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A comparative study of feed conversion ratio (fcr) of optimum saline tilapia (oreochromis spp) cage culture in Batticaloa lagoon, Sri Lanka
Get PDFAquaculture is essential for seafood demand, with tilapia facing challenges
in high-saline environments. Saline tilapia thrives in these conditions,
enabling cage culture in Batticaloa Lagoon. The research aims to identify the
best feed for this practice, addressing a gap in guidance. The goal is to
determine the optimal feed based on the Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR),
addressing a critical gap in aquaculture practice in the region. Field surveys
collected data on feed, culture practices, water quality, and growth
parameters of tilapia. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS v27.
Farmers in Batticaloa Lagoon utilized both fry and fingerling varieties,
stocking at rates of 4 or 5 fish/m³. Multi-response patterns were observed in
stocking strategies, with preferences for all-male or mixed varieties. Feed
preferences varied; some prepared their own feed, while others used
commercial options. Feeding frequency averaged three times daily, and both
floating and stationary cage types were utilized. Weight gain correlated with
feed intake, but only one farm achieved the optimal FCR. Mesh types and
sizes were consistent across all farms. Farm locations served multiple
purposes, with water parameters generally suitable for saline tilapia.
Profitability analysis highlighted challenges, especially for farmers with less
than 5 years of experience in tilapia cage culture. Regression analysis showed
that multiple factors did not significantly influence FCR (p < 0.05). Despite
this, the comparative study on FCR in saline tilapia cage cultures in
Batticaloa Lagoon offers insights for stocking, feeding, cage construction,
and water condition optimization
Analysis of the catechin and caffeine content in fresh tea leaves from fifteen distinct tea cultivars and the processing of catechin enriched specialty tea
Get PDFTea made from tender shoots of Camellia sinensis (L). O. Kuntze is the most
consumed beverage in the world next to water due to its unique taste, aroma,
and beneficial health properties. Tea has the potential to function as an
antioxidant due to the various forms of catechins and their derivatives.
Caffeine is an important secondary metabolite found in tea. The chemical
composition of tea varies and largely depends on climatic conditions,
genotype, horticultural practices, soil, growth altitude, plucking season,
sorting, grading, processing, extraction, storage, and drying. The objective
of the current study was to determine the amount of catechin and caffeine
content in freeze-dried leaves from fifteen distinct tea cultivars grown in
identical agronomic and environmental conditions. The catechin, epicatechin
(EC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epigallocatechin
gallate (EGCG), caffeine, and gallic acid of 15 tea cultivars were analyzed
by using High Performance Liquid Chromatography according to ISO
14502–2:2005 method. TRI 3055 had the highest catechin content (21.45%)
and EGCG content (13.671%) of the 15 cultivars. The most common
individual catechin present in all tea cultivars is EGCG content. Out of 15
cultivars, TRI 4052 had the highest caffeine content (3.476%). TRI 3055
might be used in upcoming breeding projects because of its high catechin
content
Mitigation of chromium toxicity on green gram (Vigna radiata L.) By using salicylic acid as a soil drench
Get PDFChromium toxicity is considered when Chromium content has surpassed the safe soil
level. Normally chromium has been released to the environment by volcanic activities.
However, as the Industrial Revolution arose, utilization of Chromium in the form of
pesticides and weedicides were increased. In addition, due to poor waste management
practices, it has accumulated everywhere and ended up in plants. In terms of plants,
chromium toxicity leads to some aspects such as accumulation in plant tissues, affecting
biomass, germination, chlorophyll content, enzyme activity, and root and shoot growth
negatively. It has been revealed that the use of salicylic acid can significantly reduce
the effects of chromium toxicity in plants. Salicylic Acid is a well-known endogenous
plant hormone due to its versatility in various crop plants including perishables and
pulses. The present study was carried out to select the most effective salicylic acid
concentration and observe the alleviation of Chromium toxicity in different levels (0
mg/Kg, 100 mg/Kg, 125 mg/Kg, 150 mg/Kg) at the reproductive stage of MI 5 green
gram variety. The experiment was conducted under a complete randomized block
design and effective salicylic acid concentration (0.5 mM) was selected by a
germination test. Prepared 24 garden bags were contaminated with Chromium at 0
mg/Kg, 100 mg/Kg, 125 mg/Kg, and 150 mg/Kg for 5 days before planting and salicylic
acid was applied as a soil drench 14 days after planting (DAP). 43 days after planting,
data were collected for plant height, chlorophyll content, no. of leaves, leaf area, fresh
weight, dry weight, and root length as parameters. It was found that adverse effects from
Cr stress were successfully alleviated in no. of leaves, dry weight, and root length of the
plant by showing increase of parameters by 4.88%, 0.25%, and 2.07% percentages
respectively. For the height and fresh weight of the plant, Cr stress didn’t show a
significant effect but SA did. Chlorophyll a, total chlorophyll content, and leaf area
show considerable adverse effects from Cr stress but SA did not show alleviation action.
