conservation of M. sylvatica in Bangladesh. The application of the species distribution model may provide policymakers and conservationists with a useful tool for the prediction of future distribution (at both local and regional scales); of poorly known species with high preservation concerns. The approach used in this study can provide a rapid assessment of the future conservation status of other important forest tree species in Bangladesh to improve our understanding of the vulnerability under changing climate.

Flowering, fruiting and seed maturity of common plantation tree species in Bangladesh

Flowering, fruiting and seed maturity are important aspects in the life span of a plant or plant community. These phenological characteristics have great significance in plantation program. A study was carried out from January, 2011 to March, 2012 with a view to explore these phenological affairs of 65 commercially important plantation tree species. The research was conducted covering wide area of hill forest and plain land Sal forests of Bangladesh through repeated field visits and review of literature. The results showed that flowering, fruiting and seed maturity period varied from species to species The findings of the study represent that most of the studied species bear flowers (32 33 species) and fruits (26 29 species) during March-May and April-June respectively. The flowering period varied from 3 to 5 months among the species. The results also showed that viable recalcitrant seeds of most of the species can be collected between May and June with, while for very few species seeds can be collected between September and October. The findings will be helpful to the nursery owners, small scale planters and forest managers to know the information of fruit setting and time of seed collection for raising nursery with desired plant species.

Fourteen Threatened Native Trees of Bangladesh: Which Pretreatment Generates Maximum Germination Percent?

Effect of different pre-sowing treatments on germination of fourteen threatened native tree species of Bangladesh was studied to find out the appropriate pre-sowing treatments to speed up germination rate of the required and desired species. Hard coated fruits and seeds of Canarium resiniferum, Castanopsis indica, Protium serratum, Quercus acuminata and Vitex peduncularis were treated with sand paper, nicking, cold water, hot water, H2SO4 and HCl. Seeds of Brownlowia elata, Dichopsis polyantha, Firmiana colorata, Lophopetalum fimbriatum, Pterospermum acerifolium, Pterospermum semisagittatum, Pterygota alata and Sterculia villosa were sown in polybags, propagator house and nursery bed in normal, flat and in 450 angle position. Hard fruits of Castanopsis indica sown in polybags without any treatment showed 25% germination but increased to 67% when fruits were treated with sand paper rubbing at the distal end. Seeds of Lophopetalum fimbriatum germinated only 26% when sown normally in polybags but when sown in propagator house it increased to 90%. Different species response differently with pre-sowing treatments but in general pre-sowing treatments increases the germination percent in all the species.

Towards the propagation of a critically endangered tree species Anisoptera scaphula

Anisoptera scaphula (Roxb.) Kurz, the tallest tree species in Bangladesh, is critically endangered worldwide due to its poor natural regeneration. This study describes the appropriate regeneration technique for A. scaphula through seed germination and clonal propagation by stem cutting. The fastest and highest germination percentage (65) was observed in dewinged seeds sown inverted orientation with half buried position (T10) followed by dewinged seeds (62.5%) sown horizontally in full buried (T7) and delayed germination with lowest percentage (15) was in control (T0). Optimum initial growth was also shown when seedlings were developed from the seeds under T7. Both winged and dewinged seeds sown vertically in full buried or half buried position produced curved seedlings. However, dewinged seeds sown in horizontal or inverted (winged side down) position produced otherwise i.e., straight seedlings. The highest rooting percentages (63%) and maximum number of root (4.8) per cutting were obtained when one node cuttings treated with 0.8% IBA solution followed by 0.4% IBA in turn affecting for better survival and growth of rooted cuttings in the nursery conditions.

Functional relationships of nodulation response and biomass production at nursery stages of two fast-growing, leguminousmultipurpose tree species in Bangladesh: Albizia saman and Leucaena leucocephala

This study was carried out to assess the relationship of the status of nodulation (i.e., the number of nodules, their shape and size) in root and biomass production of plant growth parameters (i.e., number of leaves, root and shoot lengths, root biomass and shoot biomass) in Albizia saman and Leucaena leucocephala. The assessment started 60 days after seeding. The study revealed that nodulation response and biomass production in both species showed significant differences over time (p < 0.05) in all variables except in the root-shoot ratio (oven-dry) of L. leucocephala. The study also showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in nodule formation and biomass production at the end of the study period between the two species except in the number of nodules and leaves and the green root-shoot ratio. There were strong positive correlations between nodule formation and biomass production, i.e., the number of nodules and the age of plants, the number of nodules and leaves, as well as the number of nodules and biomass (root biomass and shoot biomass) in both species. The results obtained using principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation coefficients of the different characteristics of nodulation and biomass production were similar in both species. The PCA showed that shoot biomass (shoot green weight and shoot oven-dry weight) is positively correlated with PC1 (with an eigenvalue of 7.50) and root length is positively correlated with PC2 (with an eigenvalue of 0.19) in the case of A. saman. In the case of L. leucocephala, the PCA revealed that root biomass (root green weight and root oven-dry weight), shoot biomass and shoot length are also positively correlated with PC1, while nodule formation and the number of leaves are positively correlated with PC2 (with an eigenvalue PC1 of 6.92 and PC2 of 0.49).

Chittagong University Campus: Rich in Forest Growing Stock of Valuable Timber Tree Species in Bangladesh

The campus of Chittagong University in Bangladesh is rich in forest ecosystem. The campus has large area with vast tract of land planted with valuable timber tree species. The present study identifies and discovers the potential growing stock of the plantations in the campus area. This Growing stock was measured in three parameters viz. volume, biomass and organic carbon stock. Study identified thirty three economically valuable forest tree species in the plantations of Chittagong University. Out of three growing stock parameters, volume of timber was found to be low in indigenous tree species in the plantation sites other than exotic species. This might be due to their slow growth rate and low density in the plantation sites. However, biomass and organic carbon stock of trees per hactre area showed that indigenous species gather and sequester more timber and carbon respectively than introduced species. Plantations of Chittagong University campus can acquire <TEX>$25.51m^3/ha$</TEX> volume of economically important tree species, where biomass and organic carbon stock is 222.33 tonne/ha and 107.48 tonne/ha respectively. This result shows a positive impression on the plantation site to be considered as good forest reserve.

