• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.206-214
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• 2010

The laboratory and green house studies evaluated the effect of three different environmental factors on the seed germination, seedling emergence and survival of four major weed species in coconut plantations, Mimosa pudica, Ureana lobata, Panicum maximum and Pennisetum polystachyon. Germination percentage of all the weed species was significantly reduced with increasing soil moisture stress, no germination was observed at -0.9 MPa. Germination of both grass seeds ranged from 8% to 25% and 10% to 45% as moisture stress decreased from -0.4 MPa to 0 MPa, respectively. In contrast, seeds of M. pudica, and U. lobata were moderately tolerant to soil moisture stress and best adapted to moist environment. All the weed species seeds germinated over a wide range of soil pH values with the highest germination occurring at pH 6. In all the species, seedling emergence was declined rapidly with increasing depth with the exception of U. lobata. Seedling emergence significantly declined when the duration of flooding was three days or longer in dicotyledonous weed species and two days or longer in monocotyledonous weeds. This study illustrates the adaptability of these weeds to different environmental conditions which would enable the development of management strategies to reduce their populations below economic threshold levels in coconut plantations.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.60-67
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• 2000

A survey involving 71 cattle and buffalo farming households under coconut plantations was carried out in three districts (Pannala, Bingiriya and Kuliyapitiya) with the aim of assessing the status of livestock farming. Also, 24 households (eight from each district) were visited monthly for period of one year to collect information on feeding practices. Apart from milk, animals were reared for selling, draught, bio-gas and for manure. Due to difference in system of management of cattle and buffaloes, manure from buffaloes (46%) was more frequently used for coconuts than that from cattle (10%). Majority of cattle were improved breeds (temperate origin) or their crosses, as compared to buffaloes (mainly indigenous). The most predominant management system was tethered grazing during the day, and stall feeding during the night. Coconut land (own or others) and paddy fields were the major grazing areas for the animals. The grass from coconut land was lower in crude protein (8.2%) and digestibility (48%) compared to those from paddy fields (12.1 and 57%, respectively). Of the 288 rations analysed, grass was included in 280 of the daily rations for cattle as compared to 251 for buffaloes. Straw was more commonly included in mixed rations for buffaloes (137 out of 288) than for cattle (53 out of 288). The frequency of use of straw for buffaloes was high in Pannala (75 out of 137 cases). There was wide variation among the improved breeds of cattle and buffaloes in milk production (2 to 9 litres/day), lactation length (6 to 10 months) and calving interval (13-21 months).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.586-596
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• 1998

The relevance and importance of buffalo production under coconut plantations in the North Westen Province of Sri Lanka was studied in three districts (Bingiriya, Pannala, Kuliyapitiya). The objective of the study was to collect baseline information on socioeconomic and cultural aspects of buffalo production, with a view to promote and disseminate new technologies. The survey technique used consisted of a formal survey using a structured questionnaire (71 households) and rapid appraisal (55 households). The results indicate the existence of a wide stratification of dariy farmers which ranged from skilled dairy operators with high levels of production and management of efficiency to marginal subsistence farmers with low levels of productivity. The most frequent family size of households ranged from 4-5 members (58%), and the average family size was 4.7. The actual average land ownership accounts to 2.4 ha of upland and 0.5 ha of lowland, but when their accessibility to common property resources are taken into account, the land availability was assessed at 13 ha and 0.7 ha of upland and lowland, respectively. The highest average monthly income (Rs. 13,590) was received by farmers with off-farm employment (primary) who are also engaged in livestock production (secondary), and livestock contributed 43% of the total income. Livestock farmers who practised integrated crop farming as a secondary source of income received a monthly income of Rs. 10,843, and those involved in crop production as the primary source received the lowest average income (Rs. 7,295). The survey revealed a high investment cost on concentrate feeds (47%) for milk production. However some farmers obtained higher milk yields (11 litres/cow/day) at lower ration costs, and this could be attributed to the entrepreneurship skills and management efficiency. The study area had a well developed market infrastructure for fresh milk, principally due to the existence of the Nestle's company and the Coconut Triangle Milk Union. On an average the producer collected Rs. 10 per litre of milk marketed.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.180-187
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• 2012

Panicum maximum, Panicum repens, Imperata cylindrica, Pennisetum polystachion and Cyperus rotundus are five rhizomatous grass weeds that exist and are problematic in the coconut lands of Sri Lanka. Rhizomatous weeds are the most difficult to control because of their vegetative reproduction by underground propagules. Therefore chemical and biological techniques have failed to control these weeds to acceptable levels. Experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of depth of burial, duration of sun drying or duration of air drying rhizomes of the selected weed species on germination. Depth of burial reduced germination of all species. Burying rhizomes at depths less than 10 cm inhibited germination of P. maximum and P. polystachion. Burying depths below 30~40 cm inhibited germination of all species. Sun drying or air drying rhizomes for durations less than 5 days inhibited germination of P. maximum and P. polystachion. Germinations of all species were inhibited by sun drying rhizomes for 15 days or air drying rhizomes for 20 days. Sun drying of rhizomes of all species for five days reduced the moisture content to a greater extent than air drying. The results indicated that burying rhizomes at the depthsbelow 30~40 cm, sun drying rhizomes for durations beyond 15 days or air drying rhizomes for durations beyond 20 days would be effective in controlling germination of these species. The investigations of the experiments also suggest that keeping rhizomes on the soil surface without burying, sun drying rhizomes or air drying rhizomes for durations of 5~15 days would produce weak plants.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.163-167
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• 2006

Reverse-Phase High-performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) based technique is one of the most sensitive techniques to detect the antibiotics present in honey. In the southern part of Tamilnadu, India, majority of the farmlands are occupied by plantations such as coconut, banana and rubber. A variety of antimicrobial compounds and antibiotics, which have been reported in pollen, nectar and other floral parts of the plant, gets accumulated in honey through honeybees (Apis mellifera). We have collected the nectar samples from banana (Musa paridasiaca) and rubber (Ficus elastica) flowers and the honey from honey hives of banana and rubber cultivated areas. The extracted nectar and honey samples are subjected to RP-HPLC analysis with authentic antibiotic standards. Nectar and honey samples showed 4-17, 11-29 ${\mu}g/kg$ of streptomycin, 2-29, 3-44 ${\mu}g/kg$ of ampicillin and 17-34, 26-48 ${\mu}g/kg$ of kanamycin respectively.