http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/7536 Sun, 26 Apr 2026 18:49:40 GMT 2026-04-26T18:49:40Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8724 GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF SANDALWOOD DURING NURSERY STAGE AS AFFECTED BY DIFFERENT HOST PLANTS Nakandalage, Niluka; Sampath, A.M.U.; Anuruddi, H.I.G.K.; Subasinghe, S. Santalum album L. is a hemiparasitic tree that requires parasitism of host plants in three stages, where the primary host at the nursery stage is critical. The effects of six legume species (Desmodium triflorum, Mimosa pudica, Alysicarpus vaginalis, Crotalaria retusa, Vigna radiata and Crotalaria juncea) and two non-legume species (Alternanthera sessilis and Tagetes erecta) were investigated to select the most promising pot host for sandalwood in the nursery stage. Each host plant was established in 10 poly bags with four plants/bag, in a completely randomized design. When host plants are one month old, 45-day-old S. album seedling per bag was introduced. After six months the number of leaves, seedling height (cm), dry weight (g), root collar diameter (mm), root length (cm), the number of root interactions were recorded and sturdiness quotient (SQ) and quality index (QI) were calculated. S. album seedlings grown with C. retusa had a significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher number of leaves (26), taller (32.4 cm) and higher root collar diameter (7.5 mm), followed by seedlings grown with M. pudica. The highest SQ (5.18) of S. album seedlings grown with M. pudica implies lower growth and survival in the field. Non legumes produced taller seedlings than legume hosts except for M. pudica and C. retusa. Sandalwood seedlings with C. retusa had the significantly highest number of (P ≤ 0.05) root interactions (38), tallest shoot (3.3 g), greatest root dry weight (1.1 g), highest QI (0.58) and shortest root length (13 cm). C. retusa was identified as the preferred host for S. album at the nursery stage. Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8724 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8675 DOES AGRICULTURAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AFFECT HAPPINESS? A STUDY IN INDONESIA Sutawi; Winaya, A.; Sutanto, A.; Prihartini, I.; Ibrahim, J.T.; Tain, A. National development in every country aims to create people's welfare. Agriculture plays an important role in improving the economic welfare of the Indonesian population. Research on the effect of agriculture on the Indonesians economic welfare has been widely carried out, while the effect of agriculture on the Indonesians happiness was still limited. This research aims to analyze the effect of GDP, agricultural GDP, and livestock GDP on Indonesians happiness. The study was conducted in January-April 2021. A regression model was applied with the dependent factor of the Happiness Index and independent factors of GDP, agricultural GDP, and livestock GDP of the Indonesians in 34 provinces in 2014 and 2017. GDP had no significant effect on the Indonesians happiness. GDP could be considered as one of the happiness components and should be combined with other indicators. Agricultural GDP had no significant effect on the Indonesians happiness. Agriculture was a producer of staple foods (basic human needs). When basic needs have been met and income has increased, the happiness was strongly influenced by non-material factors. Livestock GDP had no significant effect on the Indonesians happiness. Livestock was a producer of food sources of animal protein. For most Indonesians, animal food was still considered luxury goods with the characteristic that their expenditure for animal food was still very low Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8675 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8657 FARMERS’ PERSPECTIVE AND A GEOSPATIAL APPROACH ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF Mimosa pigra: A STUDY IN MATARA DISTRICT, SRI LANKA Perera, P.C.D.; Priyankara, Prabath; Mendis, A.P.S. Mimosa pigra L. is an invasive prickly plant that has been scattered in agricultural lands in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. This study was aimed to understand the farmers’ perspectives on the spread of M. pigra in Matara district, Sri Lanka while uplifting awareness and estimating the distribution of the weed to support control activities. Semi-structured interviews with a pretested sample questionnaire survey were carried out among 400 randomly selected farmers among 16 Divisional Secretariats Divisions (DSDs) in the district. The spread areas of M. pigra were estimated using modern geospatial techniques, where images of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (DJI Macvi Pro) were taken for mapping the affected area. UAV was captured 26.8 ha (5.84% of the total land area) of M. pigra invaded land extent in Akuressa and Malimbada DSDs. Based on the survey, 91.5 % of the farmers had no previous knowledge of controlling the particular weed. Approximately, 22.8% of the farmers expressed interest to establish Cinnamomum sp. as a perennial crop, and 11.8% suggested cultivating vegetables as the annuals in the areas invaded by M. pigra. The geospatial techniques used in this study was correctly identified the spread of M. pigra, which is very useful information for controlling weeds. Further research activities are suggested within the adaptive management framework and suitability of Cinnamomum sp. cultivation in M. pigra affected areas Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8657 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8652 SCREENING EXOTIC GROUNDNUT (Arachis hypogaea L.) LINES FOR INTRODUCING AS A SMALL-SEEDED VARIETY (ANKGN4/Tiny) IN SRI LANKA Jeewani, Diddugodage Chamila; Amarasinghe, Yaddehige Priya Jayantha; Wijesinghe, Gayani; Pushpakumara, Rajapaksha Weeraman Small seeded groundnut varieties utilized for the chocolate balls and candies have huge demand by the producers. In the present study, through a screening process of exotic germplasm, a new small seeded groundnut line (SAARC NO 201) was identified as a promising variety for the industry. The SAARC NO 201 line matured within 3 months. The average yield of the line was 2.7 t ha−1 (±0.14) higher than that of Tissa (2.3 t ha−1±0.24) and ANKG1 (2. 3 t ha−1±0.13). The potential yield of the SAARC NO 201 line was 4.2 t ha−1. Further, it was moderately resistant to collar rot, leaf spot, rust, and bud necrosis disease and leaf-eating caterpillars at field level. Hence, it has been released by the Department of agriculture in 2020, renaming as ANKGN4/Tiny considering its suitability for the chocolate ball industry and the greater potential for increasing productivity of groundnut in Sri Lanka. Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT http://ir.lib.ruh.ac.lk/handle/iruor/8652 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z