Moreover, neither SA treatment nor Cr stress had a discernible impact on chlorophyll b
level in the MI 5 cultivar
Salt production process and its Socio-economic and environmental impacts of Kinniya Saltern
Get PDFSaltern located close to the residential areas causes several socio-economic
and environmental issues in the surroundings. This study investigated salt
production methods, and socioeconomic and environmental impacts on the
surrounding areas in Kinniya saltern. Thirty-one salt farmers and 100
households in the vicinity of saltern, living in <10m, up to 50m,100m, and
150m distance from the saltern were interviewed through a structured
questionnaire during August to October 2023. The results showed that 87%
and 13% of salt farmers used 3-step and 2-step traditional methods,
respectively despite the 4-step recommended method to produce salt. The
impacts on environment were identified as; salty well water, land salinity,
corrosion of fence wire, corrosion of fence metal and damage to fence walls
by 69%, 100%, 71%, 9% and 5% of the respondents, respectively. The
impacts on socio-economic aspects were identified as; corrosion of
household equipment, corrosion and colour changing of vehicles, damage to
house walls, damage to wall paint of houses, damage to roofing wood, short
term crop loss, long term crop loss and health effects by 57%, 50%, 40%,
44%, 15%, 95%, 5% and 43% of the respondents, respectively. The distance
between the house and the saltern was significantly associated with effects
on household equipment (p<0.05), buildings (p<0.05), and health (p<0.001).
It is concluded that corrosion/damage of household equipment and buildings,
short-term crop losses, salinity in lands and well water and health effects
were the major socioeconomic and environmental impacts. It is
recommended that relevant authorities should take measures to minimize the
impacts and to also stop further expansion of the impacts to the surrounding
area
Implications of salt tectonics on hydrocarbon ascent in the Eastern Persian gulf: insights into the formation mechanism of salt diapirs, gas chimneys, and their sedimentary interactions
Get PDFGas chimneys, salt domes, and faults are vital to the movement of hydrocarbons within
geological systems. Accurate identification of these geological features is crucial to
modeling hydrocarbon resources. This study explores the processes that have shaped the
eastern Persian Gulf, focusing on salt diapir characteristics, origin, and fluid migration.
Plate collisions between the Indian, Eurasian, and Arabian Plates have considerably
impacted salt tectonics, developing key features such as the Hormuz salt, Qatar-South
Fars Arch, and Zagros and Oman orogenic structures. Salt-related features were
discerned through two-dimensional seismic data and drilling records, salt movement
sequences were reconstructed, and fluid expulsion patterns were delineated using
attribute preferences. The results of this study revealed that fractured substrates
influenced by regional tectonic forces contribute to the creation of salt diapirs, which
serve as conduits for guided fluid transport. Moreover, these results showed that gravity
driven downbuilding mainly controls salt flow, while the circular arrangement of salt
structures results from regional stress and interactions between different salt sources.
Distinct stress-induced basement incisions compounded by the hindrance of initial salt
movement by the Qatar Arch further contribute to the complex salt structure geometry.
