http://www.fao.org/globalsoilpartnership This presentation was made during Regional Conference on the Asian Soil Partnership that took place in Nanjing, China 08-11 Febraury 2012.The presentation was made by RanjithB. Mapa& SrimathiP.Indrarthne, and it presents: Present Status and Future Needs of Soil Database Development Country Report: Sri Lanka. ©FAO: http://www.fao.org

1. Present Status and Future
Needs of Soil Database
Development
Country Report: Sri Lanka
Ranjith B. Mapa & Srimathi P. Indrarthne
Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture
University of Peraeniya, Peradeniya
Sri Lanka
A

2. Presentation Plan
• Problems - Related to Land
• Demand for Soil Resource Information
• Need for a Soil Data Base
• Objectives
• Development of Soil Information to
present status
• Outcomes & Applications
• Future Needs
• Conclusions

3. Background
•Land area 65, 610 km2
6.56 million ha
• Population of 20.2 million
• Area wise – 118th
• Population wise 47th
• Population density 19th
Sri Lanka
Population growth of 1.1%
23 million in 2050
•Showing pressure on
land resources
•Per capita arable land is
0.15 ha

4. Human Induced Land
Degradation
• Soil Erosion & Sedimentation
•Soil fertility decline
•Acidification
•Salinity & Alkalinity
•Eutrification
•Leaching of NO3 and pesticides
•Fe toxicity
•Acid Sulfate conditions
These will further increase pressure on arable land
Growing demand for soil resource information
Need A soil data base - Organized manner

5. Objectives
•Discuss the development of soil
information to present status
• Highlight the use of the present
database for land related applications
•Propose future development needs of a
soil database for Sri Lanka

6. Milestones of Development
to present status
•First documented soil study was by Hughes in 1887
on “Ceylon Coffee Soil and Manures”
•Eden (1929) – Systematic study of Tea Growing
soils – Recognized the importance of soil
profile
First Factorial Experiment

8. First Provisional
Soil Map
In 1955 Joachim & co-workers
published the first provisional
soil map of Ceylon
Major Features
•Nature of Parent rock
•Climate
•Vegetation
•Topography
•Ponnamperuma (1959) –
Soil classification
system for rice growing soils

9. Development to Present
Status
Mostly used soil
map & Report by
De Alwis & Panabokke 1972
(SSSSL Journal Vol. 2)
Mapping units
• Soil Associations
Consisting of Great
Soil Groups
(Same order – Sequence-
of genetic horizons)
• Soil complexes
• Miscellaneous land units

10. Most Recent
• Soil Science Society of Sri Lanka – Continue
• CIDA Funded SRICANSOL project – Twinning
project between SSSSL and CSSS - 1999
• Map the soils in more detail
• Classify according to International methods
• Classify at series level – more applications
• Characterize a Benchmark site – Each soil series

11. Structure of
the Data Base
Elevation
Low country < 300 m
Mid country 300-900 m
Up country > 900 m
Dry Zone
Erosional surfaces
Coastal plains
Flood plains
Developed in 3 stages
Rainfall zones
•Wet Zone > 2500 mm
•Intermediate 1750-2500
•Dry Zone < 1750 mm
1
2
3

12. Dev. of Database..
1.Identification of the major soil series based on
soil, topography, parent material, climate,
vegetation, previous information
2. Selection of bench mark sites
Exact location - (GPS)
Description of landscape + Soil Profile

13. Dev. of Database….
3. Sampling from
major
soil horizons
4. Analysis for
soil physical
&
chemical
parameters

14. Collection of Data
Soil profile
BA
Ap
Bt1
Bt2
In Wet zone
26 – Soil Series Benchmark
Profiles
Detailed collection of data
Methodical Approach
In IZ zone – 40 series
In Dry Zone 51 series
137 Horizons
17 Properties
Total of 2250
3 Replicates - 6750

