Browsing by Author "Bandara, N.P.S.N."
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Item Determination of Optimum Water Application Interval for Young Tea Plants(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2020) Senevirathne, K.V.D.K.; Bandara, N.P.S.N.; Ranawana, S.R.W.M.C.J.K.Tea productivity is highly vulnerable to changes in precipitation. With limited availability of water for irrigation, identification of optimum irrigation interval is necessary to increase water use efficiency. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted at the Tea Research Institute, Rathnapura to determine the optimum water application interval for young tea plants using one year old uniform tea plants of cultivar, TRI 2027 under controlled environmental conditions (Max and Min temperatures, 32.1 °C and 23.1 °C, respectively; Average sunshine hours, 3.15 h day-1 ). The experiment was laid out according to Complete Randomized Design with four replicates. Four irrigation treatments were applied as daily watering (175 ml plant-1 ), watering at a 4-day interval (750 ml plant-1 ), watering at a 7-day interval (1150 ml plant-1 ), and none watering (control). Plant growth performance was evaluated during the experimental period. The highest evapotranspiration rate (3.02 mm day-1 ) was recorded at daily watering followed by watering at a 4-day interval (2.33 mm day-1 ). Plants watered daily showed significantly higher (p<0.05) plant height (51.4 cm), girth (6.1 mm), leaf dry weight (5.7 g), leaf area (550.5 cm2 ), stem dry weight (3.1 g) and leaf nitrogen percentage (3.15%) compared to control (35.3 cm, 4.1 mm, 1.33 g, 119 cm2, 1.3 g, 2.14%, respectively). Interestingly, growth performances of plants that watered daily were not significantly deviated (p>0.05) from plants that watered at the 4-day interval. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in root volume and dry weight among different treatments. The results of this experiment suggest that frequent irrigation at least once in four days is important for better establishment of young tea plants. However, before drawing any firm conclusion it is suggested to continue such trials for at least three dry spells. Keywords: Evapotranspiration, Growth performance, Irrigation interval, Young tea plants, Water availabilityItem Investigation on Durability of Different Mulches and Their Effect on Weed Growth in Low-Grown Young Tea(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2019) Rathnayaka, R.M.D.T.; Premathilaka, K.G.; Bandara, N.P.S.N.Mulching is an essential cultural practice for weed suppression and conservation of soil and moisture in tea lands. However, this recommended practice has been neglected by tea growers due to scarcity of mulching materials and high cost of labour. Potential use of any plant material as a mulch depends upon its durability. An investigation was carried out to find out alternative plant materials as mulches, which are more durable and available at a lower cost. Shoots of Diyapara (Dillenia suffruticosa), Flemingia (Flemingia congesta) and Acacia (Acacia auriculiformis) were selected as mulching materials. These together with artificial agricultural mulch were tested against Mana grass (Cymbopogon confertifloru). Plots each sized 3 x 3.6 m in a tea new clearing was covered with each mulch material simultaneously as a treatment at the rate of 1.4 kg m-2 on dry weight basis. Experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replicates. Results indicated that both Diyapara and Acacia were found to be more durable recording the highest weed suppression (0.61 kg fresh weight m-2) and the lowest mean weed count,12.7 (0.09 m-2) were presented with Diyapara. The highest soil moisture retention (15%) during short dry spells, the lowest soil temperature (26-27 °C) throughout the experiment and the highest C: N ratio of 28:1 was also reported with Diyapara. There was no any significant improvement in tea growth between any mulch treatments (p>0.05). Further, no any allelopathic effect was manifested by any of mulch materials. Diyapara has an ability to suppress weeds more effectively than other mulching materials owing to its high durability.Item New Rain Water Harvesting Method Using Stem Flow of Trees in Tea Lands(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2020) Sashrika, T.M.P.; Withanage, N.S.; Bandara, N.P.S.N.Water is an important factor for all plants and different irrigation methods are practiced when and where necessary to assure the crop growth and development. Irrigation through rain water harvesting is not common in Sri Lankan tea lands at present. However, the need of any kind of irrigation is increasing in tea lands, especially when adapting to climate change. Therefore, the current study was conducted to identify a new rain water harvesting method using stem flow of Tea (Cammelia sinensis), Albizia (Albizia mollucana) and Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) at St. Joachim Estate, Ratnapura (6° 44’ N, 80° 21’ E) from October to December 2019. 20 Tea at same age, 2 Gliricidia and an Albizia were subjected to measure the stem flow. The selected Tea were TRI 2021, TRI 2027, TRI 2023 and TRI 2026 cultivars. Polythene gutters were fixed for each selected plant according to their diameter of the stem base and leak seal glue was applied over those areas using thumb tacks. Then 5 L plastic cans for Tea, 10 L clay pots for Gliricidia and 45 L plastic barrel for Albizia were placed at the end of each gutter to collect the stem flow. Collected water in each container was measured using a standard measuring cylinder. Daily rainfall data were collected from the Agro- meteorological station of the Tea Research Institute, Ratnapura. Finally, collected data were statistically analyzed using correlation coefficient procedure. The highest stem flow recoded from Albizia (10.978 L) while Gliricidia and Tea collected 2.8 L and 1.25 L, respectively under 11.1mm rainfall. Therefore, there is a feasibility to make use of this stem flow of water of Albizia to irrigate some tea plants. Keywords: Micro irrigation, Rain gutters, Rain water harvesting, Stem flow, Tea