[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
Plant\u2013microbe interactions, nitrogen fixation, biofertilizers, microbial consortia and soil health.<\/p>\n
IoT, sensor-based monitoring, automation, precision cultivation and smart farming.<\/p>\n
Microbial waste degradation, microalgae, wastewater treatment and resource valorization<\/p>\n
Hydroponics, vertical farming, protected cultivation and urban agriculture.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
My research focuses on harnessing the potential of plant biotechnology, microbial innovation and emerging technologies to develop sustainable, resource-efficient and climate-resilient agricultural systems. With a specialization in Plant Biotechnology and Soil Microbiology, my work explores the interactions between plants, microorganisms and their environment, with particular emphasis on translating biological processes into practical agricultural applications.<\/p>\n
A major component of my research is the application of beneficial microorganisms, particularly nitrogen-fixing bacteria and other plant-associated microbial communities, to enhance soil fertility, improve nutrient-use efficiency and reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers. My research on microbial inoculants for rice cultivation has demonstrated the potential to reduce nitrogen fertilizer requirements by approximately 50\u201360% without compromising crop yield. I am also interested in developing advanced microbial formulations, including fungal\u2013bacterial associations and biofilm-based systems, for sustainable crop production and soil health improvement.<\/p>\n
Another important research direction involves the integration of biotechnology with smart and precision agriculture. I explore the application of Internet of Things (IoT), sensor technologies, automated monitoring and data-driven approaches to develop intelligent cultivation systems. My work in this area includes sensor-integrated hydroponics, automated nutrient and environmental monitoring, and technology-assisted optimization of plant growth under controlled environments.<\/p>\n
I am particularly interested in innovative approaches to urban and protected agriculture, including hydroponics, vertical farming, aeroponics and other soilless cultivation technologies. These research activities aim to develop space-efficient, resource-conscious food production systems that address emerging challenges associated with urbanization, climate variability, limited arable land and changing food production requirements.<\/p>\n
My research also extends into environmental biotechnology and the valorisation of biological and industrial waste. This includes investigating microbial consortia for the biodegradation of synthetic textile materials, exploring microalgae-based approaches for wastewater treatment and resource recovery, and examining integrated microalgal\u2013aquaponic systems for improved resource efficiency and sustainable food production.<\/p>\n
Overall, my research adopts an interdisciplinary and application-oriented approach, bringing together plant science, microbiology, biotechnology, engineering and digital technologies. A central objective is to bridge fundamental biological research with technological innovation, industry collaboration and commercialization, transforming scientific knowledge into practical solutions for sustainable agriculture, environmental management and future food systems.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Core Research Pillars: 1. Microbial Biotechnology Plant\u2013microbe interactions, nitrogen fixation, biofertilizers, microbial consortia and soil health. 2.\u00a0Intelligent Agriculture IoT, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.res.cmb.ac.lk\/plant.sciences\/thilini-perera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.res.cmb.ac.lk\/plant.sciences\/thilini-perera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.res.cmb.ac.lk\/plant.sciences\/thilini-perera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.res.cmb.ac.lk\/plant.sciences\/thilini-perera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.res.cmb.ac.lk\/plant.sciences\/thilini-perera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.res.cmb.ac.lk\/plant.sciences\/thilini-perera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":127,"href":"https:\/\/www.res.cmb.ac.lk\/plant.sciences\/thilini-perera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20\/revisions\/127"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.res.cmb.ac.lk\/plant.sciences\/thilini-perera\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}