EFFECT OF"F'ORESTFIRE ON LIVESTOCK PRODUCnON··· IN THE PELWATTE AREA OF MONERAGALA DISTRICT

Sugar-cane cultivation has been a predominant agricultural activity in the district ofMoneragala in addition to paddy and chena cultivation. Nevertheless, dairying has.become a viable family industry for many fanners in this area. Mainly cattle andbuffaloes are allowed to graze freely in adjacent forest lands but due to frequent forest fireoccurring during certain period/s of the year, the level of milk production is badlyaffected. Therefore the objectives of this study were to gather baseline information toassess the type of forest fire, their frequency of occurring, the purpose of setting forestfire and the impact of forest fire on dairy industryMajority of fanners (>80%) were involved in the cultivation of sugar cane and other cashcrops under rain-fed condition. Women and children playa major role (74%) in livestockrearing. Main genotypes of cattle and buffaloes found were local and non-descriptivetypes.Animals are sent for grazing in nearby forestlands and feed shortages were observedduring the dry period. It was observed at the same time of occurring forest fire, there wasa drastic decline of forages and other available feed resources such as tree fodder,legumes etc.90% of the forest fire that occur once a year during the period of June to August.Sometimes it occurs twice a year during the periods of June to August and February toMarch where the most of the forest fire are crown fire and creeping fire. Purposes ofsetting fire are to obtain tender shoots as an animal feed (90%) and also for chenacultivation, for hunting specially undergrowth is burnt to search for animals and at thetime of harvesting the weedy sugarcane lands (under poor management) are beingsubjected to setting fire (10%). Feed shortages can be observed due to forest fire as wellas the prevailing dry spell during the periods of June to end of September and February toMarch. As a result of this a drastic decline of average milk yield (from 1.52 I± 0.326 to0.22S±0.162 1) can be observed. Visual observations proved that the body conditions ofthe animals are also badly affected during forest fire occurring periodsGunia spp., Ipil Ipil, Acasia, Illuk and Gliricidia are the main herbage species that areused to feed animals. As they are susceptible to fire, a severe shortage of animal feed canbe observed during these periods. On the other hand forest fire as well as buffaloes/cattlegrazing in forests causes a significant competition among wild animals in finding feedrecourses.The main impact, which is reduction of milk yield during the periods of forest fire can bereduced by introducing low inputs and particularly by training the farmers to prepareanimal feeds out of sugar cane by products such as molasses, bagasses and other wastematerials which are available in this area.

Role of salicylic acid in acclimation to low temperature

Low temperature is one of the most important limiting factors for plant growth throughout the world. Exposure to low temperature may cause various phenotypic and physiological symptoms, and may result in oxidative stress, leading to loss of membrane integrity and to the impairment of photosynthesis and general metabolic processes. Salicylic acid (SA),phenolic compound produced by a wide range of plant species, a may participate in many physiological and metabolic reactions in plants. It has been shown that exogenous SA may provide protection against low temperature injury in various plant species, while various stress factors may also modify the synthesis and metabolism of SA. In the present review, recent results on the effects of SA and related compounds in processes leading to acclimation to low temperatures will be discussed

The role of amino acids on maturation and conversion of geranium somatic embryos

The effect of various concentrations of 4 amino acids (cysteine, glutamine, methionine and proline) on maturation and conversion of thidiazuron - induced somatic embryos were investigated. All the amino acids used improved maturation frequency, protein content and plantlet dry weight of converted embryos indicating a general improvement of the nutritive status of the somatic embryos. Addition of methionine, proline, cysteine(3mM) and glutamine (10 mM) in the maturation media also improved conversion frequency of somatic embryos. Inclusion of amino acids in a maturation media improves both morphological maturity and physiological maturity of geranium somatic embryos. This study shows the importance of inclusion of amino acids in a maturation media for improved somatic embryo quality.La pr\ue9sente \ue9tude porte sur l'effet des diff\ue9rentes concentrations de 4 acides amin\ue9s (cyst\ue9ine, glutamine, m\ue9thionine et proline) sur la maturation et la transformation de thidia zuron - embryons somatiques induits. Tous les acides amin\ue9s utilis\ue9s ont am\ue9lior\ue9 la fr\ue9quence de maturation, la teneur en prot\ue9ine et le poids sec des plantules des embryons transform\ue9s indiquant une am\ue9lioration g\ue9n\ue9rale de l'\ue9tat nutritif des embryons somatiques. L'addition des m\ue9thionine, proline, cyst\ue9ime (3mM) et glutamine (10mM) dans les milieux de maturation a aussi am\ue9lior\ue9 la fr\ue9quence de transformation des embryons somatiques. L'introduction des acides amin\ue9s dans les milieux de maturation am\ue9liore \ue0 la fois la maturit\ue9 morphologique et physiologique des embryons somatiques du geranium. Cette \ue9tude montre ainsi l'importance de l'inclusion des acides amin\ue9s dans les milieux de maturation afin d'am\ue9liorer la qualit\ue9 des embryons somatiques

The effects of sugars on maturation and conversion of geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum Bailey) embryos.

The effect of various concentrations of sucrose and glucose on maturation and conversion of geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum Bailey) somatic embryos was investigated at Guelph, Ontario, Canada in 1994 and 1995. Somatic embryos were induced on medium with 20 M thidiazuron for 3 days then matured on media with 3, 6 and 9 % sucrose or glucose, 21 days from the start of culture. Glucose (6 %) and sucrose (6 and 9 %) significantly improved maturation frequency of somatic embryos compared to 3 % sucrose. Sucrose at 6 and 9 % also reduced precocious germination of somatic embryos in culture. Glucose at 3 and 6 % and sucrose at 6 and 9 % both significantly increased protein content in somatic embryos compared to 3 % sucrose. Only 3 % glucose significantly improved conversion frequency while 6 % sucrose and 9 % of both sucrose and glucose reduced conversion frequency of somatic embryos. This study shows the importance of inclusion of sugars in the maturation of geranium somatic embryos. Transactions of the Zimbabwe Scientific AssociationVolume 72 1998, pp. 26-3