Ranjith P. Udawatta

Ranjith P. Udawatta

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

25Years (2002-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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21 May 2019 in Sustainability
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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RURanjith P. Udawatta
Ranjith P. Udawatta
LRLalith Rankoth
Lalith Rankoth
Shibu JoseShibu Jose
Shibu Jose
Declining biodiversity (BD) is aecting food security, agricultural sustainability, and environmental quality. Agroforestry (AF) is recognized as a possible partial solution for BD conservation and improvement. This manuscript uses published peer-reviewed manuscripts, reviews, meta-analysis, and federal and state agency documents to evaluate relationships between AF and BD and how AF can be used to conserve BD. The review revealed that floral, faunal, and soil microbial diversity were significantly greater in AF as compared to monocropping, adjacent crop lands, and within crop alleys and some forests. Among the soil organisms, arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AMF), bacteria, and enzyme activities were significantly greater in AF than crop and livestock practices. Agroforestry also creates spatially concentrated high-density BD near trees due to favorable soil-plant-water-microclimate conditions. The greater BD was attributed to heterogeneous vegetation, organic carbon, microclimate, soil conditions, and spatial distribution of trees. Dierences in BD between AF and other management types diminished with time. Evenly distributed leaves, litter, roots, dead/live biological material, and microclimate improve soil and microclimate in adjacent crop and pasture areas as the system matures. Results of the study prove that integration of AF can improve BD in agricultural lands. Selection of site suitable tree/shrub/grass-crop combinations can be used to help address soil nutrient deficiencies or environmental conditions. Future studies with standardized management protocols may be needed for all regions to further strengthen these findings and to develop AF establishment criteria for BD conservation and agricultural sustainability.

1 July 2002 in Journal of Environmental Quality
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Journal Article
Closed access
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RURanjith P. Udawatta
Ranjith P. Udawatta
JKJ. John Krstansky
J. John Krstansky
GHGray S. Henderson
Gray S. Henderson
HGHarold E. Garrett
Harold E. Garrett

23 March 2008 in Agroforestry Systems
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Journal Article
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SAStephen H. Anderson
Stephen H. Anderson
RURanjith P. Udawatta
Ranjith P. Udawatta
TSTshepiso Seobi
Tshepiso Seobi
HGHarold E. Garrett
Harold E. Garrett

1 January 2008 in Journal of Environmental Quality
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
RURanjith P. Udawatta
Ranjith P. Udawatta
SAStephen H. Anderson
Stephen H. Anderson
CGClark J. Gantzer
Clark J. Gantzer
HGHarold E. Garrett
Harold E. Garrett

14 September 2012 in Agroforestry Systems
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
RURanjith P. Udawatta
Ranjith P. Udawatta
SJShibu Jose
Shibu Jose

1 September 2006 in Soil Science Society of America Journal
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
RURanjith P. Udawatta
Ranjith P. Udawatta
SAStephen H. Anderson
Stephen H. Anderson
CGClark J. Gantzer
Clark J. Gantzer
HGHarold E. Garrett
Harold E. Garrett