15. Soil Maps
at Series level
Intermediate Zone
1:400,000
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
$$
$
$ $
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ $
$
$
$
$
$
$
DL3
D(L3-L4)
DL4
DL4
DL3
DL4
DL1
DL4
DL3
D(L2-L4)
DL2
DL3
JAFFNA
VAVUNIYA
KILINOCHCHI
MULLAITTIVU
MANNAR
TRINCOMALEE
PUTTALAM
ANURADHAPURA
41
DZPO 04
DZP O 07
DZPU 02
DZPU 03 DZPU 04
DZP U 06
DZP U 08
DZPU 09
DZPO 10
DZAN 01
DZA N 02
DZAN 03
DZAN 04
DZAN 05
DZAN 06
DZAN 07
DZAN 08
DZMT 01
DZTR 01
DZTR 02
50
16
47
49
50
50
47
47
16
47
47
16
47
49
47
48
48
48
50
47
48
47
48
47
48
31 47 48
31
47
16
17
32
17
40
43
17
17
43
40
44
40
43
32
44
43
43
16
17
40
40
40
45
17
31
45
42
31
45
31
45
43
32
45 40
17
43
16
44
43
43 40
43
44
43
40
39
46
40
40
43 44
4646 45
16
40
17
32
46
45
46
17
45
40
43
40
40
40
43
37
16
40
17
17
17
17
45
45
40
16
45
38
4617
46
46
40
16
4546
46
46 45
40
17
46
46 45
46
4045
43
46
4646
17
46
45
36
46
45 45
16
46
45
45
4546
46
46
46
45
46
43 46
45
46
46
31
45
43
46
43
45
1745
4643
45
46
46
45
45
45
46
45
46
45
45
45
45
46
46
45
38
43
45
45
46
46
45
46
40
46
4645
45
45
45
42
31
35
46
17
46 46
31
40
46
45
45
45
45
24
45
46
41
38
46
4645
16
45
45
46
46 40
17
45
46
45
40
17
46
22
45
46
4546
46
45
45 45
46
46
45
46
46
46
46 45
46
34
5046
45
45
46
46
46
46
45
45
45
46
46
46
4646 46 46
4531
45
17
45
45
4546
45
46
46
46
31
46
46
45
45
46
46
45
4645
31
46
46
46
35
36
33
46
45
31
45
46
46
34
45
33
45
32
33
33
46
21
32
16
4546
46
45
46
33
46
17
46
46
46
46
50
46
46
46
1731 46
45
46
46
46
46
45
17
45
46
17
46
46
46
45
45
46
17 31
46
46 46 46
46 46
35
45
46
17
35
46
45
36 4545 454546
46
40
31
45
36
46
46
16
46
46
4640 50
46
46
46
46
4046
46
45
46
45
17
35
45
33
46
46
46
45
4640
40
46
46 46
46 46
46
46
46
46
45
46
46
45
46
45
17
26
25
46
46
4646
45
17 46
45
40
45
40
17
46
46
45
46
28 33
16
45
26
38
4045 4627
17 45
46
49
47
47
48
33
38
17
17
DISTRIBUTION OF BENCHMARK SOILS
IN THE
DRY ZONE OF SRI LANKA
Adjoining SEC 2
( Scale 1 : 400,000 )
Negombo-Siyambala-PuttulamAssociation
Nonagama-Ranna-Ketegal Ara-Sevenagala Complex
Ranna-Ketegal Ara-Sevenagala Association
Timbolketiya-Pallagama Association
Walawe-Mahagal Ara-Ketegal Ara-Sevenagala Association
Hambagamuwa-Ketegal Ara-Sevenagala Association
Ranna-Ketegal Ara Association
Walawe-Ketegal Ara Association
Mahawalatenna-Hunnasgiriya-Weligepola Complex
Hambagamuwa-Ketegal Ara Association
Siyambalanduwa-Mutukandiya Association
Siyambalanduwa-Arantalawa-Hingurana-Damana Complex
Siyambalanduwa-Arantalawa-Akkaraipattuwa-Damana Complex
Siyambalanduwa-Arantalawa-Damana Complex
Gal Oya Series associated with undifferentiated soils of alluvial origin with variable texture and drainage
Negombo-Nillaweli-Vallachchnai-Illuppaiyadichchenai Complex
Siyambala-Puttulam Association
