Browsing by Author "Aththanayake, A.M.M.B."

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    Effect of Aquaponic System in Increased Stocking Densities of Guppy Fish (Poecilia reticulata) at Grow-out Phase One
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2021) Aththanayake, A.M.M.B.; Liyanage, N.P.P.; Bambaranda, B.V.A.S.M.; Silva, S.S.U.
    Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) is one of the widely marketed ornamental fish. Fry rearing density recommended by NAQDA, Sri Lanka for grow-out phase one was 20 fish ft-2. However, grow-out farmers are using different stocking densities. Production efficiency of existing facilities can be enhanced by increasing the recommended stocking densities. Therefore, identifying possibility of enhancing stocking density is vital for increasing production. Current study was focused to improve the efficiency of grow-out rearing of Guppy by incorporating aquaponic system using water spinach (Ipomea aquatica). Guppy juveniles with mean body size of 2.63±0.06 cm were stocked in similar glass tanks at three different stocking densities as 20 fish ft-2 (T1), 25 fish ft-2 (T2), and 30 fish ft-2 (T3), with three replicates. NAQDA recommended stocking density was used in T1 and increased densities were used in T2 and T3. Fish were fed three times a day with commercial larval rearing feed at 10% of their mean body weight. A mixture of sterilized brick-lets and coconut coir were used as media for the grow bed with 10.6 cm thickness. Six plants of same size and age were introduced to each aquaponic system. Temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen level, nitrate, nitrite, and phosphate concentrations were tested. Growth performance was determined using Mean Length Gain (MLG), Specific Growth Rate (SGR), Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), and condition factor (K). Collected data were subjected to one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s pairwise comparison at a significance level of p < 0.05, using Minitab 17 software. T3 showed significantly lowest MLG and SGR, whilst T1 showed the highest. However, T1 and T2 did not show significant difference. Significantly highest FCR was observed in T3. Condition factor did not show significant difference and no mortality was observed. Nitrate, nitrite concentrations were significantly high in T3 whilst other parameters did not vary significantly among treatments. According to the results obtained, the medium stocking density of 25 fish ft-2 can be suggested as the optimum stocking density for guppy grow-out phase one for aquaponic coupled rearing facilities as it allows medium level stocking density while obtaining satisfactory growth and maintaining favorable water quality. Keywords: Aquaculture; Aquaponics; Fish growth performance; Ornamental fish
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    Factors Affecting Land Productivity of Proprietary Tea Estates in Badulla District
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Aththanayake, A.M.M.B.
    The tea industry of Sri Lanka has made a significant contribution on the country's socio-economic status since its history. The sustainability of the tea industry in Sri Lanka is at a critical juncture since it faces many challenges like the rising cost of production, declining productivity, shortage of labor and climate changes. The main objective of this study was to identify the factors that affect the land productivity of proprietary tea estates in the Badulla district and to propose strategies to optimize the land productivity for its long-term sustainability. Proprietary Tea Estates are considered as middle-level tea estates that may have a range of tea land extent between 10 to 50 acres (4 to 20 ha). The total extent of proprietary holdings under category of 4 to 20 ha in extent, is 14710 ha of land which is represented 6.6% of the total extent of Sri Lanka. A conceptual framework and research methodology were developed according to the information gathered from focus group discussions held with key experts attached to public institutions and few proprietary holdings in the Badulla District. A cross sectional survey using a pretested structured questionnaire together with focus group discussions were held for the collection of primary data. The stratified purposive sampling method was performed to select 33 proprietary tea estates in four tea inspector's ranges in the Badulla District. Secondary data were gathered. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze they socio-economic factors of the estates. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the effect of independent variables on land productivity. 87.0% of the variance of land productivity was explained by the independent variables; Age of cultivation, Soil characteristics, Land use pattern, Experience, Access to formal extension services and training, Access to inputs and finance, Knowledge on estate, owners on recommended practices, Adoption to recommended practices (P = 0.000, n = 33). The findings of this study concluded that although there are proprietary tea holders who have experience with a sound knowledge on agricultural practices, the major constraints for improving productivity of the tea estates in Badulla district are inadequate opportunities to access for formal extension services in order to get technical, input and financial assistance on required time. Thus, this study would be useful for relevant authorities to implement strategies to optimize the land productivity of proprietary tea estates in the Badulla District. Key words: Tea Industry, Proprietary Tea Estates, Land Productivity, Regression Analysis
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    Factors Affecting Land Productivity of Proprietary Tea Estates in Badulla District
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2021) Aththanayake, A.M.M.B.; Amarathunga, M.K.S.L.D.; Mahindarathne, M.G.P.P.
    The tea industry of Sri Lanka has made a significant contribution to the country's socio-economic status since its‟ history. The sustainability of the tea industry in Sri Lanka is at a critical juncture since it faces many challenges like the rising cost of production, declining productivity, shortage of labor, and climate changes. Proprietary Tea Estates are considered middle-level tea estates that may have a range of tea land extent between 10 to 50 acres (4 to 20 ha). The total land extent of proprietary holdings accounts for 14710 ha of land which is represented 6.6% of the total tea land extent of Sri Lanka. The main objective of this study was to identify the factors that affect the land productivity of proprietary tea estates in the Badulla district and to propose strategies to optimize the land productivity for its long-term sustainability. A conceptual framework and research methodology were developed according to the information gathered from focus group discussions held with key experts attached to public institutions and few proprietary holdings in the Badulla District. A cross- sectional survey using a pretested structured questionnaire was held for the collection of primary data. The stratified purposive sampling method was performed to select 33 proprietary tea estates in four tea inspector's ranges in the Badulla District. Secondary data were gathered. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the socio-economic factors of the estates. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the effect of independent variables on land productivity. 87.9% of the variance of land productivity was explained by the independent variables (P = 0.000, n = 33). The findings of this study concluded that although the proprietary tea estate owners were experienced with sound knowledge on recommended agricultural practices, the major constraints for improving land productivity of the estates are inadequate opportunities to access to formal extension services in order to get technical, input, and financial assistance on required time. Thus, this study would be useful for relevant authorities to implement strategies to optimize the land productivity of proprietary tea estates in the Badulla District. Keywords: Tea Industry, Proprietary Tea Estates, Land Productivity, Regression Analysis