In Bangladesh, the declining populations of Ficus auriculata L and Ficus hispida L, vital for maintaining ecosystem balance and supporting wildlife, are threatened by low germination rates and poor seedling establishment, highlighting the need for effective propagation strategies to ensure their conservation and sustainability. This experiment investigated the germination and seedling development of Ficus auriculata L and Ficus hispida L, species crucial for biodiversity and environmental stability in Bangladesh. Effective conservation and propagation require high germination rates and vigorous seedlings. This study examined the impact of different sowing media on germination and seedling growth for these two important species. The trial, conducted over two years (2019–2022), employed a completely randomized design with eight treatments, including a control and various mixtures of soil, cow dung, and sand. Seeds were obtained from the University of Chittagong and monitored daily for germination rates and growth parameters. The results showed that the different media significantly affected germination percentages. The control treatment achieved the highest germination rate for F. auriculata (63.66%) and showed good performance in other growth parameters. For F. hispida, Treatment 01 recorded the highest germination rate at 81.33%. Seedling growth was assessed by measuring shoot and root lengths, revealing significant differences among treatments. Shoot length and collar diameter were notably improved in F. auriculata under the control treatment, reaching 121.5 mm, compared to lower values in other treatments. The findings indicate that Treatment 7 (Sand: Soil: Dung in a 1:2:1 ratio) provided the most favorable conditions for seedling growth, promoting robust development and higher survival rates. These results highlight the importance of selecting appropriate growing conditions to enhance germination and survival rates, contributing to biodiversity conservation amid challenges like climate change and habitat degradation. Further research is recommended to explore the therapeutic and ecological benefits of these lesser-known Ficus species.

The processing of Gracilaria sp. seaweed in the agar industry generates solid waste, which can contribute to environmental pollution. However, this waste contains valuable nutrients such as organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which can be used to produce organic fertilizers for plant growth optimization. This study aims to determine characteristics and optimal proportion of agar industry waste for formulating liquid organic fertilizer. A quantitative experiment was conducted with four treatments, using 0%, 8%, 16%, and 24% agar waste, mixed with 8% eggshell powder, 5% molasses, water, and 4% Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) as a bioactivator. Fermentation was carried out using an anaerobic method for 14 days. The effect of the fertilizer on red lettuce growth was evaluated. The results from ANOVA and Tukey analysis showed that different proportions of agar waste resulted in varying outcomes. The highest proportion produced the best fertilizer, with 0.51% organic carbon, 0.22% nitrogen, 0.11% phosphorus, 0.19% potassium, and a pH of 6.81. The fertilizer also resulted in a 48% yield, it appeared dark brown with a slightly pungent fermentation odor. The fertilizer application produced the best growth rate, with red lettuce plants reaching a height of 14.03 cm, 9.67 leaves, a leaf width of 8.80 cm, a stem diameter of 6.90 mm, root length of 12.23 cm, and a wet weight of 14.67 grams. This study highlights the potential of using agar industry waste as a liquid organic fertilizer, supporting sustainable agriculture by promoting ecofriendly waste management and reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers.

Mung bean is a promising crop in Egypt, but the small seed size (= 4 g) of high-yielding varieties like Kawmy-1 limits its widespread adoption. Larger-seeded varieties with higher yield potential, such as VC1973 A (100-seeds > 4 g), are preferred by farmers. However, the impact of plant population densities on growth and yield of these contrasting varieties has not been well studied. This research was conducted during the 2023 and 2024 in summer seasons, aimed to evaluate the effects of varying plant population densities (75, 150, 225, and 300 thousand plants per fed, equivalent to 4200 m2) on the growth, yield, and physiological responses of two mung bean varieties, Kawmy-1 and VC1973 A, under biological stress. The results revealed that Kawmy-1 exhibited tolerance to high-density stress (300,000 plants per fed), maintaining favorable growth and yield, while VC1973 A showed superior vegetative growth across parameters such as dry matter accumulation, leaf area, and leaf weight ratio. In contrast, Kawmy-1 excelled in attributes like leaf area ratio, specific leaf area, relative growth rate, and net assimilation rate. Increased plant density significantly reduced several growth parameters, but some traits like leaf area index, leaf area ratio, and leaf weight ratio showed reversible trends. In terms of yield, Kawmy-1 outperformed VC1973 A in pod and seed yield plant-1, while VC1973 A achieved better plant height and 100-seed weight. Interestingly, higher plant densities enhanced protein content but decreased overall yield and carbohydrate levels. This study underscores the importance of optimizing plant population density to balance yield and quality in mung bean cultivation. Future research should explore the genetic potential of larger-seeded varieties like VC1973 A, as well as strategies to enhance their performance under varying agronomic conditions.

