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Papers by Nisansala Vidanapathirana

AGRIEAST: Journal of Agricultural Sciences

Changes in the genetic structure through gamma radiation of the plant can produce physiologically... more Changes in the genetic structure through gamma radiation of the plant can produce physiologically and biochemically efficient plant type with respect to increase production and attractiveness. For mutation breeding, scientists use gamma radiation to produce effective plant types. Beforehand, an effective range of radiation should be identified for possible suitable mutational effect. In this context, the present study was conducted to determine the effective doses of gamma radiation for mutational breeding of sunflower (H. annuus L.) on vegetative growth performances. Sunflower seeds were exposed to different doses of gamma radiation (0 Gy, 100 Gy, 200 Gy, 300 Gy, 400 Gy and 500 Gy) as treatments. The experiment was laid out in the Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with six treatments in four replications. Each replication comprised ten plants in field. Treating the sunflower seeds with gamma radiation has a significant (p<0.05) effect on the tested parameters except on germination percentage. Untreated plants with gamma radiation and plants treated with lower doses of gamma radiation (100 and 200 Gy) showed comparable values in percentage survival as 100%, 94.5% and 92.5%, respectively. LD50 value was recorded as 440 Gy. In the first two weeks of growth, untreated plants and plants treated with 100 Gy with gamma radiation showed similar values in a number of leaves and plant height. Later in the 4 th and 6 th week highest values were found where plants were not exposed to gamma radiation. A reducing trend in values in the measured variables has been observed with the increase in gamma radiation doses. The lowest values in all observations were recorded by the seeds exposed to 500 Gy, which is the highest dosage used in this experiment. The plants treated with the dosages higher than 100 Gy exhibited misshapen, deformed and abnormalities in leaves compared to the control, but the changes were not persisted. Hence, it could be suggested that exposing the sunflower seeds to gamma radiation dose has caused the negative effects on vegetative growth performances. Further, exposing sunflower seeds close to 440 Gy may have the potential to produce the sunflower variations especially dwarf plant stature with desired characteristics and optimum survival for domestication in future studies.

Annual Research & Review in Biology

Aims: In commercial cultivations, vegetative propagation through rooting of cuttings is common, a... more Aims: In commercial cultivations, vegetative propagation through rooting of cuttings is common, and IBA- based rooting hormone is often used. However, due to the need for non-chemical alternatives in organic cultivations, organic rooting substances have become increasingly important. Hence considering this, an experiment was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of different root-inducing agents on the propagation of tea cuttings. Study Design: The experimental units were arranged in a completely randomized design. Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted in a special project nursery belonging to TSHDA (Tea Small Holding Development Authority) in Beralapanathara GN division of Pasgoda divisional secretariat in Matara, Sri Lanka. Methodology: The nodal cuttings were pre-treated with six different root-inducing agents including water (control), Aloe vera gel, coconut water, honey charcoal mixture, potato juice and rooting hormone (0.3% IBA). Each treatment was r...

Journal of Agro-Technology and Rural Sciences, 2022

Production of cultured meat involves synthesizing meat from animal tissue samples in a controlled... more Production of cultured meat involves synthesizing meat from animal tissue samples in a controlled environment using biotechnology. This study was directed to understand the perception of Sri Lankan consumer on cultured meat consumption. A structural survey was conducted in Sri Lanka using a probability sample of 14200 people from 11 districts and it was selected proportionately to the population in selected divisional secretariat divisions of these districts. The result of the survey revealed that 75% of the population was interested in accepting the cultured meat. The study showed that the meat consumers usually considered the health benefits mostly followed by nutritional properties, sensory properties especially the flavor and texture and meat price. Participants have understood the advantages of cultured meat in terms of animal welfare, environmental aspects, and food security of the country. Therefore, it can be concluded that there will be a substantial market for cultured mea...

Today's rapid changing world highlights the influence and impact of technology in all asp... more Today's rapid changing world highlights the influence and impact of technology in all aspects of learning life. Although many universities across the world have incorporated internet-based, learning systems for different users there are only a few examples for e-Learning programs for farmers. None was available in Sri Lanka. Identifying this issue, Institute for Agro-technology and Rural Sciences in University of Colombo, Sri Lanka has implemented e-Learning program called Online Agro-technology Diploma for farmers in Sri Lanka. Learning Management system (LMS) was developed in local language using Moodle. All lesson contents are in digital form in the LMS. Online discussion forums and chat sessions were also designed in this program in order to help farmers to make daily communication with their colleagues and teachers on issues in agriculture. The prototype was developed and implemented in 2009. Currently, about 500 farmers all around the country have joined in this course. There is a rapid growth of Internet and e-Learning initiatives in different management and business fields and there are many studies done for validating e-Learning adaption of e-Learning users. However, there are few studies done with the users in agriculture fields to determine factors affecting their e-Learning adaption. Therefore, this paper focuses on the investigation of student farmers, who attempt to successfully adopt e-Learning systems at UCIARS. The conceptual research framework of e-Learning adoption, which is used in the analysis, is based on the technology acceptance model. This study used case study as a methodology and adopted quantitative methods of data collection to explore the factors that impact the acceptance of e-Learning for farmers. This study conducted a survey to understand student farmer's attitudes toward e-Learning program. The questionnaire was distributed to 100 farmer students. SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) was used to analyze data for this research. A regression analysis was used to test hypothesis. The study provides an indicator of farmers' acceptance of e-Learning as well as identifying the important factors that would contribute to its successful use. The outcomes will enrich the understanding of farmers' acceptance of e-Learning.

