Research Publications
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Publication Embargo Newly Introduced Creeper Legume Vigna marina as a Solution for Protection of Road Cuts in Sri Lanka(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences - SLIIT, 2021-03-26) De Silva, M.H.S.C.; Yapa, P.I.; Mahatantile, W.D.KAcelerated soil erosion and landslides are destructive degradation consequences in the central highlands, Sri Lanka. Therefore, cost-effective and sustainable slope stabilization techniques have become an urgent need to solve the problem. Properly designed vegetation covers play a significant role in erosion control. However, average plants cannot thrive on extremely degraded soils in the affected area. Therefore, the introduction of a low-demanding legume, Vigna marina (Burm.) Merr., as a vegetation cover was tested against soil erosion. Protection of bare road-cuts against soil erosion was the main focus of the study. The growth of V. marina was tested using five treatments - i.e. control (T1), subsoil (T2), decomposing parent material (T3), 20% Pinus wood biochar+subsoil (T4), and 20% Pinus wood biochar+decomposing parent material (T5). Control treatment was established as recommended by the Department of Agriculture for a similar plant (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The highest growth was recorded in T1 followed by T4 and T5. The poorest growth was recorded in T2 and T3. Nitrogen (N) content of the soil has been significantly increased in T2, T3, T5 and T4 respectively whereas, a significant decline in soil N was recorded in T1. A significant decline in phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) content in the soil was common to all. The highest Nitrogen content of root nodules was in T5 and the lowest in T1. The largest number and the dry weight of root nodules were observed in T4 and T5 compared to the rest. The poorest nodule activity was recorded in T1. Therefore, V. marina appears to be a cost-effective sustainable slope stabilization technique for protection of road cuts.Publication Embargo Effect of Three Types of Biochar in Cocopeat Medium on Shoot Cutting Production of Chrysanthemum(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences,SLIIT, 2021-09-25) Kathriarachchi, A. S; Wimalasiri, E. M; Ampitiyawatta, A. D; Kumara, G. D. K; Weerasinghe, W. W. B. P. BBiochar is a popular growing media amendment that increases fertilizer and water use efficiency, nutrient retention and crop productivity in floricultural crops. In Sri Lanka, cocopeat is used as the major growing medium for most of the floricultural crops. Therefore, the objective of this study was to incorporate biochar as a potential media amendment to improve the performances of plants through the enhancement of media properties. The performance of Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora) was tested in amended media, as Chrysanthemum shoot cuttings is one of the most important floricultural products exported from Sri Lanka. The experiment was conducted with four treatments: B1 - 80% Coir dust+ 20% paddy husk biochar (v/v); B2 - 80% Coir dust+ 20% coconut shell biochar (v/v); B3 - 80% Coir dust+ 20% pine wood biochar (v/v) and C - 100% Coir dust (control). Incorporation of biochar significantly (p < 0.05) changes pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and water holding capacity (WHC) of the growing medium. Compared to the control, the time taken by Chrysanthemum shoots to reach standard size and quality did not show a significant (p > 0.05) difference in B1 while B2 and B3 showed significant (p < 0.05) differences. The number of shoots produced per plant three weeks after the first pinching and the post-harvest life and rooting performance was not significantly (p > 0.05) different among treatments. The incorporation of biochar into the coir dust growing medium for Chrysanthemum showed promising results which need to be assessed using other substrates and different mixing ratios.