Nilwala Kottegoda

Fertilizers and water are critical inputs in modern agriculture, directly influencing crop productivity and food security. However, nitrogen loss from conventional urea fertilizers and poor soil water retention limit sustainable cultivation. In this study, a nitrogen-releasing plant growth material (NPGM) hydrogel was developed to enhance soil moisture retention while enabling controlled nitrogen release. The hydrogel was synthesized from acrylic acid and acrylamide, cross-linked with diethylenetriamine, and functionalized via covalent bonding of urea. FTIR, TGA, and SEM analyses confirmed its chemical structure and morphology. The hydrogel exhibited high nitrogen content (21 g/g) and excellent swelling capacity, with equilibrium swelling ratios of 3644.31 g/g in distilled water and 540.87 g/g in 0.9% saline solution. No phytotoxic effects were observed in mung bean (Vigna radiata) plants. The incorporation of NPGM significantly enhanced gravimetric water retention, increasing it by 119%, 125%, and 259% in sandy soil and by 53%, 37%, and 31% in loam soil at 1, 5, and 15 bar, respectively. Chili cultivation trials showed improved plant growth compared to conventional urea application. Overall, NPGM serves as a dual-function material combining controlled nitrogen release and water conservation, offering a sustainable solution for agriculture under water-limited conditions.

The COVID-19 pandemic – and the inconsistent government responses it revealed – has made the institutionalisation of robust Science Advice to Policymakers (SAP) an urgent imperative. Barring exceptions such as initiatives by the International Network for Governmental Science Advice, very few training programmes aim to develop capacity of policy makers, especially in the Global South. In response to these needs, the National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka and the Association of Academies and Societies of Sciences in Asia (AASSA), conducted a project titled Institutionalising Science Advice to Governments. Its key objectives was to develop an appropriate framework to understand the process of institutionalisation of SAP. The Colombo Framework so developed integrated four clusters: the SAP process; guiding values and principles; supporting institutional and legislative structures; and evaluating SAP. It was validated by experts and used for designing a questionnaire to assess current SAP practices across AASSA member countries which enabled data gathering on the diversity of models of SAP, their challenges and best practices. The framework also helped structure an international workshop to share country-level situation analyses, formulate roadmaps for implementation and build consensus on the relevance of institutionalising SAP. The latter culminated in the Colombo Declaration, urging governments to strengthen science–policy engagements. Short-term and long-term feedback from participants indicated high utility of the framework for understanding and operationalising SAP in diverse contexts. The framework offers a systematic approach for countries, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, to institutionalise SAP and for scientists to gain in-depth understanding of the process.

The bacterial blight disease caused by Xanthomonas spp., a dilemma for farmers worldwide. The existing conventional methods have failed to effectively combat the disease. Therefore, it is crucial to focus on developing and implementing more affordable techniques to effectively manage bacterial blight effectively. Herein, we investigated the efficacy of copper-based nanoparticles (Cu NPs) synthesized via three different methods toward controlling bacterial blight disease in Anthurium andraeanum plants. For that, Cu NPs were engineered via chemical, semichemical, and green synthesis approaches. Cu NPs were characterized through scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis. Quantitative antibacterial assays revealed that the chemical and green-synthesized Cu NPs exhibited the highest potency, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 31.25 μg/mL and a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 62.50 μg/mL, whereas the semichemical formulation showed lower activity (MIC = 62.50 μg/mL; MBC = 125 μg/mL). In vitro well-diffusion assays further supported this trend: at 30 ppm, the inhibition zones measured 25 ± 0.81, 15 ± 0.81, and 20.6 ± 0.94 mm for the chemical, semichemical, and green synthesis methods, respectively, compared to 26.3 ± 0.47 mm for the positive control-antibiotic sulfamethoxazole. At in vivo, optimized concentration of 200 ppm, Cu NPs produced via all three methods controlled bacterial blight disease in 90% of treated anthurium plants within 4, 7, and 5 weeks, respectively, without causing phytotoxicity. Disease progression was monitored over 12 weeks by measuring lesion areas, and statistical significance of treatments was determined using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Postharvest loss is a significant global challenge that needs to be urgently addressed to sustain food systems. This study describes a simple microwave-assisted green synthesis method in developing a nanohybrid material combining natural ilmenite (FeTiO₃) and graphene oxide (GO) as a promising antimicrobial fruit peel coating to reduce postharvest loss. The natural ilmenite was calcined in an inert environment and was mixed with GO in a microwave reactor to obtain the nanohybrid. The nanohybrid was then incorporated into an alginate biopolymer to form the fruit coating. Microscopic images revealed successful grafting of FeTiO₃ nanoparticles onto the GO sheets. Spectroscopic measurements of Raman, X-ray photoemission, and infrared provided insights into the interactions between the two matrices. The optical band gap calculated from Tauc's relation using UV-vis data showed a significant reduction in the band gap of the hybrid compared to that of natural ilmenite. The antimicrobial activity was assessed using Escherichia coli, which showed a substantial decrease in colony counts. Bananas coated with the nanohybrid showed a doubling in the shelf life compared with uncoated fruits. Consistent with this, the electronic nose (E-nose) measurements and freshness indicator tests revealed less deterioration of the physicochemical properties of the coated bananas. Overall, the results show promising applications for the ilmenite-grafted GO nanohybrid as a food coating capable of minimizing food spoilage due to microbial activity.