Effects of variation in seed sources and pre-sowing treatments on seed germination of Tamarindus indica: a multi-purpose tree species in Bangladesh

We investigated the morphology and germination of Tamarindus indica seeds in order to discover the effects of variation in seed sources and pre-sowing treatments on germination. The experiment was carried out in the nursery of the Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Bangladesh. Seeds were collected from different but healthy trees from various locations in Bangladesh and subjected to four pre-sowing treatments, i.e., control, immersion in cold water (4°C for 24 h), immersion in hot water (80°C for 10 min) and scarification with sand paper. Seed germination was carried out in poly-bags with a mixture of topsoil and cow dung in the ratio of 3:1. The average length of the fresh seeds was 1.35 ± 0.26 cm, their width 1.07 ± 0.20 cm and thickness 0.69 ± 0.11 cm. The results revealed that pre-sowing treatments affected the germination process of seeds, which significantly increased the germination percentage with the cold water (81.67%) and scarification with sand paper (82.33%) treatments, compared with those in the control (58.33%) and hot water treatment (59.00%). In all treatments germination started on average within 5 to 7 days after the start of the treatments and were completed from 13 to 19 days later. The greatest success in germination (82.33%) was found in scarification with sand paper, followed with 81.67% in the cold water treatment. The results of analyses of variance (ANOVA) showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in germination closing dates, seed germination periods and germination percentages among the treatments but no significant difference among seed sources. However, the effect of the interaction between seed source variation and pre-treatment differed significantly in seed germination closing dates and germination percentages. We recommend cold water treatment (submersion of seed at a temperature of 4°C for a 24-h period) for seed germination of T. indica in rural Bangladesh.

Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth of Gmelina arborea in arsenic-contaminated soil

Arsenic (As) in the soils of South-Eastern Bangladesh is not only a threat for the health of millions of people but also a problem for plant growth due to its higher concentration in soil. Gmelina arborea Linn. is a promising fast growing tree species in Bangladesh which has also a potential to be planted in arsenic contaminated areas. This study assessed the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on the growth of G. arborea in arsenic amended soils at nursery stage. Before sowing seeds, soils were treated with four different concentrations (10 mg·kg−1, 25 mg·kg−1, 50 mg·kg−1, and 100 mg·kg−1) of Arsenic. Growth parameters (length of shoot and root, collar diameter, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root) of the plant, and mycorrhizal root colonization and spore population in the rhizosphere soil of G. arborea were recorded. Mycorrhizal seedlings showed better growth than non-mycorrhizal seedlings. Mycorrhizal seedlings planted in soil with 10-mg·kg−1 arsenic showed best performance in terms of growth, biomass and mycorrhizal colonization, compared to other treatments with higher concentration of arsenic. With increasing arsenic concentration, growth of seedlings, mycorrhizal infection rate and spore population, all decreased significantly (p<0.05). The mycorrhizal seedlings had as much as 40% higher increment in total growth and 2.4 times higher increment in biomass compared to non-mycorrhizal seedlings. The study clearly indicated that mycorrhizal inoculation could reduce the harmful effects of arsenic on the initial growth of G. arborea Linn. in degraded soil at nursery stage.

Effects of phosphorous fertilizer on seedlings growth and nodulation capabilities of some popular agroforestry tree species of Bangladesh

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of Phosphorous (P) fertilizer (i.e. TSP or triple super phosphate @ 80 kg/hm2) on seedling growth and nodulation capabilities of three potentially important agroforestry tree species (Acacia auriculiformis, Albizia lebbeck and Albizia procera) of Bangladesh. The study was conducted in nursery beds with six-month-old polybag seedlings of A. auriculiformis, A. lebbeck and A. procera. The effects of P fertilizer on seedling growth and nodulation were compared with that of the seedlings grown in control (i.e. unfertilized soil). The observations revealed that the seedling growth was enhanced significantly with the application of P fertilizer. The growth was found more pronounced in A. auriculiformis, whereas it was not apparent and shows depressed growth in case of A. lebbeck. The study also suggests that the nodulation in terms of nodule number and size was also increased significantly with the application of P fertilizer.

Nodulation Status and Nitrogenase Activity of Some Legume Tree Species in Bangladesh

Summary A study was conducted to observe the nodulation status and measure nitrogenase activity of some important legume tree species in nursery. Of the thirteen species surveyed eight belong to Mimoceae, two Papilionaceae and three Caesalpiniaceae. All the species in Mimo-ceae and Papilionaceae were found nodulated whereas all the members of Caesalpiniaceae were non-nodulated. Among nodulated seedlings, highest number of nodules per seedling was recorded in Leucaena leucocephala (82) followed by Acacia auriculiformis (55), Acacia mangium (52), Albizia lebbeck (46), A. procera (41), Dalbergia sissoo (32) and Acacia catechu (29). Nitrogenase activity was highest in L. leucocephla (4913.59 nmole C2H4 h−1) followed by Albizia procera (2080 nmole C2H4 h−1). Seedling height, nodule fresh weight, root fresh weight and nitrogenase activity (per nodule per h, per gram nodule fresh weight per h, per gram root fresh weight per h and per gram root dry weight per h) were also highest in L. leucocephala.