Browsing by Author "Senarathne, S.H.S."

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    Germination Characteristics of Rhizomes of Panicum maximum in Coconut Plantations of Sri Lanka
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2018) Augustin, A.M.; Senarathne, S.H.S.; Premathilake, K.G.; Herath, H.M.S.K.
    Panicum maximum is a major weed in the coconut lands and many of the bare lands. Being an invasive and aggressive weed, other than high seed production capacity, germination of rhizomes has a major role for its continuity as a perennial weed. If germination is controlled, it would ultimately result in growth suppression and control of the weed for some extent. Experiment was therefore conducted to investigate the impact of air drying of rhizomes of P. maximum on reduction of moisture, total carbohydrate percentage and finally the germination at the CRI, Lunuwila, Sri Lanka. A bulk of uniformly grown plants of P.maximum was uprooted from a coconut land and grouped into 8 treatments based on three factors such as presence/absence of soil with roots, presence/absence of leaves, split/unsplit bush condition. Rhizomes were air dried for 0 to 12 days at 3 days interval in a plant house. Air drying of rhizomes for more than 3 days reduced the moisture content, total carbohydrates and germination of rhizomes. Initial moisture content of 75.4 % reduced to the lowest of 6.4% when drying for 12 days in P.maximum without soil, with leaves treatments. Initial carbohydrate content also reduced from 0.17% to 0.03% when drying for 12 days in P. maximum without soil, without leaves treatments. Germination was totally inhibited when air drying for more than 9 days in all treatments and further P.maximum without soil, with leaves treatments recorded 16 - 20% germination. Most effective agronomic practice to control P.maximum was the removal of the soil attached to the root system after uprooting and laying for air drying for 6-9 days, where soil is no in contact with roots.
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    Influence of Vermicompost Technology on Solubility of Eppawala Rock Phosphate
    (Uva Wellassa University of Srilanka, 2011) Rathnayake, R.M.N.; Gunathilaka, R.P.D.; Senarathne, S.H.S.
    Note: See the PDF Version This study was conducted to determine the influence of vermicompost technology on solubility of ERP. Earthworms play a major role in vermicomposting. The most common type of earthworms used for vermicomposting is brandling worms (Eisenia foetida). Food is ingested through the mouth into a stomach (crop), which retains food and has the ability to expand. From there, food goes into the gizzard where sand and muscular contractions churn the food and increase the surface area. From there, food enters the intestine which has the ability to absorb food, then food exits through the anus. This final product consists of low power organic acids, like Malate, Oxalate, Citrate, etc. This low power organic acid is helps to increase the solubility of ERP. ERP is currently mined for use as a fertilizer for perennial crops such as tea, rubber and coconut. This is gives considerable value to the country because Phosphate deposits are non-renewable and dwindling resources in the world like fossil fuel. Also this is very economically important natural resource in Sri Lanka. Current production is 25 000 metric tonnes per year while reserves are 40 million metric tonnes. This saves nearly Rs 20 billion annually spent for importing fertilizer. This is important for providing the Phosphorus (P) fertilizer requirement, because P plays an important role in many physiological and bio chemical functions that are important to plants and animals. Major problem can be seen in ERP is the less solubility. The core bodies at Eppawala contain 42% P2O5 and citric acid solubility of different components varies from 4 to 6%. The parent rocks are mainly made up of calcite, dolomite and apatite, with lesser amounts of ilmenite, magnetite, pyrite, forsterite, phlogopite, enstatite, magnesite, diopside, tremolite and spine!. The Eppawala rocks are characterized by low silica (0.41%), high phosphorous (10.58%) and high strontium content (Gunawardena, 2003). Therefore in this study, an experiment was made to increase the availability of P by using vermicomposting.