Bacterial diversity of a wooded riparian strip soil specifically designed for enhancing the denitrification process

This research is part of a project aimed at verifying the potential of a specifically assessed wooded riparian zone in removing the excess of combined nitrogen from the Zero River so as to reduce nutrient inputs into the Venice Lagoon. Among the specific objectives of the project, there was the determination of change in the composition of the microbial populations of soil of the wooded riparian strip. The composition of the bacterial communities collected at different depths inside and outside the riparian strip was determined by combined approaches involving cultivation (CFU), microscopic approaches (CTC test), and DNA-based techniques (ARDRA and DGGE). The size of the living population was the same inside and outside the experimental strip, with a minor percentage of culturable bacteria. Higher numbers of metabolically active bacteria and higher bacterial diversity were detected in the internal soil, with deeper soil layers showing reduced diversity, thus indicating that soil management within the riparian strip effectively supports the viability of bacterial communities. Total operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and percentage of single OTUs were also found to be always higher in the internal soil samples for all soil layers, with the percentage of Firmicutes increasing and Actinobacteria decreasing with depth. The increasing soil organic carbon inputs due to the contribution of the growing plants were found to support bacterial diversity in all soil layers. DNA-based analysis also indicated a clear effect of the applied treatments on soil bacterial diversity and a well-defined separation of the bacterial communities related to the different soil layers of the riparian strip.     

Interaction of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas with Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) in Potted Soil with or Without P2O5

The effect of inoculation of Rhizobium or Pseudomonas, or both, in the presence and absence of phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅) fertilizer on wheat yield was tested. The experiment was conducted outdoors in potted soil during two consecutive years under natural conditions. Rhizobial strain (Thal 8-chickpea nodulating bacteria) and Pseudomonas strain (54RB), both indigenous P solubilizers were applied in broth culture at seedling stage. Fertilizer in the form of P₂O₅ was an additional treatment applied at sowing time. Results revealed that inoculation of Pseudomonas strain in presence of phosphorus (P) fertilizer increased yield up to 41.8% when it was compared with only P fertilizer applied. Co-inoculation of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas strains with the P₂O₅ treatment however resulted in increased grains yield by 10% over the P₂O₅ treatment alone. It is inferred that inoculation with Rhizobium and Pseudomonas combined with P₂O₅ is not only environmentally beneficial but also economically sound and productive, with wheat yield increases of 10% to 42%.     

Floristic composition and management of cropland agroforest in southwestern Bangladesh

Cropland agroforest is an important production system in the southwest region of Bangladesh. This study focused on the floristic composition and management of existing cropland agroforests. A total of 313 cropland agroforests were surveyed and 83%respondents practiced pure agroforestry while the remaining 17% practiced agroforestry with fisheries. A total of 18 forest trees and 2 shrubs were recorded from 11 families and 59 species of agricultural crops were from 28 families. A higher proportion （79%） of cropland agroforests were occupied small land areas （0.12-0.80 ha）. About 63% of respondents planted trees for fruit production and 47%for timber production, and 35%of respondents engaged in commercial production （35%）. Swietenia macrophylla was the most prevalent species （relative prevalence 20.83） followed by Man-gifera indica （relative prevalence 15.57） and Cocos nucifera （relative prevalence 7.08）. Shorter spacing was used for timber and fuel wood species and wider spacing for fruit trees. A wide range of rotation periods, from 5 to 25 years, was observed for both cases. The use of chemical fertilizer was highest followed by cow dung and compost in cropland agroforests. Overall management practices of cropland agroforest in southwest Bangladesh were determined by the end product and local demand.     

Analysis of forest cover change at Khadimnagar National Park,Sylhet, Bangladesh,using Landsat TM and GIS data

