Menaka Fernando

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Verified

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• PhD
• Senior Lecturer at University of Ruhuna

Background and aims: Plant roots growing underground are critical for soil resource acquisition, anchorage and plant-environment interactions. In wheat ( Triticum aestivum ), however, the target root traits to improve yield potential still remain largely unknown. This study aimed to identify traits of seedling root system architecture (RSA) associ...

Vermistabilization is a process where composting earthworm species are used to convert organic waste materials into humus-like substances called vermicompost. The present study involved two experiments to explore the vermistabilization potential of corn cob husk and quality assessment of vermicompost produced through seed germination bioassay of Vi...

Enhancing rice productivity while minimizing the environmental impacts is essential for sustainable agriculture and global food security. This study investigated the synergistic effects of biochar (B) and nitrogen (N) fertilizer on soil properties and rice yield in Sri Lanka’s Low Country Dry Zone during the 2023 Yala and 2023/24 Maha seasons. A sp...

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of the number of nodes per cutting and the de-budding of axillary buds on the growth and yield of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) in container gardening. This study involves two sub-experiments for destructive sampling at three and six months after planting. There were ten treatments (...

Salad cucumber is a cash crop cultivated in protected houses in Sri Lanka which is almost exported as a raw vegetable. In the global context, pickled cucumber is a prominent part of their cuisine. This study aimed to evaluate the best maturity stage and cut shapes of salad cucumbers to develop a pickled cucumber with an Asian spice blend. Both typ...

The present study explores the impact of varying levels of biochar and carbonyl diamide (urea) on the grain equivalent diameter, sphericity, volume, surface area, amylose, and iron content of rice (Oryza sativa L.). This study aimed at exploring the potential benefits of biochar as a soil amendment and its interactions with urea in influencing o...

A recent trend in plant growth and propagation is to use natural substances rather than synthetic plant growth regulators. Two experiments were conducted to find out the effect of epidermal mucous secretion (EMS) of earthworms and other organic substances including Aloe vera gel, coconut water and ripe banana on rooting of semi-hardwood cuttings of...

The present study investigates the impact of varying levels of biochar carbon and carbonyl diamide (urea) on the concentrations of essential plant pigments including chlorophyll a, chloro phyll b, total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents of rice (Oryza sativa) plant leaves. This study aimed to explore the potential benefits of biochar as a soil am...

This study investigated the interplay between biochar, urea, soil microbes, and rice growth. Biochar, a carbon-rich material, and urea, a nitrogen-containing compound, were investigated for their potential to enhance soil health, microbial activity, and rice crop physiological performance. The experiment evaluated the outcomes of varying urea le...

Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL; Hermetia illucens L.) is a bioconversion agent of organic substrates and its proven ability to degrade and biotransform of waste strengthens organic waste management and waste recycling strategies. BSFL have the advantages of rapid development and very efficient conversion of various organic wastes into body biomass....

The effective management of organic solid wastes presents a growing challenge due to population growth, intensified agricultural practices, and industrialization. Vermicomposting, a cost-effective method utilizing earthworms, has emerged as a viable solution for the disposal of organic waste. This study investigated the potential of different mixtu...

Use of liquid organic fertilizers is popular among container gardeners in urban areas. The impact of five organic liquid fertilizers (banana waste, weeds, Gliricidia leaves, fish waste, and cow dung) Albert's solution (control) on growth and yield of three test crops of Abelmoschus esculentus, Raphanus sativus and Amaranthusspp were studied in the...

Seed germination and seedling growth are the most crucial stages of the plant life that exert a pivotal influence on production and economic yield. The present study was conducted to examine the effect of Dasagavya and, two organic liquid preparations on seed germination and early seedling growth of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) var. MI5, winged be...

Cannabis (Cannabis sativa L) is cultivated commercially in various parts of the world, predominantly for its medicinal properties (medicinal-type) and as a source of fibre and oilseed (fibre-type). The plant is known to contain over 567 chemical compounds out of which about one hundred chemicals belong to the highly valued unique class of Cannabino...

Irrigation is a procedure of controlled run in multiple water sources in a judicious manner for maximizing crop production. Quality irrigation water is one of the essential inputs of agriculture for sustaining productivity, farmers’ income and rural development. The present study was carried out to assess and map spatial variability of irrigatio...

Bioconversion of weeds through vermicomposting is getting momentum in sustainable organic farming, whilst mitigating negative impacts on the environment. The present study was conducted to find out the effect of three perennial weed species and the different ratio between weed to cow dung on the efficacy of Eisenia fetida and the physicochemical pr...

With the rapid growth of the global population, food production and waste management are considered to be two major challenges faced by people in 21 st century. Though the application of chemical fertilizers enhances crop growth, vigor and yield thereby meeting the food security, it depletes the quality of the environment and ecosystems. Recycling...

