ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:

PhD in Natural Resources (2019), University of Missouri, Columbia, USA

MSc in Crop Science (2016), Department of Crop Science, Postgraduate institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

BSc in Agricultural Technology and Management (2012, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka 

(Specialized in Advanced Crop Production)

Research Interest Areas

• Vegetable production systems
• Ecological Agriculture
• Organic farming and sustainable agriculture
• Agroforestry, home gardening and green movements
• Agronomy and conservation farming
• Cropping systems and Farming systems

Publications

Full length research papers in peer-reviewed journals

• Rankoth, L.M., R.P. Udawatta, C.J. Gantzer, and S.H. Anderson. 2022. Cover crop effects on μCT-measured geometrical pore characteristics. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. 2022;5:e20284. doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20284
• Rankoth, L.M., R.P. Udawatta, S.H Anderson, C.J. Gantzer, and S. Alagele. 2021. Cover crop influence on soil water dynamics for a corn-soybean rotation. Agrosystems Geosciences and Environment (Agrosyst Geosci Environ.). 2021;4:e20175. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20175
• Dissanayaka, D.M.S.B., L.M. Rankoth, W.M.N.D. Gunathilaka, B.D.R. Prasantha and B. Marambe. 2021. Utilizing food legumes to achieve iron and zinc nutritional security under changing climate. Journal of Crop Improvement, DOI: 10.1080/15427528.2021.1872754
• Lebedeva, M.G., A.R. Lupo, A.B. Solovyov, Y.G. Chendev, and L.M. Rankoth. 2020. Sugar beet harvests under modern climatic conditions in the Belgorod region (Southwest Russia). Climate. 2020, 8(3), p.46. doi:10.3390/cli8030046
• Alagele, S.M., S.H. Anderson, R.P. Udawatta, K.S. Veum, and L.M. Rankoth. 2020. Long?Term perennial management and cropping effects on soil microbial biomass for claypan watersheds. Agronomy Journal. 2020, 1-13. DOI: 10.1002/agj2.20116
• Rankoth, L.M., R.P. Udawatta, C.J. Gantzer, S. Jose, and K.A. Nelson. 2019. Cover crop effects on corn plant sap flow rates and soil water dynamics. Crop Science. 59, 227-2236. DOI:10.2135/cropsci2019.04.0234
• Rankoth, L.M., R.P. Udawatta, C.J. Gantzer, S. Jose, K. Veum and H.A. Dewanto. 2019. Cover crops on temporal and spatial variations in soil microbial communities by PLFA profiling. Agronomy Journal. 111, 1693-1703. DOI:10.2134/agronj2018.12.0789
• Rankoth, L.M., R.P. Udawatta, K.S. Veum, S. Jose and S. Alagele. 2019. Cover crop influence on soil enzymes and selected chemical parameters for a claypan corn-soybean rotation. Agriculture. 2019, 9, 125. DOI:10.3390/agriculture9060125
• Udawatta, R.P., L.M. Rankoth, and S. Jose. 2019. Agroforestry and Biodiversity. Sustainability. 2019, 11, 2879; DOI:10.3390/su11102879
• Alagele, S.M., S.H. Anderson, R.P. Udawatta, K.S. Veum, and L.M. Rankoth. 2019. Effects of conservation practices on soil quality compared to a corn/soybean rotation on a claypan soil. Journal of Environmental Quality. doi:10.2134/jeq2019.03.0121

Book Chapters

• Dissanayake, P.A.K.N., Dissanayaka, D.M.S.B., Rankoth, L.M. and Abeysinghe, G., 2022. 1 Waste Countries Management Challenges in Developing. Waste Technology for Emerging Economies.
• Udawatta, R.P., L.M. Rankoth, and S. Jose. 2021. Agroforestry for Biodiversity Conservation. In Agroforestry and Ecosystem Services. Springer, Cham. p. 245-274.

