Earticle

Agroforestry combines agriculture and forestry technologies to create more integrated, diverse, productive, profitable, healthy and sustainable land-use systems. This study was performed in three union of Chhagalnaiya Upazila (Sub-district; administrative entity) under Feni district, Southern Bangladesh with a view to identify the tree resources, utilization pattern and economic return of major fruit and timber tree species. Information collected from a total of 45 households ranging from marginal, small, medium and large categories. Number of plant species increased with the increase of homestead area. A total of 39 plant species were recorded from the homegarden, of which 23 were fruit and 16 were timber tree species. Considerable number of vegetables was also planted under the shade of the homestead trees. The investment analysis showed that average benefit-cost ratios were greater than one, net present values were positive and internal rate of returns were more than 10%. Long term investment on horticulture and timber tree species is highly profitable if species like Swietenia mahagoni and Tectona grandis, Spondias pinnata, Syzygium cumini and Areca catechu were planted.

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 25.51 m3/ha 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.

This study aimed to develop a mixed plantation strategy, with Sal (Shorea robusta) as the primary tree species, along with four associated and two naturally grown tree species. Using a randomized complete block design (RCBD), the field experiment involved a control group (mono plantation) and three mixed plantation groups, each replicated four times, totaling 80 replicates (40 in 2019 and 40 in 2020). Survival rate, height and collar diameter growth of seedlings were recorded in both mono and mixed plots in July 2021. Statistical analyses, including one-way ANOVA on means from three replicate plots (p＜0.05) and a Tukey HSD test, were conducted to assess differences between treatments. Significant differences in survival rates were found among mono plantations, with TMono04 showing the highest survival rate (88% to 91%). However, there were no significant differences in survival rates among seedlings in mixed plantations. Notably, survival rates were lower in mono plantations compared to mixed plantations. Mono plantations showed significant differences in height growth across both 2019 and 2020 plots, with TMono05 achieving the highest height growth (101.1 cm to 123.6 cm). Similarly, mixed plantations showed significant differences in height growth, with TMixed7 displaying the most substantial growth (116.4 cm to 138.2 cm). Overall, mixed plantations showed greater height growth compared to mono plantations. Significant variations in collar diameter growth were noted in both the 2019 and 2020 mono plantation plots, with TMono01 showing the highest growth (10.2 mm to 11.1 mm). Similarly, among mixed plantations, a significant difference in collar diameter growth was observed, with TMixed4 exhibiting the highest growth (10.4 mm to 13.1 mm). Overall, mixed plantations showed higher collar diameter growth compared to mono plantations. The findings suggest that planting Sal trees alongside compatible associated and naturally grown tree species in the Sal forests is preferable over establishing mono plantations.

An evaluation was carried out on variability in morphology of fruits and seeds (number and weight) of Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schumach. and Thonn.) Taub. from different populations across its distribution range in Nigeria. Bulk fruit samples were collected and examined for variations in morphological characters. Differences in morphological character of fruits and seeds among the populations were determined using analysis of variance at 5% level of probability. The relationships among morphological characters were determined using Pearson correlation coefficient (r). Significant variations (p＜0.05) existed among T. tetraptera populations for all the evaluated characters: fruit length, fruit width, number of seeds per fruit and seed weight. A positive significant strong correlation (r=0.96) was found between seed weight and number of seeds per fruit, while no correlation existed between fruit length, width and number of seeds. Seed weight was positively correlated with minimum altitude (r=0.97) and maximum altitude (r=0.99) of seed populations. Number of seeds was also significantly correlated with maximum altitude (r=0.965). There was no significant correlation between geo-climatic variables and fruit dimensions (length and width). Observed variations in morphological traits within and across populations of T. tetraptera may be used as proxy to estimate genetic diversity and selection of superior trees for improved productivity.

기후변화 대응 바이오매스 생산이 우수한 활엽수 경제 조림수종 개발에 대한 수요가 증가하고 있다. 아까시나무는 탄소흡수능이 우수한 속성수로서 국내 적응성이 뛰어나고 경제적, 환경적 기능이 우수하다. 본 연구는 비교선발법을 이용하여 용재수로서 가치가 높은 아까시나무 우량개체 64본을 선발하였다. 경기, 강원, 충청, 경상 등 4개 지역으로 나누어서 생장특성을 비교한 결과 선발목들은 비교목들에 비해 수고, 흉고직경, 지하고, 통직성에서 유의적으로 우수한 형질을 보였다. 특히 충청지역의 선발목들이 가장 우수한 생장특성을 나타냈으며, 임분별로는 고성, 천안, 안동 집단이 우량집단으로 나타났다. 생장에 영향을 주는 요인 중에서 토양 성분은 상관관계가 없었으며, 대단위 산림 조림 지역 혹은 호수와 저수지가 인접한 지역의 선발목이 수고 생장이 우수한 것으로 나타났다.

Plus tree selection is the essential first step in a tree improvement program. This study was carried out to select plus trees of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) for tree improvement in Korea. The candidate plus trees of black locust were selected from twenty-one places in the four provinces (Gangwon, Gyeonggi, Chungcheong and Gyeongsang) following comparison selection. The trees were examined for qualitative and quantitative traits of economic interest like tree height (H), diameter at breast height (DBH), clear bole height (CBH), stem straightness (SS), crown size (CS) and disease resistance. The 64 selected trees showed higher quality in growth characteristics than control trees. Average of height, DBH, CBH, SS and CS were 20.5 m, 31.1 cm, 10.1 m, 1.2 and 5.2 m respectively. In particular, it was shown that the growth characteristics were higher in Chungcheong population. The superiority percentage of selected candidate plus trees of black locust over their respective check trees ranged from 7.3% to 18.9% in height, 20.0% to 40.6% in DBH, 32.8% to 73.5% in CBH, 42.9% to 55.2% in SS and -11.1% to 9.4% in CS, respectively. The selected black locust will be useful in future tree breeding programs based on their clonal and progeny performance.