http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/619 Journal Published by the Faculty of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:08:09 GMT 2026-04-28T08:08:09Z http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/773 UNDERSTANDING THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN RAINFALL AND LUNAR PHASE- A CASE STUDY IN KANDY REGION IN SRI LANKA Premachandra, N.P; De Silva, R. P; Punyawarden, B.V.R There is a common belief among Sri Lankans that rainfall always occurs around “Poya day” (the day of full moon). The background for this belief is that the rainfall is influenced by the phase of the moon and this hypothesis was tested using data from Kandy region. Statistical analyses on this hypothesis were conducted using ephemeris and official rainfall data covering a period of 38 years, from January 1964 to December 2001, for three locations in Kandy region. These analyses were based on four types of comparisons namely, yearly average possibility of rainfall on a moon phase day with that of a control day, yearly average rainfall on a moon phase day with that of a control day, yearly average possibility of rainfall on a moon phase day with that of the opposite moon phase day and yearly average rainfall on a moon phase day with that of the opposite moon phase day. These comparisons were repeated for ‘around 3 day period of moon phase day’, ‘around 5 day period of moon phase day’, ‘one day before moon phase day + moon phase day’, ‘two day before moon phase day + moon phase day’, ‘one day after moon phase day + moon phase day’, and ‘two day after moon phase day + moon phase day’. As a control sample for the first two types of comparisons, the third day of each month was chosen randomly. Statistical analyses were done using the sign test and the t-test. Using results of the 24 types of comparisons, it was found that no significant correlation between rainfall and the occurrence of the four moon phases. Hence, it can be concluded that the rainfall is not influenced by the phase of the moon. The comment or the belief that ‘rainfall always occurs around the “Poya day” may have arisen from people only enriching the myth when raining on “Poya days” during rainy periods, as it is well known, it’s probably the heads-I-win, tails-doesn’t count approach. Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/773 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/769 LINEAR ESTIMATION OF GIRTH AS A COVARIATE ON YIELD PARAMETERS OF RUBBER (Hevea brasiliensis Muell.Arg.): CORRELATION OF GIRTH WITH LATEX VOLUME AND WEIGHT Karunaratne, P.M.A.S; Wijeratne, A.W; Kumara, J.B.D.A.P Rubber, (Hevea brasiliensis Mull.Arg). plays an important role in the Sri Lankan economy as one of the main export agricultural crops in the country. Latex is the economically important part of rubber tree for which the girth increment is a very important factor to ensure higher latex yield. It is known fact that girth related to the latex yield of rubber. Therefore the current study was conducted to estimate the girth as covariate for rubber yield and to predict the correct out come of future experiments related to rubber. The relationships of latex yield and girth of rubber were estimated using a linear regression model. Three clones RRIC 100, RRIC 121 and PB 86 were used for the experiment. Latex yield was determined by latex volume of individual trees and Grams per Tree per Tapping (GTT). Each clone was categorized into 3 girth classes as poor girth (class 1,50-64 cm), medium girth (class 2, 65-79 cm) and high girth (class 3, >80 cm). The regression coefficient for RRIC 100 was +1.520 and +0.466 for GTT and latex volume respectively. The recorded regression coefficients for clone RRIC 121 were +0.690 for GTT and +1.192 for latex volume. Similarly PB 86 produced regression coefficients +0.602 for GTT and +1.582 for latex volume. The significance by positive correlation between latex yield and girth in tested clones suggested that tree girth can be taken as a covariate in rubber experiments. Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/769 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/765 CORRELATES OF ADOPTION OF COMPOSITE FISH CULTURE PRACTICES BY FISH FARMERS OF ASSAM, INDIA Talukdar, P.K; Sontaki, B. S The present study carried out during 1999 - 2000 in the purposively selected Sonitpur district of Assam focused on the factors influencing adoption of composite fish culture practices by the fish farmers. The data were gathered using a structured and pre-tested interview schedule from 60 randomly selected fish farmers. The findings revealed that majority (63 %) of fish farmers belonged to medium category of adoption. The adoption behaviour of composite fish culture practices was positively influenced by the factors like extension participation, economic motivation, cosmopoliteness, scientific orientation and knowledge of fish farmers, and negatively by their age. In view of the above findings, the study recommends that efforts should be made by extension agencies through their various programmes to highlight the economic benefits of composite fish farming to promote large-scale adoption of this technology. Study tours, exposure visits, participation in fairs and exhibitions could be the ideal methods for promoting adoption of composite fish culture. Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/765 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/763 SUITABILITY OF CHARCOAL-CEMENT PASSIVE EVAPORATIVE COOLER FOR BANANA RIPENING Dharmasena, D.A.N; Kumari, A.H.M.R.R The common banana ripening methods practiced by fruit sellers are application of calcium carbide or ‘ethrel’. Ethrel is expensive and therefore the ethylene analogue calcium carbide is commonly used although it contains heavy metals as it is readily available. Therefore a passive evaporative cooler made of charcoal, cement and sand was tested as a ripening chamber for banana as the internal relative humidity and temperature were ideal for banana ripening. The evaporative cooler maintained a high relative humidity of around 90-98% with a 3oC temperature reduction than room temperature during the test period. In the experiment, banana cultivars were allowed to ripen with 1000ppm ethrel and without ethrel, in two evaporative coolers and in two corrugated fibreboard boxes with the same dimensions of the cooler, under room conditions. Fruits from a single hand were subjected to all treatments and four parameters; TSS, peel colour, firmness and weight were tested. There were no significant differences of TSS, peel colour and firmness among four treatments. However for all cultivars, the weight loss was 16-22% for fruits ripened in the boxes while the weight loss was 3 - 6% .for those ripened in the evaporative cooler. Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT http://repo.lib.sab.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/763 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z