Dr. Niluka Nakandalage

Senior Lecturer (Grade I)

Department of Crop Science,
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna,
Mapalana, Kamburupitiya,
Sri Lanka 81100

Research Interests

Qualifications

PhD | University of Melbourne, Australia
M.Phil. | University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka
B.Sc. (First Class Honours) | University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka

Biography

Dr. Niluka Nakandalage is a Senior Lecturer (Grade Dr. Niluka Nakandalage) in the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna. Her research spans crop agronomy, plant physiology, and mineral nutrition, with a particular focus on micronutrient dynamics (especially zinc and nitrogen) in crops under elevated CO 2 and climate change scenarios. She has made significant contributions to rice zinc biofortification research through work conducted at the University of Melbourne. In addition to her work on staple crops, she has a strong research programme in the cultivation, propagation, and management of medicinal and aromatic plants in Sri Lanka, including sandalwood, cinnamon, and several Ayurvedic herbs. She teaches modules including crop stress physiology, agronomy, crop nutrition, nursery management, and fruit crop management.

Awards

Total: 2

01
Research Resource Support for Research Higher Degree (RHD) students, University of Melbourne - 2014
02
Professor YDA Senanayake Gold Medal for the most outstanding graduate in Crop Science (2006)

Scholarships

Total: 2

01
Melbourne International Fee Remission Scholarship (MIFRS) - 2014
02
Melbourne International Research Scholarship (MIRS) - 2014

Teaching Areas

Total: 6

01
Management of medicinal and aromatic plants
02
Fruit crop management
03
Crop stress physiology
04
Agronomy
05
Nursery management
06
Crop nutrition

Journal Publications

Total: 13

Nakandalage, N., Chandrasekara, C., et al. (2025). In-vivo propagation protocols for Kapparawalliya (Plectranthus amboinicus Lour). Journal of Food and Agriculture, 18(2).

Nakandalage, N., Madushani, W. G. I., et al. (2024). Growth, yield, and anatomical adaptations of Withania somnifera (L.) under varying water and salt stress conditions. AGRIEAST: Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 19(1).

Nakandalage, N., Jayawardhana, W. R. S., et al. (2024). Growth, yield and anatomy of Alpinia calcarata (Heen Araththa) as affected by irrigation frequency. Journal of Dry Zone Agriculture, 10.

Nakandalage, N., Jayawardhana, W. R. S., et al. (2024). Effect of cutting type, potting media, and irrigation frequency on the success of vegetative propagation of Iriweriya (Plectranthus zeylanicus Forssk). Tropical Agricultural Research, 27(3).

Ariyawansha, R. R., Nakandalage, N., et al. (2024). Studies on status, potentiality and distribution of medicinal plants in Karandeniya DS division, Sri Lanka through field and GPS coordinates app study. International Journal of Minor Fruits, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 10(1).

Nakandalage, N., Milham, P. J., Holford, P., & Seneweera, S. (2023). Luxury zinc supply prevents the depression of grain nitrogen concentrations in rice (Oryza sativa L.) typically induced by elevated CO2. Plants, 12(4), 839.

Nakandalage, N., & Anuruddi, H. (2023). Underutilized crops as a resource to combat the food, nutrient, and economic security in Sri Lanka. Journal of Dry Zone Agriculture, 9(1).

Fonseka, D. L. C. K., Nakandalage, N., et al. (2023). Enhancement of high-quality cinnamon quill production through agronomic approaches: a review. Academia Biology, 1(1).

Nakandalage, N., & Anuruddi, H. (2022). Selection of suitable potting media for the propagation of Evolvulus alsinoides L. (slender dwarf morning glory) through seeds and stem cuttings. AGRIEAST: Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 16(2).

Nakandalage, N., Athukorala, W., et al. (2022). Effect of growing media and irrigation frequencies on early vegetative growth of Piper longum L. Journal of Dry Zone Agriculture, 8(1).

Nakandalage, N., Sampath, A. M. U., Anuruddi, H., et al. (2021). Growth performance of sandalwood during nursery stage as affected by different host plants. Tropical Agricultural Research, 32(2).

Nakandalage, N., De Silva, M. A., et al. (2021). Morphological characterization of Terminalia chebula (Aralu) and their propagation techniques. International Journal of Minor Fruits, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 7(1).

Nakandalage, N., Nicolas, M., Norton, R. M., et al. (2016). Improving rice zinc biofortification success rates through genetic and crop management approaches in a changing environment. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7, 764.

Books / Book Chapters

Total: 2

Nakandalage, N., & Seneweera, S. (2018). Micronutrients use efficiency of crop-plants under changing climate. In Plant Micronutrient Use Efficiency. Elsevier, pp. 267–287.

View DOI

Anuruddi, H., Nakandalage, N., et al. (2023). New insights for the production of medicinal plant materials: ex vitro and in vitro propagation. In Biosynthesis of Bioactive Compounds in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Springer.

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Conference Publications

Total: 3

Nakandalage, N., Jayawardhana, W. R. S., Ariyasoma, U. M. U. R., & Pradeepika, N. G. J. (2024). Development of propagation techniques for Keekiridiya (Eclipta prostrata L.): A valuable medicinal plant. Proceedings of the 28th Forestry and Environment Symposium, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.

Open

Nakandalage, N., Dias, N., & Gunawardena, O. (2023). Enhancing propagation techniques for Adathoda vasica using cutting types, hormones and growing media. Conference Proceedings.

Open

Wickramasinghe, K. G. K. M., Nakandalage, N., Lekamge, P. L. U. S. B., & Wijesundara, D. S. A. (2019). Study on selected species of family Thymelaeaceae for agarwood type resin and their propagation methods. Conference Proceedings.

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