Herein, the surface of pyrolyzed coconut coir (PCC) dust has been functionalized using atmospheric plasma under non‐equilibrium conditions without utilizing vacuum chambers. The reactive species present in the plasma such as, molecular ions, electrons, and radicals interact with PCC's surface, leading to the introduction of epoxy, carbonyl and amino functional groups on carbon surface. The resulting plasma functionalized carbon (PFC) material was characterized using several advanced material characterization techniques, including PXRD, FTIR, XPS, N ₂ BET specific surface area, SEM and TEM imaging techniques, etc. Moreover, it has been used in diverse applications in toxic gas removal (CO ₂ , CO, NO _x ), fluoride (F ⁻ ) removal from drinking water and cationic organic dye (methylene blue–MB) removal. The reported method for synthesis of functional carbon introduces a platform technology for low carbon footprint, green synthesis of advanced functional materials.

Climate change has emerged as a significant threat to the global agro-economy, adversely affecting agricultural productivity, food security, and local and global agricultural development goals. To ensure sustainable crop productivity and meet future demands, it is essential to take prompt actions to address the current challenges of lower agricultural productivity due to climate change. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is a novel concept that offers a promising approach to tackle these challenges by introducing sustainable farming practices that minimize negative environmental impacts and enhance resilience to climate change. It involves realigning current agricultural practices and introducing smart techniques to reduce the adverse effects of agriculture that contribute to climate change and higher carbon footprints. The importance of climate-smart fertilizers in agricultural productivity cannot be overemphasized, as the soil is susceptible to structural changes and alterations in nutrient availability due to climatic impacts. Therefore, the implementation of proper nutrient management mechanisms and advanced fertilizer innovations has become a top priority in implementing the concepts of CSA. Consequently, there has been a greater focus on introducing more climate-adaptive and resilient plant nutrient delivery systems and technologies in recent times. For instance, nanofertilizer, bio-based controlled-release and slow-release fertilizers have provided a more sustainable and climate-friendly alternative to traditional synthetic fertilizers. Despite the innovations, challenges remain in implementing CSA practices and practices of climate-smart fertilizers at scale. This is largely attributed to the lack of proper knowledge and a streamlined policy framework on climate resilience in agriculture and fertilizers. This article seeks to review the role of fertilizer innovations and nutrient management in CSA, targeting the reduction of nutrient losses due to climate changes. It also examines the current status of climate-smart fertilizers with a particular emphasis on the current implementation challenges and future prospects in fertilizer production, leading to global food security by adapting to climatic changes. By highlighting specific examples of modern climate-smart agriculture and fertilizer management, this article aims to provide insights into the potential benefits and challenges of implementing CSA practices and encourage further research and development in this important field. Keywords: Climate-smart agriculture, Climate-smart fertilizers, Climate change, Nutrient Management, Innovations in fertilizers

This study reports an efficient and convenient method for removal of water hardness and heavy metals using amine-functionalized silica nanoparticle incorporated cellulose acetate electrospun nanofiber membranes.