The present experiment was conducted to determine the impact of accumulated thermal time on the growth, yield and phenology of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. Uma, Malee and MI-3 varieties were selected and the seeds were sown on three different dates in 2016 Yala and 2016/2017 Maha seasons. The experiment was set up accor...

Sri Lankan home gardens are rich in variety of medicinal plant species. Almost all the parts of the plant have medicinal value hence they are used in traditional Ayurvedic practices. However, leaves, roots, flowers, bark, fruits and rhizome have more medicinal value compared to other plant organs. The present review identifies twenty-five common me...

This book is written in the Sinhala language to introduce concepts and principles of Agroecology to design, develop and manage a sustainable farming system.

It is a Sinhala language book. This book consists of the indigenous knowledge & Farming techniques in Sri Lanka.

Cowpea is an important grain legume crop and inexpensive plant protein source cultivated year around in Sri Lanka. Tolerance to moisture stress is a critical factor for getting high production of cowpea growing in the Dry Zone. The present study consisting of three experiments was conducted in protected house and laboratory conditions to determine...

Clove bean (Ipomoea muricata) is one of the neglected and underutilized vegetable crops available in Sri Lanka. Three experiments in the present study were conducted to find out (1) the best storage period and condition for the clove bean seeds, (2) the effect of the number of nodes and the leves on rooting of cuttings and (3) the suitable potting...

Ex-situ conservation techniques are used effectively to preserve many threatened plant species including Ceylon gooseberry from imminent extinction. The present study was conducted to evaluate an integrated conservation approach which includes seed treatments, seedling establishment and rooting of stem cuttings of Ceylon gooseberry (Dovyalis hebeca...

The root system is essential for taking up nutrients while providing anchorage to the plant. The controlled environment experiment was conducted to study root morphological traits, plant growth, yield and nitrogen (N) uptake in different wheat species. Seven genotypes including cultivated emmer (Triticum dicoccum), spelt (T. spelta L.) and moder...

ABSTRACT Purpose : Plant nitrogen use efficiency can be increased by improving N uptake efficiency (NUpE). Root system architecture of the plant plays a vital role in uptaking water and nutrients including N. The resent study was conducted to compare root architectural traits of different wheat species at early seedling development and vegetative...

Nitrogen (N) partitioning in different wheat species under three N levels was studied by conducting two field experiments in 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons at University of Nottingham farm, Sutton Bonington, UK. Ten geno types belonging to four wheat species including three ancient hull wheat species of cultivated Einkorn (Triticum monococcum L.),...

A genotype with an ability to retain green leaf area for longer than an ordinary genotype is called a 'stay-green' phenotype. Such phenotypes may be able to assimilate more carbon during the post-anthesis grain-filling period. A field experiment was conducted to study genotypic differences of stay-green properties of ten genotypes belong to three a...

The present study was conducted to find out the effect of liquid organic fertilizers and synthetic inorganic fertilizer on the growth and yield of Centella asiatica (L.) (Sinhala; Gotukola) and Capsicum annuum (L.) var. annuum (green chilli). Two experiments were set up according to randomized complete block design with six replicates for each plan...

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) is well adapted to relatively dry and less fertile environments hence root system characteristics are very important for water and nutrient acquisition. The present study was conducted to identify the relationship between economic yield and yield components with seedling root traits of recommended cowpea varieties in S...

Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are important to facilitate root formation and firm plant establishment hence used in vegetative propagation for many years. Farmers use natural alternative compounds to induce rooting of cuttings. The present study was conducted to identify the effect of Aloe vera gel on root formation of stem cuttings and air layeri...

Triticum aestivum(modern bread wheat/MBW) is a result of a number of random hybridisation events between progenitors of different ploidy levels. Genetic diversity has had an enormous impact on wheat breeding since Green Revolution in the 1960s. However, at present, the genetic diversity of MBW is narrowed due to selective breeding. One source of in...

Breeding wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for high nitrogen use efficiency while maintaining adequate yield, is widely accepted as one of the approaches to maximise farmers' revenue and minimise pollution risk. However, due to random hybridization events during evaluation and selective breeding for high yield, genetic diversity of existing bread wheat...

In Sri Lanka, most of the vegetable farmers apply modern agricultural techniques such as intensive land preparation methods, synthesized fertilizer, hybrid seeds, and agrochemicals. Ultimate results are high cost of production, environmental pollution, biodiversity reduction, habitat destruction and risks to human health and welfare. Sri Lankan peo...

Generally, Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium is used for in-vitro micropropagation of Anthurium but it is very costly. Therefore the major objective of this study was to develop a cost-effective basal medium for micropropagation of Anthurium as an alternative to MS medium. In the present experiment, Albert's solution, which is a popular fertilizer mi...