Teaching Themes
Environmental GIS and Remote Sensing; Climate change; Geostatistics; Soil carbon modelling; Precision Agriculture; Soil Security; agronomy
Research Interests
Central to Senani’s research is to understand the spatial and temporal variation of environmental variables in agricultural and natural resources context. It is believed that, outputs of this work will be contributed towards sustainable management of fragile natural recourses. To achieve this he is utilizing a combination of statistical and mechanistic models to predict variation of environmentally and agronomically important properties in space and time.
His current research work is focused on areas of pedometrics; digital soil mapping (from farm scale to country scale); development of sampling and monitoring schemes; proximal soil sensing (specifically infrared spectroscopy); chemometrics; use of Bayesian statistical approaches to quantify the uncertainty of carbon models; Development and validation of “space-time observation system for soil organic carbon”; and soil carbon sequestration. His on-going research projects include;
While working on these areas he also has ongoing interests on (i) developing low cost approaches to adopt precision agriculture techniques for developing countries; (ii) application of GIS/Remote sensing in natural resource management; (iii) land use/land cover modeling; (iv) ecological niche modeling; (v) community analysis in ecology specially related to major biochemical cycles.
Research Supervision
So far Senani has successfully supervised/co-supervised fourteen (14) student research projects under B.Sc (Agriculture) degree programme while another four (04) student projects under B.Sc (Plantation Management) external degree programme offered by Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. Most of this research work was published in the annual Agricultural Research Symposium (AGRES) organized by the faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management.
Student research projects supervised at Wayamba University of Sri Lanka
B.Sc (Agriculture degree programme) – Completed research projects
Ranasinghe, R.A.M.W., Karunaratne, S.B., Weerakkody, W.J.S.K., 2019. Intra-seasonal variability of Soil Microbial Activity in Organically and Inorganically Managed Paddy Cultivation Systems: A Case from Kurunegala District. Proceeding of the 18th Agricultural Research Symposium, Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. (As the co-supervisor)
Rathnasiri, K.K.S.A., Karunaratne, S.B., Weerakkody, W.J.S.K., 2019. Quantification of Soil Carbon Changes after Establishment of Tea Plantations in Contrast to Native Ecosystem of Peak Wilderness Sanctuary. Proceeding of the 18th Agricultural Research Symposium, Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. (As the co-supervisor)
Rathnayake, R.M.C.H., Karunaratne, S.B., Weerakkody, W.J.S.K., Wimalathunge, N.S., 2018. Higher Spatial Resolution Mapping of Key Soil Properties: Machine Learning Approach. Proceeding of the 17th Agricultural Research Symposium, Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. (As the co-supervisor)
Amarasinghe, A.A.S.D., Karunaratne, S.B., Weerakkody, W.J.S.K., 2018. Mapping of Selected Soil Properties in Inorganically Managed Paddy Grown in Red-Yellow Podzolic Soils. Proceeding of the 17th Agricultural Research Symposium, Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. (As the co-supervisor)
Somaweera, G.I.D., Karunaratne, S.B., Weerakkody, W.J.S.K., 2018. Mapping of Selected Soil Properties in Organically Managed Paddy Grown in Red-Yellow PodzolicbSoils,t Proceeding of the 17th Agricultural Research Symposium, Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. (As the co-supervisor)
Eranga, R.L.A.A., Karunaratne, S.B., Abeysinghe, D.C., Gajanayake, B., 2015. Mapping of Selected Soil Chemical Properties in Red Latosols of Sri Lanka: Geostatistical Approach. Proceeding of the 14th Agricultural Research Symposium, Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. (As the principal supervisor)
Wickramasinghe, W.M.K.M., Karunaratne, S.B., Gajanayake, B., Abeysinghe, D.C., 2015. Mapping of Soil Organic Carbon Density Under Cashew Grown in Red Latosol Soils of Sri Lanka. Proceeding of the 14th Agricultural Research Symposium, Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. (As the principal supervisor)
Liyanaarachchi, L.A.T.S., Karunaratne, S.B., Sankalpa, J.K.S., Wijesuriya, B.W., Gajanayake, B., Abeysinghe, D.C., 2015. Can We Cultivate Rubber in Northern Dry Zone of Sri Lanka: A Case Study from Vavuniya District Using GIS Approach. Proceeding of the 14th Agricultural Research Symposium, Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. (As the principal supervisor)
