http://repo.lib.jfn.ac.lk/ujrr/handle/123456789/5658 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 22:49:33 GMT 2026-04-14T22:49:33Z http://repo.lib.jfn.ac.lk/ujrr/handle/123456789/2311 Title: Yield and Economics of Other Field Crops in Rain-fed upland cultivation in the Jaffna Peninsula of Dry Zone of Sri Lanka Authors: Vijayathasan, S.; Selvanathan, N. Abstract: The study was done to evaluate six common Other Field Crops (OFC) that belong to three major crop groups, grain legumes, coarse grains and oil crops cultivated as Marginal uplands under fully rain-fed conditions for three consecutive Maha seasons for their agronomic and economic performance at the agricultural Research Station, Thirunelvely. During first raining the land was ploughed and harrowed by four wheel tractor to ensure good weed control suitable for planting. The every variety of seeds was row sowed as rain fed Marginal land during October to November. Rainfall received from October to February (crop growing period) in Maha2006/07 of 751 mm, Maha 07/08 of 916.5 mm and Maha 08/09 of 1246.8 mm were adequate to produce satisfactory yield in all crops. The yield ranges of the crops were 850-1000 kg/ha in blackgram (Vigna mungo) ,350-1050 kg /ha in green gram(Vigna radiata),350-800 kg/ha in cowpea(Vigna unquiculata) ,450-700 kg/ha in finger millet(Eleusine coracana),1500-2000kg/ha in maize (Zea mays )and 1015 kg/ha in groundnut(Arachis hypogaea). Ground nut gave the highest net return (Rs.78500/ha) followed by, black gram (Rs.66666/ha) maize (Rs.62500/ha) and green gram (Rs. 39000/ha), including family labour. However in Maha season cultivation of cowpea and finger millet was not profitable. It can be concluded that green gram black gram, maize and ground nut are suitable crops for marginal rain-fed upland in dry zone of Sri Lanka. Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT http://repo.lib.jfn.ac.lk/ujrr/handle/123456789/2311 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repo.lib.jfn.ac.lk/ujrr/handle/123456789/2310 Title: Study on the removal of iron and manganese in groundwater and surface water by oxidation and micro filtration. Authors: Jean Jancika, M.; Saravanan, S.; Mikunthan, T. Abstract: Water resources are becoming increasingly scarce in many areas of the world due to development, and increased demand. Groundwater is the major natural water resource in the Jaffna peninsula. One of the problems related to groundwater is the reddish colour caused by the presence of ferrous and manganese which may cause taste, odour, colour, or turbidity problems.The objectives of the study were focused on removal efficiency of iron and manganese, turbidity, color, and bacteriological parameters through oxidation and microfiltration process and consideration of low cost and suitability in domestic level. Water samples were collected with problematic locations as especially from Thenmaradchi for iron and manganese, Thirunelvely, and Pasaiyoor and Kurunagar areas pond water for coliforms and E.Coli. Preliminary test was conducted to select suitable aeration time and overnight aeration was identified based on the removal efficiency. The iron, manganese, color, turbidity, pH, electrical conductivity, alkalinity, fluoride, sulphate, total phosphate, chloride, nitrates, total coliforms and E.Coli were tested for raw and treated water samples. The iron removal efficiency through micro filtration alone was varied from 18% to 100% and the manganese removal efficiency was varied from 65% to 100%. Higher percentage of Mn2+ was removed by microfiltration compare to Fe2+. But the removal efficiency for both Fe2+ and Mn2+ was 95% by oxidation and microfiltration process for surface and groundwater. The color and turbidity both reduced due the removal of iron and manganese. The bacteriological removal efficiency, total coliforms and E.Coli was 100%. There were no different in other water quality parameters. Microfiltration process also reduces the nitrate nitrogen content of the groundwater. Microfiltration could be introduced for treatment of groundwater and surface water for color, turbidity, iron and manganese and bacteria removal at domestic level. Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT http://repo.lib.jfn.ac.lk/ujrr/handle/123456789/2310 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repo.lib.jfn.ac.lk/ujrr/handle/123456789/2309 Title: Screening of salinity tolerant rice cultivars at seedling stage Authors: Tharani, T.; Suvanthini, S.; Thirukkumaran, G. Abstract: Rice is the staple food for more than a billion people worldwide, which includes twenty million people in Sri Lanka. Currently about 100,000 hectares of paddy lands in Sri Lanka are affected by salinity which limiting the crop production in worldwide. Therefore selection of rice cultivars which are tolerant to salinity is an important requirement for paddy cultivation in Sri Lanka too. In this study fifteen rice cultivars Masuran, Poththalai, Kahamala, Puspharaga, Heteda wee, Beheth heenati, Rathkandu, Suwandel, Dickwee, Kahawanu, Weeda heenati, Kirinaran, Rath suwandel, Rathdel and Godaheenati were collected from the Anuradhapura district to screen the salinity tolerant rice cultivars. To fix the treatments, soil samples were collected from different places in Jaffna district and the highest salinity 154μs/cm and lowest salinity 51.6μs/cm were recorded by using electrical conductivity meter. The salinity range was