Crucially, the uplift of the Qatar Arch and stresses from the Oman and Zagros orogenies
profoundly affect the salt structure geometry and depositional patterns across diverse
regions, resulting in circular salt structures and gas chimneys. This study offers valuable
perspectives for oil and gas exploration and provides a comprehensive understanding of
the regional dynamics governing salt tectonics and hydrocarbon ascent in the eastern
Persian Gulf
Driving decisions: the impact of social media marketing on consumer behavior in Sri Lanka’s automobile industry
Get PDFPurpose: This study investigates the influence of social media marketing on consumer
buying behavior within Sri Lanka’s automobile industry. This research also seeks to
quantify the extent of social media’s influence on purchase behavior in the industry.
Methodology: The research adopts a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data was
gathered from a survey of 500 automobile consumers in Sri Lanka, with questions
focused on social media influence, brand engagement, and purchase decisions.
Additionally, qualitative insights were obtained through interviews with 20 marketing
professionals from the automobile industry. Statistical analyses, including regression
and correlation analysis, were conducted to determine the relationship between social
media factors and buying behavior, while thematic analysis was used to identify key
consumer motivations and perceptions.
Findings: The study reveals that 68% of surveyed consumers reported being
influenced by social media when purchasing a vehicle, with 52% indicating that
positive reviews and testimonials significantly impacted their trust in a brand.
Furthermore, 75% of respondents cited engaging content and visuals as a factor that
increased their likelihood of considering a brand. Regression analysis demonstrated
that social media engagement and brand presence accounted for 45% of the variance
in purchase intentions, highlighting the crucial role of social media marketing in
influencing buying behavior.
Practical implications: Automobile companies in Sri Lanka can harness social media
as a powerful tool to influence consumer behavior. By focusing on creating highquality, engaging, and trustworthy content, brands can improve customer loyalty and
drive sales. Collaborations with influencers and active response to customer feedback
were shown to enhance brand perception, making these strategies valuable for
increasing consumer purchase intentions.
Originality value: This study adds to existing research by providing a quantitative
analysis of social media’s impact on consumer behavior within Sri Lanka’s automobile
sector. It underscores the importance of social media platforms not only as a
promotional tool but also as a driver of consumer trust and purchase decisions,
offering a localized perspective on the topic
Foliar epidermal micro morphology: a contribution to the taxonomy of family oleaceae
No full textOleaceae (olive family), includes 28 genera and about 700 species. Nevertheless, there remains a lot to uncover about the group’s historical development, the evolution of various reproductive and dispersal mechanisms, and polyploidization episodes appear to be linked to its diversification. In the current study, foliar epidermal anatomy of 13 plant species and 2 varieties from 7 genera of Oleaceae was examined under a light microscope. The qualitative and quantitative features like stomatal density, size,shape of guard cell, number of epidermal cell, subsidiary cells, and structure and density of trichomes were analysed using a light microscope. This was the first study on the foliar micromorphology of various Oleaceae taxa. Almost all species exhibited hypostomatic type except one in which Amphistomatic type was observed. Most of the stomata were anomocytic while some Paracytic and one diacytic stomata were also seen. Maximum stomatal length of (30.80 + 1.44 μm) and lowest of (18.30 + 0.21 μm) was noted. All trichomes observed were unicellular. Both glandular and non-glandular trichomes were observed with highest trichome length (237.75–248.00 = 242.25 + 1.73 μm) and the lowest (100.00–101.75 = 100.75 + 0.32 μm). Plant taxonomists might commence their future research with the micro-morphological aspects of foliar epidermal morphology, which exhibit a number of innovative qualities for accurate taxonomic identification
Impact of human – monkey conflict in Ampara district
Get PDFPrimates and humans often come into conflict with each other, especially
when it comes to food. Crop raiding by primates is a major problem, causing
significant damage to crops and leading to the death of the primates
themselves. To assess the impacts of human-monkey conflicts on local
communities and monkey populations in the Ampara District. This study was
conducted in six villages including Ampara, Damana, Lahugala, Pothuvil,
Uhana, and Mahaoya in the Ampara district of Eastern Province, Sri Lanka.
The data was collected from 120 respondents in total from the six villages.
The data was gathered using a face-to-face interview approach with a pretested questionnaire. Monkeys caused significant damage to crops in the
study area, affecting a total of 20 different crop species. The Toque macaque
(Macaca sinica) and tufted grey langur (Semnopithecus priam) species had
the highest impact on crop damage. Cash crops and fruits were particularly
vulnerable to monkey damage. Although most damage occurred during the
fruiting season, monkeys damaged crops throughout the year. Local deterrent
methods were reported to be effective by 59.9% of the respondents.
