Browsing by Author "Jayasingha, H.A.S.L."

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    Effect of Eco-friendly Growth Media on Survival Percentage of Tea [Camellia sinensis(L.) O. Kuntze] to Mitigate Short Term Drought at Nursery Level
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2018) Bandara, K.L.A.Y.D.; Bandara, S.N.; Withanage, N.S.; Jayasingha, H.A.S.L.
    Tea is generally considered to be a shallow-rooting plant, sensitive to the physical condition of the soil and thus growth media may help effectively mitigate shortterm drought conditions. Therefore, this study was conducted to study the effect of growing media on soil properties and survival percentage of tea cultivar TRI 2023 during short term drought period at Tea Research Institute, Ratnapura. Six treatment combinations having three growth media (charcoal, paddy husk and refused tea) and two different application methods (3 inches high growth medium layer applied to the bottom of the pot and growth medium incorporated into the soil) were used in pot experiment under protected house condition. Each treatment was replicated four times and CRD was used. Initially, soil moisture status of all treatments was adjusted to a saturation point and after that irrigation was not done for one month. Water runoff and percolation were inhibited using bottom closed pots and evapotranspiration (ET) was considered as the only method for soil moisture loss. ET (mm) was measured using weight difference method and survival percentage (%) was calculated in all 24 pots weekly for one month. Then the second irrigation was done again to saturation point and the study was continued for another month. The results revealed that, there were significant differences among six treatments for both tested parameters. Further, the lowest percentage weight difference (11.2695%) and the highest survival percentage (89.8%) were observed in charcoal incorporated into soil at 1:2 ratio during the study period. Therefore, charcoal incorporated into soil (1:2) can be effectively used as an eco-friendly growth medium as it increases the water retention facilitating more survival of potted plants of tea cultivar TRI 2023 in nurseries during short term drought period.
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    Effect of Organic and Conventional Management of Tea [Camellia Sinensis (L.)0. Kuntze] Cultivation on Soil Productivity and Crop Response of Tea on the Fifth Pruning Cycle
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2018) Vijayangani, M.P.N.N.; Mohotti, K.M.; Jayasingha, H.A.S.L.; Herath, H.M.S.K.
    In organic tea cultivation, poor productivity is a major problem despite its all other benefits. This study attempted to assess long term impacts of field grown tea at the fifth pruning cycle under organic and conventional management in the long term TRIORCON trial established at Tea Research Institute, Talawakelle. Organic management treatments included tea waste, neem oil cake and compost and the conventional system was under TRI recommendations on agro inputs. Selected crop and soil indicators were studied. In parallel, beans grown on relevant soils under glass house conditions were used as indicator plants to elucidate short term effects.Data analysis was undertaken using SAS statistical package by analysis of covariance. Results revealed that chemical parameters of organically treated soils differed significantly (P < 0.05) from those of the conventionally treated soil. Soil pH was within the suitable range in the four treatments. Soil organic carbon contents in organic (Compost) and conventional systems were 3.69 and 2.60%, respectively. Total N content (%) was 0.40 and 0.26 under organic (Compost) and conventional systems, respectively. Soil exchangeable K shown in organically treated soil (Tea waste) was 116.25 ppm. The highest soil available P was determined in the conventionally treated soil, 53.75 ppm. The highest biological richness was exhibited as 66.42 CFU mg-1 in the organically treated soils (Tea waste) whereas the lowest richness (30.25 CFU mg-') was observed in the conventionally treated soil. The overall yield drop in this organically treated cultivation system was 25% lesser than that of the conventionally treated tea. Shoot length and shoot: root ratio of beans was not significantly (P > 0.05) different. Proper crop and soil fertility management with organic systems is expected to maintain the organic system to be healthy and also to ensure premium price for the product while demonstrating environment and social benefits.
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    Effect of Storage Conditions to Minimize Contaminants before Packaging of Ceylon Cinnamon Quills (Cinnamamum zelanicum Blume)
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2018) Chinthaka, N.D.G.A.; Jayasinghe, G.G.; Jayasingha, H.A.S.L.; Abhiram, G.
    Cinnamon is one of the major spice crops in Sri Lanka. Maintenance of the quality of the processed cinnamon is very important in exportation to get a good market value. Microbial and store pest contaminations of processed cinnamon quills make the final product less demanded with high post-harvest losses. This study was conducted to identify the most suitable storage conditions to maintain the export quality of the cinnamon quills without using synthetic chemicals. Collected cinnamon quill samples from the processing center of National Cinnamon Research and Training institute at Palolpitiya were stored at different time durations (0,3,7,14 days) with different combinations of temperature and relative humidity (RH) levels [(15 °C, 45%), (15 °C, 60%), (30 °C, 30%) and (30 °C, 60%)] in a growth chamber. The experiment was conducted as triplicate using 16 treatments. Moisture content (%), store pests per 100g, fungal and bacterial colony per 100g and color of the cinnamon quill samples were measured before applying the treatments and after 3 days, 7 days and 14 days from the treatment. Results revealed that 9.6% of mean moisture level was gained after14 days, under 30°C temperature and 60% RH and it has taken 3 days to decrease moisture level up to 12% under the treatment of (15 °C, 45%), (30 °C, 30%) and (30 °C, 60%) (P<0.05). Under the 30 °C temperature and 30% RH store pests were decreased up to 1 within 3 days while 7 days spent to kill all the store pests. All the store pests were killed after 14 days under the treatment of (30 °C, 30%) (30 °C, 60%) and (15 °C, 60%) (P<0.05). Significantly lower fungal and bacterial colonies were observed after 14 days under 15 °C temperature and 60% RH (P<0.05). Quill samples under the 15°C temperature and 60% RH showed the best color in colorimeter than the quills of other storage conditions as per the ISO standards. Thus, the expected quality of the cinnamon quills can be gained within 14 days under the 15°C temperature and 60% RH.