https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/3878 2026-04-23T09:59:34Z https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/2839 Effect of vermicompost with biodynamic formulated biochar on Carbon and Nitrogen mineralization in Ultisols and Alfisols Amarasinghe, SR; Gunawardhana, LAASM Abstract— Organic amendments provide good nutritional input to the soil by maintaining environmental sustainability. Availability of nutrients are less due to soil salinization and acidity in Alfisols and Ultisols, respectively.Therefore, this study aims to assess the effect of vermicompost, biochar and biodynamic formulated biochar on C and N mineralization in Alfisols and Ultisols,the main soil types that cover land area in Sri Lanka. Vermicompost and biochar with and without biodynamic formulation were applied to soil types separately according to the specific rates. After incorporating the amendments, pH, EC, nitrate-N, ammonium-N and CO2 evolution were determined up to 63 days. Statistical analysis was done using SAS software. According to the results, the pH of Ultisols with inoculated biochar shows a lowering at the initial stage, however it was not significantly different with the control. Inoculated and non- inoculated biochar with vermicompost in Alfisols decreased the EC significantly (p<0.05) in later stages reducing the salinity compared to the control. In Ultisols and Alfisols, nitrate-N increased significantly (p<0.05) in both treatments. The evolved CO2 is significantly high (p<0.05) in microbial inoculated soil treatments when compared to non-microbial inoculated soil treatments in both soil types. It can be concluded that the N and C mineralization pattern varied among the treatment in Ultisols and Alfisols and the biodynamic formulated biochar with vermicompost showed an impact on mineralization. Soil amendments have both long term and short term effects. Therefore, it is recommended to do further studies to evaluate the long term effect of organic amendments. Keywords— Biochar, inoculum, vermicompost 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/2838 Performance evaluation of coconut estates: developing an index to evaluate performance of coconut estates managed by Kurunegala Plantations Ltd. Dunsford, LB; Dissanayake, DMID; Nuwarapaksh, TD; Weerasinghe, KS; Gajanayake, B. Abstract — Coconut industry plays a vital role in the economy of Sri Lanka and in rural livelihood. Over 497,000ha of lands are cultivated with coconuts in Sri Lanka. Estate sector accounts for 25% of the land area for coconut cultivation and it contributes 40% of the national production. However the rest, 60%, is from smallholders’ sector. Coconut production by both smallholders and estates managed by plantation companies show high variation in their performance. In this study, the performance evaluation of coconut estates was done by developing an index. It facilitated comparison of the performance at seven areacoconut estates of Kurunegala Plantations Ltd (KPL) which holds mature coconut area of 3,124.60ha. Ten variables were identified as the most vital pertning to estate performance. Weights for each variable was finalized through direct interviews with five plantation experts at KPL. Ten year data for each variable were collected and the average values were taken for analyses. Results revealed that Narammala area estates have excellent performance in profit per ha, field works, agronomic and other management practices, and immature coconut extent. The estate has done well in density per ha, net sales average, cost of production and progress in office work. Even though the estate has done good in many variables, yield per ha and nuts per palm were only at satisfactory level. Its yield per ha was the 2nd highest among all area estates. With all performances, Narammala area-estates ranked no. 1 in KPL, but needed to improve in diversification, yield per ha and nuts per palm. Keywords— Coconut, Estate sector, Performance Index 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/2837 Enhancement of growth and yield of Maize (Zea mays L.) using cocompost pellets with biochar Pushpakumara, AWS; Senadheera, HRS; Weerakkody, WJSK; Ranaweera, B; Disanayake, DMPS Abstract— Waste generation and complexity is increasing due to urbanization and absence of proper solid waste management system in developing countries. Co-composted organic fractions of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) with Dewatered Fecal Sludge (DFS) has a high potential to use as an agricultural resource in Sri Lanka. Oil palm Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) has become a rising environmental and economic problem and it is a potential source for biochar feedstock. This study was focused on utilization of EFB as a biochar in amending sandy loam soil and evaluating performance of maize (Zea mays L.) fertilized with co-compost pellets (CCP). The experiment was carried out at the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Development Centre, Makandura. The growth and yield characteristics of maize plants were used to assess the effect of pelletized forms of different CCP. Randomized completely block design with four blocks and seven treatments namely MSW+DFS CCP with 30% available Nitrogen (T2) and 100% available Nitrogen (T3), MSW+DFS+biochar CCP with 30% available Nitrogen (T4) and 100% available Nitrogen (T5), MSW+DFS+Mineral enriched CCP (T6) and MSW+DFS+Biochar+Mineral enriched CCP (T7) were compared with mineral fertilizer recommendation by Department of Agriculture (DOA) of Sri Lanka (T1) as control. Significantly higher yield could be obtained under stress weather conditions with T2 against the control. The yield was increased by 22% over current mineral fertilizer recommendation of DOA. It could be concluded that harvest of 4.5 to 6.3 tons ha-1 could be achieved by amending soil with 42 tons ha-1 of MSW+DFS CCP with 30% available Nitrogen. Keywords— Biochar, Co-compost, Pellets, Zea mays L. 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/2831 Identifying Factors for Sustaining the Zero Accident Vision: A Case of Tire Company in Sri Lanka J.H.A.D, Chathurangani; Dharmawansa, Asanka D. Abstract— Zero Accident Vision (ZAV) encourages the vision that accidents are preventable. The objective of this study is to identify the factors which enable, and impede ZAV in a tire industry. Behaviour-based safety may be affected by providing good safety training, building a safe and healthy work environment, offering safety incentives, and developing safety empowerment based on the literature. Primary data were gathered by distributing the questionnaire. The sample size was 98 among 120 population of the company shop floor members who are the most aware of the work environment and risking accidents. Descriptive analysis and multiple regression analysis were used by SPSS-22. Descriptive analysis was helped to identify the response patterns of employees. Multiple regression analysis identified factors and its impact on sustaining ZAV. Pearson correlation was used to analyse the relationship between variables. All independent variables, safety training, work environment, safety incentives, and safety empowerment significantly affected ZAV. Safety training and safety incentive were enabling factors which should be continued and, safety empowerment and work environment were impeding factors which should be developed further to sustain ZAV. Keywords— Zero Accident Vision, Safety, Behaviour 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z