Oral Presentations

• Rankoth, L.M., R.P. Udawatta, and S.H. Anderson. 2020. Cover crop effects on micro-CT-measured geometrical pore parameters. 2020 American Society of Agronomy/Soil Science Society of America International Meeting Abstracts. 9-13 November, Phoenix, Arizona (virtual).
• Rankoth, L.M., R.P. Udawatta, C.J. Gantzer, S. Jose and K.S. Veum. 2019. Winter cover crop effects on soil microbial population and community structure in claypan soils with corn-soybean rotation. Abstracts 2018-2019. Soils Across Latitudes, 2018-2019 Soil Science Society of America International Soils Meeting, San Diego, CA, USA. January 6-9, 2019. 5585 Guilford Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53711-1086.
• Rankoth, L.M., S. Jose, and R.P. Udawatta. 2017. Use of agroforestry in biodiversity conservation. Abstracts 2017 ASA, CSSA, and SSSA International Annual Meetings, Tampa, Florida, USA. October 22-25, 2017. 5585 Guilford Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53711-1086.
• Udawatta, R., Jose S, and Rankoth L. A paired watershed evaluation of agroforestry and bioenergy effects on water quality on corn/soybean rotation. Keynote speaker at Agroforestry World Congress, Montpellier, France. May 20-25, 2019.

Poster Presentations

• Rankoth, L.M., R.P. Udawatta, C.J. Gantzer, S. Jose, and K.A Nelson. 2019. Cover crop effects on corn plant sap flow rates and soil water dynamics. Abstracts 2018-2019. Soils Across Latitudes, 2018-2019 Soil Science Society of America International Soils Meeting, San Diego, CA, USA. January 6-9, 2019. 5585 Guilford Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53711-1086.
• Udawatta, R.P., L.M. Rankoth, C.J. Gantzer, S. Jose and S.H. Anderson. 2019. Cover crops on soil water dynamics in claypan soils with corn-soybean rotation. Abstracts 2018-2019. Soils Across Latitudes, 2018-2019 Soil Science Society of America International Soils Meeting, San Diego, CA, USA. January 6-9, 2019. 5585 Guilford Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53711-1086.
• Rankoth, L.M., R.P. Udawatta, C.J. Gantzer, S. Jose, and K.A Nelson. 2019. Cover crop effects on corn plant water uptake and soil water dynamics. Abstracts 2019 Soil Health Conference, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA. February 4-5, 2019.
• Rankoth, L.M., R.P. Udawatta, C.J. Gantzer, S. Jose and S.H. Anderson. 2019. Cover crops on soil water dynamics in claypan soils with corn-soybean rotation. Abstracts 2019 Annual Agroforestry Symposium, Center for Agroforestry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA. January 31, 2019.
• Rankoth, L.M., R.P. Udawatta, C.J. Gantzer, S. Jose, and K.A Nelson. 2019. Cover crop effects on corn plant sap flow rates and soil water dynamics. 74th Annual Soil and Water Conservation Society Conference. Bridging the Divide. Abstract Book. July 28-31, 2019. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
• Alagele, S., S.H. Anderson, R.P. Udawatta, K.S. Veum, and L. Rankoth. 2019. Effects of conservation management practices on soil quality parameters compared to row crop management. Book of Abstracts p. 206. 4th World Congress on Agroforestry, 20-22 May 2019, Montpellier, France
• Rankoth, L.M., R.P. Udawatta, C.J. Gantzer, S. Jose, S.H. Anderson, and C.S. Weerasekara. 2017. Cover crop influence on soil water dynamics under corn-soybean rotation. Abstracts 2017 ASA, CSSA, and SSSA International Annual Meetings, Tampa, Florida, USA. October 22-25, 2017. 5585 Guilford Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53711-1086.
• Rankoth, L.M., R.P. Udawatta, C.J. Gantzer, S. Jose, C.S. Weerasekara, and K.S. Veum. 2017. Cover crop influence on soil quality under corn-soybean rotation. 72nd Annual Soil and Water Conservation Society Conference. Creating pathways to Sustainability. Abstract Book. July 30-Aug. 2, 2017. Madison, WI.
• Rankoth, L.M., R.P. Udawatta, C.J. Gantzer, and S. Jose, 2017. Cover crop influence on soil water dynamics under corn-soybean rotation. 72nd Annual Soil and Water Conservation Society Conference. Creating pathways to Sustainability. Abstract Book. July 30-Aug. 2, 2017. Madison, WI.

