Abstract. Islam MDA, Rahman MDA, Hossain MK. 2019. Effect of container and potting media on raising quality seedlings of Acacia auriculiformis in the nursery. Asian J Agric 3: 26-32. The study elucidates the effect of container and potting media on raising quality seedlings of Acacia auriculiformis in the nursery of the Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong to find out a suitable container and potting media for raising large scale quality seedlings. The seedlings were evaluated by five container and seven potting media treatments for eight months. A Completely Randomized Block Design (CRBD) was adopted for the study with three replications for each treatment. The Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was tested for the analysis to explore the possible treatment variations. However, the study reveals nodulation with growth parameters; shoot and root dry biomass production and quality index were highest in 20 cm × 15 cm size polybags whereas the highest root length and shoot-root ratio was observed in 15 cm × 10 cm and 15 cm × 13 cm size polybag respectively. Considering the potting media, highest nodulation, growth parameters, shoot dry and fresh weight, shoot- root ratio and biomass were found in combination of soil + cow dung + phosphorus (0.16 g/polybag). Highest root length, root fresh and dry weight, and quality index were found in the combination of soil + cow dung (3:1). Therefore, it is recommended that containers of 20 cm × 15 cm size polybag and with a potting media of soil + cow dung + phosphorus (3 parts soil, 1 parts cow dung + 0.16 g/polybag) combination produce quality A. auriculiformis seedlings in the nursery.

Natural regeneration is an essential tool to evaluate the overall health of a forest ecosystem. Natural regeneration of the tree species in Madhupur National Park showed 47 regenerating tree species among which Shorea robusta has maximum density (18,046 seedlings per ha) followed by Aporosa sp., whereas minimum density (19 seedling per ha) was recorded for Cassia nodosa, Litsea glutinosa, Grewia asiatica and Syzygium cumini, respectively. Relative density, relative frequency and relative abundance were estimated to assess the Importance Value Index (IVI) of the seedlings of different tree species. IVI of S. robusta was highest (66.25 out of 300) followed by Mallotus philippensis (27.33). G. asiatica, Derris robusta, and L. glutinosa showed the lowest IVI (0.93) among the regenerating tree species. Distribution of seedlings into different height classes showed that maximum number (31.4%) of seedlings in the height range of 50 - <100 cm. Among the recorded seedlings, Protium serratum showed maximum (11%) recruitment success. Alien invasive species, pineapple and banana based participatory agroforestry, frequent occurrence of fire, extensive collection of fuelwood and litter are the potential threats to the natural regeneration of Madhupur National Park.

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