http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/21977 2026-10-07T23:44:30Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/21988 Effect of fertilizer schedules and media composition on growth and yield of capsicum chinense jacq. Under protected house conditions in a warm and humid climate Ekanayaka, R.I.; Adhikaram, K.K.L.B.; Fernando, K.M.C. Capsicum chinense Jacq. is an important vegetable crop cultivated widely in tropical and subtropical regions. The present study evaluated the effects of fertilizer schedules and growing-medium compositions on the growth and yield of C. chinense under protected conditions in the Low Country Wet Zone of Sri Lanka. Three fertilizer schedules (F1: existing fertilizer schedule), F2: fertilizer schedule 2, and F3: fertilizer schedule 3) and three growing-medium (M1: 50% coir dust + 30% partially burnt paddy husk + 20% coco chips (existing medium), M2: 70% coir dust + 30% partially burnt paddy husk, and M3: 70% coir dust + 30% coco chips) were evaluated in a two-factor factorial Completely Randomized Design with four replicates. The existing fertilizer schedule and growing medium served as the control treatment. The recorded parameters included the number of branches per plant and stem girth as growth parameters, and time to first flowering as a developmental (phenological) parameter. Pod circumference, number of pods per plant, fresh weight per pod, and pod weight per plant were recorded as yield-related parameters. Pod yield was graded according to market standards as a yield-quality parameter. In addition, the cost of production for each treatment was calculated. The interaction between fertilizer schedule and growing-medium composition did not significantly affect any measured parameters. However, fertilizer schedule significantly influenced the number of branches per plant, time to first flowering, pod circumference and pod weight per plant, pod grading, and benefit-to-cost ratio. Growing-medium composition significantly influenced stem girth. The results showed that 99% of the harvested pod yield met marketable standards for weight and colour. Based on the results, the existing fertilizer schedule can be recommended as the best fertilizer schedule among the tested schedules, and any of the three growing-medium compositions can be used to achieve satisfactory growth and yield of C. chinense under a warm, humid tropical environment. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/21987 Development and characterization of cassava starch-coated biodegradable packaging sheets from corn husk, corn silk, cassava peel, and banana peel waste Hettiarachchi, H. A. P. W.; Kaumadi, K. O.; Rathnayake, R. M. I. K.; Osemwota, I.O. The accumulation of petroleum-derived single-use plastic packaging has created a strong need for biodegradable materials from renewable, low-cost resources. This study developed biodegradable packaging sheets coated with cassava starch using corn husk, corn silk, cassava peel, and banana peel waste. The raw materials were washed, cut, alkaline-pulped with sodium carbonate, blended into a homogeneous pulp, and formulated into three treatments by varying corn husk content (T1: 100 g, T2: 200 g, and T3: 300 g), while cassava peel, banana peel, and corn silk were kept constant. Bentonite, rosin-alum, and over-matured okra mucilage were incorporated to improve sheet formation and bonding. The molded sheets were sun-dried and coated on both surfaces with a cassava starch-polyvinyl alcohol bioplastic coating plasticised with glycerol. The developed sheets were evaluated for moisture content, water absorption, thickness, grammage, tensile strength, solubility, and soil-burial biodegradability. Significant treatment effects (p < 0.05) were observed for the major physical and mechanical properties. T3 showed the highest thickness (1.926 ± 0.029 mm), grammage (617.7 ± 16.41 g/m²), moisture content (7.163 ± 0.150%), water absorption (385.5 ± 11.42%), and tensile strength (2.1067 ± 0.03 MPa). However, biodegradation was fastest in T1, which reached 63.33 ± 2.00% weight loss after 49 days, compared with 52.00 ± 2.00% for T2 and 37.33 ± 2.00% for T3. All treatments showed low solubility (<4%) in distilled water, acetic acid, sodium hydroxide, and ethanol after 24 h immersion. The results indicate that agricultural wastes can be converted into biodegradable single-use packaging sheets, with T3 offering better structural performance and T1 showing faster environmental degradation. Further hydrophobic coating optimization is recommended for wet food-contact applications. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z