However, these methods negatively impacted the education, health, and
economy of the respondents' children. According to my findings, the increase
in monkey population, people planting them in forest clearings, the proximity
of human villages to forests, and attacks on people by monkeys have
contributed to the human monkey conflict in Ampara district. People living
in villages with higher monkey populations and those whose farmlands were
far from their homes reported greater crop damage. This highlights the urgent
need to implement effective conservation measures to mitigate this conflict
Investigate the rewards impacts on employee turnover intention in small and medium businesses in Sri Lanka (special references in Ampara District)
Get PDFPurpose: The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of organizational
rewards both financial and non-financial on employee turnover intention within small
and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Sri Lanka. By exploring the relationship
between these rewards and turnover intentions, the study aims to provide valuable
insights that can help SME owners and managers develop more effective retention
strategies, thereby enhancing the overall sustainability and competitiveness of SMEs
in Sri Lanka.
Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected through structured
questionnaires from a random sample of 280 employees working in selected small
and medium enterprises within the Ampara Divisional Secretariats. The data were
analyzed using Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and Regression
with the support of SPSS version 26.0. The normality test, ANOVA analysis, and
factor analysis were carried out.
Findings: This study used financial rewards (salary, employee bonuses, and fringe
benefits) and non-financial rewards (supervisor support, recognition, working
environment, training, and promotion) as independent variables, with employee
turnover as the dependent variable. In this study, Cronbach’s Alpha was 0.837
indicating good reliability and validity for the research variables. The study found
that both financial and non-financial rewards displayed a strong negative correlation
with turnover intention. Specifically, as financial rewards increased, employee
turnover intention decreased.Practical implications: This study highlights the importance for owners and
managers to understand the reasons behind employees' turnover intentions. It
emphasizes the need to focus on activities that can help maintain a high retention rate
within SMEs by ensuring employees are satisfied and motivated in the workplace.
Specifically, it focuses on how both financial and non-financial rewards can influence
retention rates in SMEs in Sri Lanka. By exploring these dynamics, the study offers
practical recommendations for improving employee satisfaction and motivation,
which in turn can enhance retention and overall business performance.
Originality value: Retaining talented and high-quality employees is considered one
of the key long-term sustainable competitive advantages for SMEs. However, it has
become a significant challenge for companies in the modern business environment.
Therefore, this study provides new insights into the rewards-turnover relationship in
SMEs in Sri Lanka, offering valuable guidance for business owners seeking to
enhance employee retention
Utilization of IOT-based devices for the implementation of smart farming concept in greenhouse environments
Get PDFGiven the current problem of global food shortages, which are escalating due
to climate change, the use of smart greenhouse systems is becoming
increasingly important. These controlled environments allow for precise
control of the microclimate, resulting in higher crop yields per square meter
compared to traditional outdoor farming. This project aimed to improve
existing manual systems by developing a smart greenhouse monitoring
system using IoT technologies using low-cost IoT devices powered by solar
energy. The system enables continuous monitoring of the natural
environmental parameters in the greenhouse and integrates various sensors
such as DHT11, YL-69, BH1750, MQ135, MQ2 and MQ4 sensors with
microcontrollers such as Arduino Uno and NodeMCU ESP8266. The
system's architecture enables continuous data transmission into the IoT cloud
platform, with a SIM900A GSM module sending messages to the user when
adverse conditions occur. Thorough testing confirmed accurate
measurements of temperature (DHT11), humidity (DHT11), soil moisture
(YL-69), light intensity (BH1750) and air quality parameters (MQ135, MQ2
and MQ4) and there were significant differences between units, particularly
in temperature and humidity as indicated by the mean absolute error values,
and soil moisture was different compared to manual readings (±8%), proving
this system accuracy and reliability for on-farm and off-farm monitoring.
Innovative features include the use of solar energy and the development of
an IoT monitoring system. Future research could also focus on system
optimization, additional sensor integration, mobile application development,
and integration of real-time actuator feedback and these efforts would
contribute to advances in smart greenhouse monitoring and IoT technologies