Academic and Professional Qualifications
Academic qualifications
Ph.D., Cornel University, USA
M.Sc., University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
B.Sc., University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Professional experiences
Coordinator/ Counseling and Career Guidance Unit of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya (2020- Present).
Head/ Department of Soil Science of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya (January, 2017 – December 2019).
The World Academy of Science (TWAS) Young Affiliate: 2017 - 2022.
General Secretary (2021 - Present), Vice-president (2018/2020 and 2015/2016) and an executive committee member (2011 to present) of Soil Science Society of Sri Lanka.
Country representative to the Pillar 1 (Pillar 1. Promote sustainable management of soil resources for soil protection, conservation) of Asian Soil Partnership.
A member of FAO/WHO Roster of Experts for the Antimicrobial Resistance (2018-2020).
Secretary (2016-2018), a Board member (2014-present) and a teaching panel member of the Board of Study in Soil Science of Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
ACADEMIC DISTINCTIONS & AWARDS
Selected key publications
Dandeniya, W.S., Herath, E.M., Lowe, A.M., Kasinthar, M., Jinadasa, R.N., Vidanarachchi, J.K. and Samarakone, T.S., 2022. Antibiotic use in commercial broiler chicken farming and its consequential resistance development in root colonizing bacteria of carrot grown in manure-applied soils in a middle-income country. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 102(2), pp.319-329.
Dandeniya, W.S., Wijerathna, Y.U.C., Palihakkara, P.D.B.J. and Mithrasena, Y.J.P.K., 2022. Cellulose decomposition potential of soil as affected by vegetable cultivation: A case study in Kegalle District, Sri Lanka. Tropical Agricultural Research, 33(1), pp.29-39.
Nawarathna, K.K., Dandeniya, W.S., Dharmakeerthi, R.S. and Weerasinghe, P., 2021. Evaluating the nitrification inhibition potential of selected botanicals and their non-target effects. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 102(2), pp.489-504.
Chathurika, J.A.S., Kumaragamage, D., Indraratne, S.P. and Dandeniya, W.S., 2019. Improving soil carbon pool, soil fertility and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) in low-fertile tropical Alfisols by combining fertilizers with slow-decomposing organic amendments. The Journal of Agricultural Science, 157(1), pp.45-54.
Chathurika, J.S., Kumaragamage, D., Zvomuya, F., Akinremi, O.O., Flaten, D.N., Indraratne, S.P. and Dandeniya, W.S., 2016. Woodchip biochar with or without synthetic fertilizers affects soil properties and available phosphorus in two alkaline, chernozemic soils. Canadian journal of soil science, 96(4), pp.472-484.
Herath, E.M., Palansooriya, A.G.K.N., Dandeniya, W.S., and Jinadasa, R.N., 2016. An assessment of antibiotic resistant bacteria in poultry litter and agricultural soils in Kandy district, Sri Lanka. Tropical Agricultural Research, 27(4): 389-398.
Research grants
National Research Council 2016: Principal Investigator of the research on "Developing botanical nitrification inhibitors to reduce nitrogen fertilizer wastage in vegetable crop cultivation". NRC 16-075, LKR 3.4 Million (2016-2022).
National Research Council 2016: Deputy Principal Investigator of the research on "Development of eco-friendly farming technologies to minimize inorganic fertilizer usage while maintaining adequate productivity and improving soil fertility". NRC TO 16-07, LKR 49.92 Million (ongoing).
Small grants of the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, Sri Lanka: Principal Investigator of the research on "The efficiency of carbon cycling and functional diversity of soil microorganisms and its relation to soil fertility in intensively cultivated vegetable-based cropping systems". LKR 0.11 million (2019).
Small grants of the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, Sri Lanka: Principal Investigator of the research on "The diversity of bacterial and fungal populations in soils as affected by shifting cultivation in dry mixed evergreen forests". LKR 0.1 million (2016).
University research grant 2016: Principal Investigator of the research on "Assessing the contribution of nitrification for fertilizer-N losses from agricultural soils". LKR 0.785 Million (2016-2020).
University research grant 2013: Principal Investigator of the research on "Antibiotic resistant bacteria in poultry manure and intensively cultivated Ultisols". LKR 0.076 Million (2013-2014).
International Foundation for Science (IFS) Grant 2012: Principal Investigator of the research on "Resistance of microbial communities in agricultural soils to tetracycline following application of poultry manure". USD11,700 (2012-2016).