By employing modern agriculture and information and communication technologies, many of world far... more By employing modern agriculture and information and communication technologies, many of world farmers are becoming now successful entrepreneurs to create wealth and job opportunities elsewhere. Business environment nowadays changes rapidly. Agriculture and rural sector is not an exception. For the entrepreneur farmers, the change in business environment is rather an opportunity to create wealth. Many Sri Lankan young farmers can be rich by employing rural entrepreneur skills. University of Colombo Institute for Agro-technology and Rural Sciences (UCIARS) has designed and implemented the island-wide ICT based agro-technology diploma courses leading to a degree in order to expand the power of technology to more people and areas in rural Sri Lanka. In general, farm productivity of the 350 student farmers has been remarkably improved due to this innovative way of e-learning. Although many of the student farmers already started their own agro industry and enterprises, there is a lack of funding for improving their agri-businesses to achieve their targets. Therefore the institute actively engaged in this case to assist them financially and giving them relevant guidance, information, technology and knowledge. UCIARS offered its financial assistance to selected talented student farmers to commence new agribusinesses or upgrade their existing agri-businesses in loan basis with very low interest rate after receiving the project proposals from interested students. The beneficiaries were evaluated based on their fieldwork performances, marketing performances and record keeping activities based on the information obtain through field visits. Further, they were evaluated based on the performances shown in frequent interactions with Institute and timely payment of installments. Socioeconomic impact of the selected student farmers were evaluated under the criteria of improvements of productivity, income, knowledge, skill, communication ability and social contacts. It has shown that all above criteria were significantly improved due to ICT based education and rural entrepreneurship development.

Communications in Computer and Information Science, 2012

Abstract Agriculture is the mainstay of the rural sector of Sri Lanka. Farmers are resource-poor ... more Abstract Agriculture is the mainstay of the rural sector of Sri Lanka. Farmers are resource-poor and face constraints in gaining access to information and knowledge not only to improve crop productivity but also to compete in business environment. To expose farmers to knowledge and information, University of Colombo has built an Online Diploma in Agro-technology in local languages as the first-ever attempt by Sri Lankan university system. Course lessons developed by agriculture experts were converted to an interactive digital ...

Agriculture is the mainstay of the rural sector that occupies almost 75% of the total population.... more Agriculture is the mainstay of the rural sector that occupies almost 75% of the total population. Farmers. no resource poor and face tremendous constraints in gaining access to information and knowledge that t. ould improve their livelihoods. Even though farmers have the aspiration and potential to pursue further" ducation on new approaches, skills and techniques development has been negligible due to lack of opportunities and other constraints. Open and distance learning with appropriate information and I'ommunication ...

7th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies Proceedings, 2015

Today's rapid changing world highlights the influence and impact of technology in all aspects of ... more Today's rapid changing world highlights the influence and impact of technology in all aspects of learning life. Although many universities across the world have incorporated internet-based, learning systems for different users there are only a few examples for e-Learning programs for farmers. None was available in Sri Lanka. Identifying this issue, Institute for Agro-technology and Rural Sciences in University of Colombo, Sri Lanka has implemented e-Learning program called Online Agro-technology Diploma for farmers in Sri Lanka. Learning Management system (LMS) was developed in local language using Moodle. All lesson contents are in digital form in the LMS. Online discussion forums and chat sessions were also designed in this program in order to help farmers to make daily communication with their colleagues and teachers on issues in agriculture. The prototype was developed and implemented in 2009. Currently, about 500 farmers all around the country have joined in this course. There is a rapid growth of Internet and e-Learning initiatives in different management and business fields and there are many studies done for validating e-Learning adaption of e-Learning users. However, there are few studies done with the users in agriculture fields to determine factors affecting their e-Learning adaption. Therefore, this paper focuses on the investigation of student farmers, who attempt to successfully adopt e-Learning systems at UCIARS. The conceptual research framework of e-Learning adoption, which is used in the analysis, is based on the technology acceptance model. This study used case study as a methodology and adopted quantitative methods of data collection to explore the factors that impact the acceptance of e-Learning for farmers. This study conducted a survey to understand student farmer's attitudes toward e-Learning program. The questionnaire was distributed to 100 farmer students. SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) was used to analyze data for this research. A regression analysis was used to test hypothesis. The study provides an indicator of farmers' acceptance of e-Learning as well as identifying the important factors that would contribute to its successful use. The outcomes will enrich the understanding of farmers' acceptance of e-Learning.