Major Soils of the Wet Zone and Their Classification

Abstract

The Wet zone is the wettest part of the country and where most of the rain-fed plantation crops as tea, rubber, and coconut are grown. A total of 33 soil series were identified in this area. The Wet zone, similar to the Intermediate zone is also divided to low, mid, and up country Wet zone depending on elevation. The soil series of the low country Wet zone are described according to physiographic groupings of erosional surfaces and, erosional/residual planation surfaces. Hill and valley, ridge and valley of low to moderate relief, and ridge and valleys of moderate to high relief were the physiographic groupings used to categorize the soils of the mid-country Wet zone. The soil series of the up country Wet zone are described according to physiographic regions of hill, ridge and valley landforms, and plateau landform. One benchmark soil series as an example for each of these landforms is discussed in detail with the color photograph of the landscape and soil profile.