We mapped the forest cover of Khadimnagar National Park （KNP） of Sylhet Forest Division and estimated forest change over a period of 22 years （1988-2010） using Landsat TM images and other GIS data. Supervised classification and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index （NDVI） image classification approaches were applied to the images to produce three cover classes, viz. dense forest, medium dense forest, and bare land. The change map was produced by differencing classified imageries of 1988 and 2010 as before image and after image, respectively, in ERDAS IMAGINE. Error matrix and kappa statistics were used to assess the accuracy of the produced maps. Overall map accuracies resulting from supervised classification of 1988 and 2010 imageries were 84.6% （Kappa 0.75） and 87.5% （Kappa 0.80）, respec- tively. Forest cover statistics resulting from supervised classification showed that dense forest and bare land declined from 526 ha （67%） to 417 ha （59%） and 105 ha （13%） to 8 ha （1%）, respectively, whereas medium dense forest increased from 155 ha （20%） to 317 ha （40%）. Forest cover change statistics derived from NDVI classification showed that dense forest declined from 525 ha （67%） to 421 ha （54%） while medium dense forest increased from 253 ha （32%） to 356 ha （45%）. Both supervised and NDVI classification approaches showed similar trends of forest change, i.e. decrease of dense forest and increase of medium dense forest, which indicates dense forest has been converted to medium dense forest. Area of bare land was unchanged. Illicit felling, encroachment, and settlement near forests caused the dense forest decline while short and long rotation plantations raised in various years caused the increase in area of medium dense forest. Protective measures should be undertaken to check further degradation of forest at KNP.     

Compatibility and complementarity of indigenous and scientific knowledge of wild plants in the highlands of southwest Saudi Arabia

This study presents a survey of wild plants commonly used by local inhabitants in the highlands of southwest Saudi Arabia. Based upon literature review, direct observation of local inhabitants, and questionnaire interviews, 36 plant species were assessed and given scores according to their use. The gaps between scientific and indigenous knowl- edge on the use of plants were estimated using a ＂compatibility ratio＂. The score values were estimated based on seven different use categories of ecosystem services, including food, forage, medicine, wood, beekeeping, research, and education. Additional structural categories include source of materials, shade, hedges, ornamental plantings, and soil stabilization. There are discrepancies between indigenous knowledge （IK） and scien- tific knowledge （SK） but in most cases, SK of the species supports the IK and plant users preference. The results also provide information that challenges assumptions about the consistency of IK with SK. Our study highlights the importance of understanding the cultural context and uses of wild plants. Biodiversity-based knowledge holds promise for contributing to sustainable use of wild plant resources and related traditions. The success of such endeavours depends on the compatibility and complementarity of indigenous and scientific knowledge.     

Finite element analysis of stress and strain distributions in mortise and loose tenon furniture joints

We studied the effect of loose tenon dimensions on stress and strain distributions in T-shaped mortise and loose tenon （M＆amp;LT） furni-ture joints under uniaxial bending loads, and determined the effects of loose tenon length （30, 45, 60, and 90 mm） and loose tenon thickness （6 and 8 mm） on bending moment capacity of M＆amp;LT joints constructed with polyvinyl acetate （PVAc） adhesive. Stress and strain distributions in joint elements were then estimated for each joint using ANSYS finite element （FE） software. The bending moment capacity of joints increased significantly with thickness and length of the tenon. Based on the FE analysis results, under uniaxial bending, the highest shear stress values were obtained in the middle parts of the tenon, while the highest shear elastic strain values were estimated in glue lines between the tenon sur-faces and walls of the mortise. Shear stress and shear elastic strain values in joint elements generally increased with tenon dimensions and corre-sponding bending moment capacities. There was consistency between predicted maximum shear stress values and failure modes of the joints.     

Community ecology and spatial distribution of trees in a tropical wet evergreen forest in Kaptai national park in Chittagong Hill Tracts,Bangladesh

We investigated the floristic composition, woody species diversity and spatial distribution of trees in a tropical wet evergreen forest in Kaptai national park in Chittagong Hill Tracks, Bangladesh. We recorded 25 families, 37 genera, 40 species and 1771 woody individuals in a 0.09 ha plot. Euphorbiaceae and Moraceae were the most speciesrich families, and Castanopsis, Ficus and Terminalia were the most species-rich genera. Bursera serrata Wall. ex Colebr. was the dominant species in terms of highest importance value(13%). Trema orientalis(L.)Bl was typically a light demanding species as it appeared in the top canopy with only one individual having the seventh highest IV, but had no regeneration. The expected maximum number of species(Smax) was 140,indicating that many species may invade the forest as the Smax is greater than the recorded total number of species. The nature of the disappearance and appearance of species in the present forest reflects instability of floristic composition. The values of Shannon's index H ′ and Pielou's index J ′(evenness) were 3.36 bit and 0.63, respectively. These values show moderately high species diversity as compared to other subtropical forests in the tropics. In addition, a sample area of 200 m2 in this forest would be sufficient for measuring the diversity indices H ′ and J ′,whereas the trend of J ′may indicate the rate of equality of individuals among the different species decreased with increasing area. The distribution pattern for the total stand was completely random. However, the dominant species showed aggregate distribution for small areas, but random distribution for large areas. The spatial association between species showed that the strongest positive interspecific association occurred between Streblus asper Lour. and Castanea indica Roxb.(ω =0.51). As a whole, most species were weakly associated with each other,of which 58% species associations were completely negative. The result of cluster analysis showed that species pairs were spatially independent at all or most small clusters; stands of species from all clusters are mosaics of complete habitat and pioneer habitat. All patches in this forest community have similar habitat and regeneration niches, which could be a phenomenon for a young growth forest. Thus, the existence of habitat and regeneration niches may be an important factor in the maintenance of diversity in this forest.     