Proceedings

• Gunasekara R.S.M., Priyantha M.G.D.L., Jayathilaka R.M.S.P., Samaranayake J.W.K., Ariyaratne M. and Rankoth L.M. 2022. Identification of Seed Dormancy Period of Popular Rice Varieties in Sri Lanka. Abstracts 2021/22, Faculty of Agriculture undergraduate Research Symposium (FAuRS), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. December 28, 2022. p: 63.
• Yogarasa K., Priyantha M.G.D.L., Athukorala A.R.J., Samaranayake J.W.K., Beneragama C.K. and Rankoth L.M. 2022. Seed Priming Techniques for Improving Germination in Selected Cucurbits. Abstracts 2021/22, Faculty of Agriculture undergraduate Research Symposium (FAuRS), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. December 28, 2022. p: 145.
• Dissanayake D.M.R.L., Ranil R.H.G., De Silva S.H.N.P. and Rankoth L.M. 2022. Identifying the Best Soil Incorporation Stage of Horse Gram [Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc.] as a Green Manure Crop. Abstracts 2021/22, Faculty of Agriculture undergraduate Research Symposium (FAuRS), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. December 28, 2022. p: 65.
• Marasinghe M.A.S., Pradeepika K.K.S.D., Ariyarathna R.A.I.S., Suriyagoda L.D.B., Ranil R.H.G. and Rankoth L.M. 2022. Variation of Hard Seed Percentage in Local Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L.) Varieties between Cultivating Areas in Sri Lanka. Abstracts 2021/22, Faculty of Agriculture undergraduate Research Symposium (FAuRS), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. December 28, 2022. p: 117.
• Nisana R., Priyantha M.G.D.L., Athukorala A.R.J., Samaranayake J.W.K., Sivananthawerl T., De Silva S.H.N.P. and Rankoth L.M. 2022. Priming Techniques for Seed Quality Enhancement of Selected Oil Seed Crops. Abstracts 2021/22, Faculty of Agriculture undergraduate Research Symposium (FAuRS), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. December 28, 2022. p: 206.
• Maduwanthi, S.D.C., L.M. Rankoth, S.H.N.P. De Silva, and R.H.G. Ranil. 2021. Identifying the best soil incorporation stage of Sunn Hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) as green manure. Abstracts 2021, Faculty of Agriculture Undergraduate Research Symposium (FAuRS), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. August 13, 2021. p: 39.
• Delgoda, S.K.H.B.H., L.M. Rankoth, H.M.G.S.B. Hitinayake, and R.H.G. Ranil. 2021. Evaluating the effects of selected biopesticides for controlling chilli leaf curl complex. Abstracts 2021, Faculty of Agriculture Undergraduate Research Symposium (FAuRS), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. August 13, 2021. p: 31.
• Balasooriya, B.M.D.L., L.M. Rankoth, and R.H.G. Ranil. 2021. Effectiveness of chilli-brinjal intercropping in controlling leaf curl disease of chilli. Abstracts 2021, Faculty of Agriculture Undergraduate Research Symposium (FAuRS), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. August 13, 2021. p: 27.
• Delgoda, K.H.B.H., L.M. Rankoth, R.H.G. Ranil, H.M.G.S.B. Hitinayake, and B.M.L.D.B. Suriyagoda. 2021. Comparison of the effect of organic pesticides with a synthetic pesticide recommended for the control of chilli leaf curl complex. Proceedings of the Young Scientists' Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (YSCMR -2021), Young Scientists' Association of National Institute of Fundamental Studies (NIFS-YSA), Sri Lanka. October 21, 2021.
• Chamodya, K.D.S., L.M. Rankoth, and H.M.G.S.B. Hitinayake. 2020. Determination of chemical and nutritional quality parameters between organically and conventionally grown tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze). Abstracts 2020, Faculty of Agriculture Undergraduate Research Symposium (FAuRS), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. July 16, 2020. p: 105.
• Jayasinghe, W.T.B.K., L.M. Rankoth, B. Marambe, and T.K. Illangakoon. 2020. Identification of suitable weed management options for ultra-short age rice variety LD253. Abstracts 2020, Faculty of Agriculture Undergraduate Research Symposium (FAuRS), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. July 16, 2020. p: 33.