Performance of Seedling Growth of Important Timber Trees in Agroecologically Different Area in Bangladesh

Abstract

Growth of seedling is the most important for timber species which is mostly depends on existing soil and climate. A study on seedling growth of five important timber trees namely Mahogony (Swietenia mahogoni), Akashmoni (Acacia auriculiformis), Raintree (Albizia saman), Raj koroi (Albizia richardiana) and Sissoo (Dalbergia sissoo) at three growth stages (two, four and six months aged) in three agroecologically different area was carried out during July to December 2019. Three agroecologically different areas are namely Dhaka (Old Brahmaputra Flood Plain, AEZ 09), Khulna (Lower Ganges River Floodplain, AEZ 12) and Patuakhali district (Ganges Tidal Floodplain, AEZ 13). The aim of the study was to investigate the growth behavior of important timber seedling in different area in Bangladesh and find out the best site (district) where specific important timber seedling grows well. Data on height, base diameter, fresh weight, dry weight and leaf number of each selected species were recorded. Soil and climate of different region influenced the growth of seedlings significantly. Seedling of mahogony gained highest growth in Patuakhali region followed by Dhaka and Khulna. Akshmoni showed the highest growth performance in Dhaka, medium growth in Patuakhali and the lowest growth in Khulna region. Raintree seedling growth found best in Patuakhali region followed by Dhaka and Khulna region. The highest growth of Raj koroi seedling was found in Khulna region while medium growth in Patuakhali and the lowest in Dhaka region. Sissoo showed the highest growth performance in Dhaka followed by Patuakhali and Khulna region.