Sandaruwan, D.M.D.N.D., Karunaratne, S. B., Yakandawala, K., 2015. GIS Database for Management of Public Open Spaces in Sri Lanka: A Case from Viharamahadevi Park Colombo. Proceeding of the 14th Agricultural Research Symposium, Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. (As the co-supervisor)
Premalal, K.A.E.C., Yakandawala, K., Karunaratne, S.B., Karunarathne, K.H.M.I., 2015. Floristic Composition in Domestic Gardens in Intermediate Zone of Sri Lanka: A Case from Makandura Area. Proceeding of the 14th Agricultural Research Symposium, Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. (As the co-supervisor)
Hettiarachchi, L.G., Wijesuriya, W., Nugawela, A., Sankalpa, J.K.S., Karunaratne, S. B., 2013. Spatial Distribution of Productivity and Technical Efficiency of Smallholder Rubber Lands in the Kalutara District. Proceeding of the 12th Agricultural Research Symposium, Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. (As the co-supervisor)
Chandrarathne, A. P. K .U.P., Fernandupulle, M. N. D., Karunaratne, S. B., 2009. Nutrient Mapping of Soil Properties of Elluwankulama Cashew Seed Garden. Proceeding of the 9th Agricultural Research Symposium, Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. (As the co-supervisor)
Croos, W. D. D., Tennakoon, N. A., Franandupulle, M. N. D., Karunaratne, S. B., 2009. Assessment and Mapping of Major Nutrients for Coconut in Two Soil Types of Chilaw Topographical Sheet in Sri Lanka. Proceeding of the 9th Agricultural Research Symposium, Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. (As the co-supervisor)
Appuhamy K.A.N.A., Samarappuli, L., Karunaratne, S. B., 2009. Variation in Growth, Biomass and Carbon Accumulation among Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis), Teak (Tectona grandis) and Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla). Proceeding of the 9th Agricultural Research Symposium, Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. (As the principal supervisor)
Senadeera R.R.I.N, Herath, H.M.L.K., Wijesuriya, W., Karunaratne, S. B., 2009. Development and Application of a Spatial Database using GIS for Rubber Sector in Sri Lanka; Case study in Dartonfield Estate at Agalawatta. Proceeding of the 9th Agricultural Research Symposium, Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. . (as the principal supervisor)
Ranchagoda H., Dharmadas, M., Karunaratne, S. B., 2009. Photoprotection of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo); Testing Oil Formulations for Control of Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei) Proceeding of the 9th Agricultural Research Symposium, Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. (As the principal supervisor)
Gunawardhana G.C.B., Karunaratne, S. B., Gajanayake, K.G.M.C.P.B., Gunatilake, R. P. D., 2008. Assessing the Adoption Level of Recommended Technologies by Cashew Growers in Puttalam District of Sri Lanka. Proceeding of the 8th Agricultural Research Symposium, Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. (As the principal supervisor)
Rathnayake N.P.B.N., Senevirathna, A.M.W.K., Karunaratne, S. B., 2008. Present Status of Tapping Panel Dryness of Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) in Small Holder Sector of Sri Lanka. Proceeding of the 8thAgricultural Research Symposium, Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. (As the principal supervisor)
Sampath H.A.K.K., Gajanayake, K.G.M.C.P.B., Raveendran, K., and Karunaratne, S. B., 2006. Critical Factors for the Effective Implementation of ISO 9001:2000 to Up Country Tea Factories. Proceeding of the 6thAgricultural Research Symposium, Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. (As the co-supervisor)
B.Sc (Plantation management external degree programme) – Completed projects
Bulumulla, B., 2009. Assessing the Labour out Migration in Privatised Tea Plantations in Low Country, Report Submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science (Plantation Management), Wayamba University of Sri Lanka.
Izzadeen, M.I., 2009. Efficient use of fuelwood, waste wood and dendro for tea drying in tea production, Report Submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science (Plantation Management), Wayamba University of Sri Lanka.
Anuradha, N.D.S., 2009. Necessity of Ethics in Tea Manufacture, Report Submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science (Plantation Management), Wayamba University of Sri Lanka.
Perera, L. R., 2009. Sustainability and Viability of Plantations in Sri Lanka Depends on the Human Resource Development of Plantation Workers, Report Submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science (Plantation Management), Wayamba University of Sri Lanka.