selected from 50 -155 μs/cm. From this preliminary study, five treatments 0, 50, 85, 120 and 155 μs/cm were selected and maintained by adding different concentration of salt solution in sixty pots. Seed germination percentage under different treatments and seedling height, shoot length, flag leaf width, flag leaf length were measured at 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 days after planting. Complete randomized design was used to analyze the agronomic characters of cultivars and the mean was separated by DMRT. All the results were analyzed by using SAS statistical package, version 8.0. Germination percentage of the tested rice cultivars were not significantly different from the control at all salinity levels tested in this experiment except Beheththeenati and Dick.wee cultivars. Flag leaf length and girth length of all cultivars increased with increasing salt level. Plant height Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT http://repo.lib.jfn.ac.lk/ujrr/handle/123456789/2309 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repo.lib.jfn.ac.lk/ujrr/handle/123456789/2308 Title: Role of Mass Media in the Decision of the Consumer Desire to go for a Sustainable Fresh Water Alternative: A Case Study Conducted Within Jaffna Municipal Limit Authors: Latha, U.; Umashankar, K. Abstract: An urgency has developed over the last few decades in the safety and purity and the extent of freshness of ground water which apparently is the only source of drinking water in the peninsula. This ironically is due to the indifference, negligence and the carelessness of human activity. To check this state of affairs attempts are made to rein matters considered by many as too few too late. To clear the minds of the public of this trend of thought manipulation of the Mass media is essential. Rain water collection and preservation for protracted long term use is not new to the dry zone of Sri Lanka. Yet, of recent origin, water collected using traditional methods cannot be kept free of pollutants due to the water contact with the earth. Since the source of all pollutants is the earth as it is now, attempts are made to collect, protect and preserve rain water as best as possible. The answer is rain water harvesting systems. Viable and sustainable solution to insufficient supply of freshwater could be the rain water harvesting systems. The concepts though is lacking expression here in the peninsula is widely seen all over the world. However the hesitation, reluctance and the traditional suspicion of the body polity have to be engaged and addressed. For this purpose the Mass media could be harnessed. Mass media of all variety are likely to be important for informing better investment decisions on infrastructure. The question is how best these different sources could be employed to disseminate, technical installation and health information through the electronic and printed media and how and to what variant degree people are influenced through the media. This is the question which is addressed in the research conducted as to ascertain what socio economic factors influence the decision making trend of the people at large and how the media exposure of relevant factors affect the individual’s decision. For this reason all available media material were compiled and a media exposure index was composed. The city of Jaffna was selected for this purpose and around 380 respondents were picked randomly but corresponding to the population of the relevant divisional secretarial division. A stratified purposive random sampling technique was used to pick the samples. To this end the data were collected on current water needs, health concern and household socio economic characteristics. The data were collected through three formats. They being open ended, open ended with prequalifying statements, and dichotomous choice. The collected data were analyzed within the frame work of Probit Regression model. The model was found to be significant at 1% α level. The results revealed that household desire to go for suitable fresh water alternative depends on media exposure index, household size, educational level of the household head, income of the household, and real estate extent. These factors again influenced positively and were statistically significant at 1%, 1%, 5%, 10% and 10% α level respectively. The mass media exposure index being the dependent variable in the model, it was found to be highly (1%) significant. Thus it is suggested that all up to date information on the relevant field be disseminated through the available media so that continuous and sustained information is made available to the community. This implies that the use of available media of all kind and types, to the maximum, to explain the level of effects of water pollution and the consequent health hazards generated in the peninsula, create awareness of the impending danger to residents clearly. This results in the decision of these people seeking a sustainable and durable solution to the emergency thus driving them towards an alternate solution like rain water harvesting systems. So that being informed, they become informative and in effect the civil society transforms slowly, steadily, gradually going through a paradigm shift into a more efficient and healthy one. Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT http://repo.lib.jfn.ac.lk/ujrr/handle/123456789/2308 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z