Growth performance of Avicennia officinalis L. and the effect of spacing on growth and yield of trees planted in the Western coastal belt of Bangladesh

A trial of Avicennia officinalis L. with five different spacings was conducted in the newly accreted lands along the western coastline(Patuakhali district) of Bangladesh since 1993 to assess growth performance and the effect of spacing on tree growth. Data on tree density, height, diameter, bole height, crown diameter were recorded and analyzed when the stand was 19 years old. Mean height ranged from 12.89-13.52 m and diameter at breast height(dbh) from 26.57-32.16 cm in plots of different spacings. The mean annual height increment ranged from 0.67-0.71 m, mean annual diameter increment from 1.40-1.69 cm and wood volume from 6.02-10.04 m3·ha-1·a-1 in different treatments. Significantly greater diameter(32.16 cm) and wood volume(10.04 m3?ha-1?a-1) were obtained with wider(2.13 m × 2.13 m) spacing than with closer spacings. But tree growth was unaffected by other spacings. Growth data were also recorded from other A. officinalis plantations raised by Forest Department(FD) on different islands in Patuakhali and Bhola districts of Bangladesh. At these sites, mean annual height increment ranged from 0.33-0.62 m, mean annual diameter increment from 0.72-1.37 cm and wood volume from 1.55-5.73 m3?ha-1?a-1. The growth performance of A. officinalis indicated that the newly accreted lands along the western shoreline may be suitable for raising Avicennia plantations for the enrichment of coastal vegetation.     

Effects of participatory forest management on livelihood capitals of the community in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

In Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, we surveyed 80 households to observe the effects of participatory forestry (PF) on the livelihood of local participants. We analyzed the effects on livelihood capitals to compare in two ways: (1) before and after participation, and (2) participants and non-participants. In Cox’s Bazar, there were some significant changes regarding income sources, but annual income was little changed after participation in participatory forestry. Literacy (about 10 % after participation) and mobile phone ownership (75 %) were significantly higher than before. Housing conditions were better (brick walls: 7.5 %; sun-grass roof: 70 %) than those of non-participants (brick walls: 0 %; sun-grass roof: 77.5 %). PF ensured legal rights on forest lands for participants, while non-participants were illegally living on public forestland. However, expenses were considerably higher than income; people were still struggling with poverty and many of them suffered from malnutrition. This ultimately put pressure on all capital. People had redistributed their available capital to cope with adversity, and there was a trend toward involvement in economic activities other than forests. Our study found that social capital was more influenced by PF more than other capitals. Due to the involvement with the PF program, people were feeling much more secure, women had elevated status, and social relationships became stronger.     

In vitro regeneration and the antioxidant enzymatic system on acclimatization of micropropagated Vitex trifolia L.

The objective of the study was to develop an in vitro shoot regeneration protocol by utilising shoot tips explant from Vitex trifolia L. Shoot tip explants obtained from a 3-year old plant was cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with various concentrations (1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 or 10.0 µM) of thidiazuron (TDZ). The optimal level of TDZ supplementation to the culture medium was 5.0 μM for 15 d induction period. The highest number of shoots (22.2 ± 0.1) and shoot length (5.1 ± 0.1 cm) were achieved when TDZ-exposed explants were sub-cultured on MS medium containing 6-benzyladenine (1.0 µM) and 0.5 µM α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) after 8 weeks of culture. In vitro rooting of isolated shoots was achieved best in half-strength MS medium containing 0.5 µM NAA. During the acclimatization period, changes in activities of antioxidant enzymes were observed. Superoxide dismutase activity increased reaching maximum at 28th day after transplantation. Likewise, an upregulation of the catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase enzyme activities were also observed. These observed changes reflected the ability of plants in developing an antioxidant enzymatic defence system aiding in survival against oxidative stress and in reducing release of free radicals. Plantlets were successfully hardened off and acclimatized in earthen pots containing garden soil with a survival rate of 90 %.