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Ecosystem Services of Homegarden Agroforestry in Jaffna Peninsula

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Ecosystem Services of Homegarden Agroforestry in Jaffna Peninsula Authors: Jeyavanan, K.; Sivachandiran, S.; Pushpakumara, D.K.N.G. Abstract: A study was carried out in Jaffna peninsula in dry zone area of Sri Lanka to assess the ecosystem services of homegarden agroforestry. Participant observation, interview of householders, measuring and collection of biodiversity data, photographing and sketching the structure of homegardens and focus group discussion were approached. In samples of 125 homegardens, a total of 5,920 individuals for flora were assessed from 58 families and 135 species. Mean value of Shannon diversity index (H), Simpson diversity index (D) and evenness (E) for the floristic component were 1.72 ± 0.04 (0.2-2.95), 0.78 ± 0.12 (0.27-1) and 0.81 ± 0.01 (0.12-1.19), respectively, revealed that the homegardens had medium, equally distributed floral diversity in Jaffna homegardens. A total of 825 individuals for domestic fauna were identified from 19 species and 12 families, H, D and E were 0.21 ± 0.03, 0.16 ± 0.03 and 0.22 ± 0.03, respectively, revealed that faunal component had low species diversity and not equally distributed among the homegardens. Mean above ground carbon stock was 40.51 ± 3.67 (235.71-0.33) Mg C ha-1. Provision of fruits was high with mean of 2,996 kg ha-1 and nuts from coconut was 1, 444 nuts ha-1. Mean production of milk from goat and cattle were 0.44 and 1.09 litre day-1 animal-1, respectively. Mean volume of producible trees and poles were high accounted as 36.68 and 2.12 m3 ha-1 homegarden-1, due to high species density. Annual mean production of fodder for livestock was 875.99 ± 395.4 kg ha-1, revealed that about 3.68 % of feed requirement could be met for livestock. There were more than 30 medicinal plants including trees, shrubs and vines used in ethno medicine. Mean value of income, expenditure and food ratio was Rs. 21,976, Rs. 18,802 and 0.56, respectively. Host per pollinator and pollinators per host were high in bees and mango, respectively. Effectiveness of the temperature and shade was medium-cool and medium-high, respectively in inside the homegardens, revealed that tree canopy play a key role to regulate the environment. Effectiveness of different conservation practices on soil, water, nutrient and biodiversity was medium, low-medium, medium and low, respectively.

Evaluation of Seed Biopriming and Organic Manures on Chilli Organic Seed Production

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Evaluation of Seed Biopriming and Organic Manures on Chilli Organic Seed Production Authors: Ananthi, M.; Selvaraju, P.; Sundaralingam, K. Abstract: To find out the effect of seed bio-priming with liquid bio-fertilizers and application of sources of nutrients on crop growth and yield of Chilli, a field experiment was conducted at the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore on 2013 during Kharif and Rabi seasons. The results revealed that the plant growth and yield parameters were more in the plants grown from bio-primed seeds with Azospirillum than the nonprimed seed. Among the sources of nutrients, the performance of inorganic fertilizer was higher than organic manures. Among the organic manures, seed bioprimed with Azospirillum and applied with poultry manure recorded the plant height of 66.2 and 63.9 cm, leaf area index of 1.665 and 1.621 and chlorophyll index of 44.9 and 43.9 in both the seasons. The same results were obtained with respect to number of flowers plant-1, number of fruits plant-1 and fruit set percentage which were significantly higher in Azospirillum biopriming seed with inorganic fertilizer than organic treatments. The seed yield was high in the treatment involving seed bio-priming with Azospirillum and inorganic fertilizer (219.1 and 212.6 kgha-1) followed by poultry manure (213.5 and 207.4 kgha-1) than in the control (209.5 and 205.0 kgha-1) in both the seasons.

Effect of Thermal Treatment on Keeping Quality of Palmyrah Sweet Sap

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Effect of Thermal Treatment on Keeping Quality of Palmyrah Sweet Sap Authors: Surenther, S.; Mahilrajan, S.; Chandrasena, G; Robika, K; SriVijeindran, S Abstract: The palmyrah palm (Borassus flabellifer) is grows extensively in Northern part of Sri Lanka. Sweet sap is the most important product obtained from palm, could be extracted from both male and female inflorescences (dioecious) by tapping process. Harvested sap should be immediately processed due to the highly perishability as it under goes spontaneous fermentation via air born yeast microflora. The main objective is the study was to identify the optimum temperature and time for preservation of sweet sap and detected the suitable shelf life for bottled sweet sap via the physical, chemical, microbiological and sensory quality of preserved sweet sap. Traditionally quick lime is added to prevent the fermentation; phosphoric acid was selected at pH 8 based on the sensory analysis for the removal of lime as calcium phosphate. Delimed sweet sap was used for the study of thermal treatment in order to increase the keeping quality of sweet sap. Three experiments with different thermal treatments were conducted to preserve the sweet sap. Experiment 1 (preservatives such as citric acid and sodium metabisulphite) and as a result of gas formation due to the fermentation, Experiment 2 (thermal treatments of 60, 70 80 and 90 oC) were rejected. In the 3rd experiment the bottled sweet sap was heated at 105, 110 and 115 oC for different time intervals (15 and 30 min) and stored at room temperature (30±2 oC). There were no significant differences (p<0.05) in physicochemical (TSS, total and reducing sugar) and microbial (TPC and yeast and mould) evaluation of selected treatments at 60 days of storage. Based on sensory evaluation, thermal processing at 105 oC for 15 min was selected as the best treatment and it could be stored for 60 days without changing its native characteristics.

Lateral Branch Induction of Cordyline (Cordyline fruticosa) Shoot Cuttings with Benzyl Amino Purine (BAP)

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Lateral Branch Induction of Cordyline (Cordyline fruticosa) Shoot Cuttings with Benzyl Amino Purine (BAP) Authors: Palugaswewa, P.S.; Krishnarajah, S. A.; Mahendran, S.; Puvanitha, S. Abstract: The Cordyline (Cordyline fruticosa) is an important ornamental foliage plant species belongs to Asparagaceae family grown in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Cordyline has high demand in local and foreign markets as potted and cut foliage plants. Owing to very slow growth rate of cordyline CVs, obtaining leaves with preferred length and quality is difficult. Availability of quality planting material is also a major problem in cordyline cultivation, due to slow growth rate. This study focussed on the possibility of lateral branch induction with Benzyl Amino Purine (BAP) on the decapitated cordyline plants. Cordyline shoots of about 25 cm length were potted in polyethylene bags (6 cm x 15 cm) filled with 1:1 ratio of compost and sand. Shoots were kept for three weeks in the shade before decapitation. Application of different concentrations of BAP as: 25, 50, 75 and 100 ppm were made twice: 1st, three weeks after plant establishment and 2nd, two weeks afterwards as a foliar spray while the control was sprayed with distilled water. The length and the number of lateral branches and also the number of leaves per plant were recorded at fortnight interval starting from two weeks after the last hormone treatment. It was found that the application of BAP at 75 ppm was the most effective in inducing lateral shoots and leaves on cordyline plants. Treatment with 75 ppm BAP has given the highest number of lateral branches; 6−7/tree with 14 −19 leaves compared to the rest of the treatments in both hormonal applications. The length of shoots was also increased markedly due to the application of hormone. The highest length (24.4 and 38.6 cm) was observed in plants treated with 75 ppm BAP. The findings of this study indicated that the application of 75 ppm BAP can be beneficial for lateral shoot induction and growth enhancement of cordyline trees compared to the other treatments.