Peanut cultivation in nutrient-poor soils often relies heavily on chemical fertilizers, leading to soil degradation, reduced productivity, and lower profitability for farmers. To address this issue, a sustainable alternative combining organic amendments and beneficial microbes was evaluated. The research objective is to assess the influences of vermicompost addition and inoculant with Bacterium strain ZM12 on the growth, yield, and quality of peanuts. Bacterium strain ZM12 was isolated on YMA medium and identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Field research was conducted using a factorial design with two factors: (i) inoculation vs. non-inoculation with strain ZM12 and (ii) three rates of vermicompost (0, 5, and 10 t ha-1), resulting in six treatments with four replications. The combined application of 10 t ha-1 vermicompost and ZM12 inoculation significantly enhanced peanut protein content and growth performance. Peanut yield increased by 38.4% with 10 t ha-1 vermicompost compared to the control (0 t ha-1), and ZM12 inoculation alone improved yield by 12.9% compared to non-inoculated plots. These improvements were attributed not only to biological nitrogen fixation but also to the plant growth-promoting effects of strain ZM12. The study demonstrates an effective strategy for improving peanut productivity and soil fertility while reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers. However, future work should include the isolation and testing of additional beneficial microbial strains to further enhance the sustainability of this approach.

The production of jute fiber is seriously threatened by weeds, both in terms of quantity and quality, because they compete with it for vital resources, including sunlight, water, and nutrients. The present study was conducted at the Jute Agriculture Experimental Station (JAES) of the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI) in Manikganj during 2019 to assess the effects of various seed rates and line-to-line spacing on weed dynamics and fiber yield of BJRI Tossa jute variety O-9897. A two-factor factorial experiment was implemented using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Five seed rates (4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 kg ha-1) and four-line spacings (15, 20, 25, and 30 cm) were tested. SDR. The results revealed twelve weed species, with Cyperus rotundus exhibiting the highest summed dominance ratio (SDR) of 53.22%, followed by Digitaria sanguinalis (9.98%) and Echinochloa colonum (9.55%). Interaction effects of seed rate and line spacing significantly influenced weed density, with the highest densities recorded at the lowest seed rate (4 kg ha-1) and widest spacing (30 cm). Conversely, the lowest weed densities were observed at the highest seed rate (8 kg ha-1) and narrowest spacing (15 cm). Yield data collection included plant density, plant height, base diameter, and fiber and stick yields, which were later converted to metric tons per hectare. Economic analysis, based on labor costs and market prices, demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of treatments, while Principal Component Analysis (PCA) further elucidated weed management impacts. These findings contribute to optimizing jute cultivation practices by balancing weed suppression and maximizing fiber yield under various agronomic conditions.

Litter decomposition plays a vital role in nutrient cycling and maintaining ecosystem functionality, particularly in forested landscapes. However, the decomposition dynamics of common tropical timber species remain underexplored in many regions, including Bangladesh. This study investigated the leaf litter decomposition and associated nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) release patterns of five widely planted timber species, Chukrasia tabularis, Dipterocarpus turbinatus, Hopea odorata, Tectona grandis, and Swietenia macrophylla on the Chittagong University campus. Using the litter bag method, decomposition rates were measured across both dry and wet seasons to assess seasonal variability and environmental influences. The results revealed that Chukrasia tabularis exhibited the highest mass loss (33% in the dry season and 60% in the wet season), followed by Hopea odorata (38% and 55%), while Tectona grandis showed the lowest decomposition rates (23% and 25%). Decomposition was most rapid in Hopea odorata during the dry season (0.57 g/month) and Dipterocarpus turbinatus in the wet season (0.89 g/month). In the wet season, decomposition rates were significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with temperature and precipitation across all species. In contrast, during the dry season, only Tectona grandis and Hopea odorata showed significant correlations with temperature, while only Chukrasia tabularis and Hopea odorata were significantly influenced by precipitation. Nutrient release patterns varied by species and nutrient type: nitrogen release was highest in Chukrasia tabularis (26.89 mg/g), phosphorus in Hopea odorata (16.53 mg/g), and potassium in Dipterocarpus turbinatus (53.53 mg/g), whereas Swietenia macrophylla consistently showed the lowest nutrient release rates. These findings highlight species-specific and seasonal variations in litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics, offering insights for forest management, species selection, and ecosystem nutrient budgeting in tropical forest plantations.