2014 - Volume 09 Issue 2

SOIL AMELIORANTS TO IMPROVE SOIL CHEMICAL AND MICROBIAL BIOMASS PROPERTIES IN SOME SOUTH AFRICAN SOILS

2014-05-01T00:00:00Z

SOIL AMELIORANTS TO IMPROVE SOIL CHEMICAL AND MICROBIAL BIOMASS PROPERTIES IN SOME SOUTH AFRICAN SOILS Baloyi, T. C; Du Preez, C. C; Kutu, F. R Rainfed field trials on effects of seed, foliar and soil amendments herein referred as industrially manufactured biological amendments (IMBAs) on selected soil chemical and microbial biomass properties were conducted from 2006/07through 2008/09 at four sites in South Africa under light and heavy-textured soils. The IMBAs were classified as growth boosters and partial or total replacements of conventional NPK fertiliser. The IMBAs were applied according to product recommendations in a randomised complete block design with four replications. An optimum conventional NPK rate at each site and untreated control were also included as check. Application of IMBAs with optimum recommended NPK fertiliser rate promoted acidity in soils compared to the IMBAs used as either partial or total replacements of conventional NPK fertiliser. The use of the different IMBA types significantly increased contents of organic C, available N and P only in light-textured soils than in the NPK check. The different IMBAs promoted higher microbial biomass-C immobilisation at 4-weeks after planting, while biomass-C mineralisation was predominant at flowering and crop harvest regardless of soil type. Farmers could apply any category of IMBAs to complement revitalisation of degraded South African soils and also minimise nutrient leaching due to synergetic effects.

HAS THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SECTOR PLAYED ITS INTENDED ROLE IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF SRI LANKA? AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION

2014-05-01T00:00:00Z

HAS THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SECTOR PLAYED ITS INTENDED ROLE IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF SRI LANKA? AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION Bandara, E. G. C. D; Jayasinghe-Mudalige, U. K; Udugama, J. M. M; Attanayake, A. M. C. M; Edirisinghe, J. C This study examines the economic research problem of whether the food and agriculture sector of Sri Lanka has played its intended role in the process of socio-economic development. The Myint Hypothesis was used to develop the analytical framework, which states that, as a country passes through the process of structural transformation (i.e. the agricultural share decreases overtime, while the Gross Domestic Production increases), its food and agriculture sector should “give a hand” for socio-economic development. by: (1) increasing the supply of food available for domestic consumption (food security); (2) releasing the agricultural labor force for specialized work in other sectors, including the manufacturing and services (intersectoral labor mobility); (3) increasing the supply of domestic savings from agriculture sector (capital formation), and (4) increasing the foreign exchange earnings through agricultural exports (agricultural trade). The outcome of analysis, which employed Distributed Lag Models in various functional forms for the data covering the period of 1970 to 2010, shows that the performance of the agriculture sector was fairly satisfactory to upkeep the levels of household food security, capital formation and foreign exchange earnings. It justifies, overall, respective government’s efforts to safeguard agriculture sector by direct interventions, as it acts as the mainstay of livelihood for vast majority of people and has now come up to a situation where it can stand right with a “little help” extended by means of an incentive-based regulatory and facilitative policy framework

FACTORS AFFECTING THE DISCONTINUATION OF PROTECTED AGRICULTURE ENTERPRISES IN SRI LANKA

2014-01-01T00:00:00Z

FACTORS AFFECTING THE DISCONTINUATION OF PROTECTED AGRICULTURE ENTERPRISES IN SRI LANKA Wijerathna, Madhavi; Weerakkody, W. A. P; Kirindigoda, S This study was conducted to find out the factors causing the growers to discontinue protected vegetable production after few seasons of operation and to propose appropriate remedial measures. The investigation was done through key informant discussions, observations and interviews ofrandomly selected 60 members of Protected Agriculture Entrepreneurs Association (PAEA) using a semi structured interview schedule. The main reasons for discontinuing protected agriculture enterprises were socio-economic factors, namely; lack of transport facilities, problems in the marketing, marginal monitory returns, dependency on external support schemes on investments, part time engagement, lack of family support and scale of production (less than 2000 sq ft.).The technological features of the production enterprises did not indicate a significant association with the discontinuation. In order to facilitate the sustainability and mobility of the protected agriculture enterprises in Sri Lanka, the supply chain should be reorganized to collect, transport, store and ultimately market the produce. Monitoring and advisory programs should be linked with the small growers to minimize the production risks while reducing the production costs and thus increasing the profit margins.

EVALUATE THE SORPTION BEHAVIOR AND IDENTIFICATION OF OPTIMUM DRYING CONDITIONS OF Phylanthus ambelica (NELLI) AND Zingiber officinale (GINGER)

2014-01-01T00:00:00Z

EVALUATE THE SORPTION BEHAVIOR AND IDENTIFICATION OF OPTIMUM DRYING CONDITIONS OF Phylanthus ambelica (NELLI) AND Zingiber officinale (GINGER) Wijewardane, R. M. N. A; Gunawardane, C. R; Palipane, K. B; Gunawardena, K. V. T; Samarakoon, H. C; Fernando, M. D Drying behavior and the optimum drying conditions of Phylanthus ambelica (Nelli) and Zingiber officinale (Ginger) were evaluated. Moisture sorption isotherms were determined using the static gravimetric method using saturated salt solutions of water activities range from 0.05% - 0. 92% at two temperatures of 30° C and 50° C. Modified Henderson, Modified Chung-Pfost and GAB models were used to fit the experimental data and it was best fitted by the Chung-Pfost model. Thus Chung-Pfost model was used for the estimation of the equilibrium moisture content of tested medicinal crops. The process conditions for drying were optimized and 50° C was found to be the best suitable drying temperature for Phylanthus ambelica (Nelli) as well 40° C was preferred for Zingiber officinale (Ginger) with respect to preservation of its volatile substance significantly (p< 0.05).