Siyambalanduwa-Bibile-Lithosols Complexwith bed rock exposures
Ulhitiya-Kuda Oya Association
Welikanda-Galwewa-Alawakumbura-Omadiyamadu Association with rock knob plains
Ulhitiya-Welikanda-Mutugal-Galwewa-Alawakumbura Complex with rock knob plains
Aluthnuwara-Manampitiya associated with undifferentiated soils of alluvial origin
Kiruwana-Kuliyapitiya-Kurunagala-Batalagoda-Association
Kaduruwela-Mutugala-Ulhitiya-Kuda Oya-Complex
Aluthwewa-Hurathgama Association
Ukuwela-Hunugala Matale Association
Maho-Wariyapola-Ballala Association
Andigama-Willattawa-Gampaha Association
Welipellessa Series
Mampuri Series
Negombo-Puttulam Association
Mampuri-Siyambala- Puttulam Association
Tonigala-Anamaduwa-Nawagattegama Complex
Aruvi Series associated with undifferentiated alluvial soils of variable texture and drainage
Willpattu-Gambura-Mawillu-Borupan Association
Medawachchiya-Ranorawa-Elayapattuwa-Hurathgama-Nawagattegama Association
Medawachchiya-Aluthwewa-Divulwewa-Hurathgama-Nawagattegama Association
Medawachchiya-Aluthwewa-Kahatagasdegeliya Association with Lithosols derived fromquartzite
Pallagama-Siyambala Complex
Undifferentiated soils of alluvial origin with variable texture and drainage
Kaduruwela-Seruwila-Siyambala Association
Medawachchiya-Tada ratu-Cheddikulam-Hurathgama-Nawagattegama Association
Gambura-Mawillu-Borupan Association
Mullaittivu-Tanniyuttu-Vattappalai Association
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
Erosional remnents (Inselberg)
Rock knob plains
LEGEND
MISCELLANEOUS LAND UNITS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
Mampuri Series
BorupanSeries
Gambura Series
PuttulamSeries
Willpattu Series
NilaweliSeries
Vallachchaini Series
Illuppaiyadichchaina Series
Siyambala Series
Mawillu Series
Manampitiya Series
Gal Oya Series
Timbolketiya Series
Pallegama Series
Aruvi Series
Omadiyamadu Series
Tonigala Series
Anamaduwa Series
Aluthwewa Series
Ranorawa Series
Tada ratu Series
Medawachchiya Series
Kaduruwela Series
Welikanda Series
Mutugala Series
Aranthalawa Series
Hingurana Series
Hambagamuwa Series
WalaweSeries
Siyambalanduwa Series
Ranna Series
Nonagama Series
Elayapattuwa Series
Divulwewa Series
Cheddikulam Series
Galwewa Series
Mahagal Ara Series
Hurathgama Series
Kahatagasdegeliya Series
Alawakumbura Series
Seruwila Series
Sevenagala Series
Nawagattegama Series
Ketagal Ara Series
Akkaraipattuwa Series
DamanaSeries
Typic Quartzepsamments
Aquic Quartzepsamments
Typic Ustorthents
Sodic Hydroaquents
Typic Ustorthents
Typic Ustipsamments
Typic Ustipsamments
Aquic Quartqipsamments
Typic Natraqualf
Oxyaquic Xerorthents
Oxyaquic Ustifluents
Oxyaquic Ustifluents
Typic Ustifluents
Vertic Ustifluents
Orthic Haplaquents
Typic Psammaquents
Typic Rhodustalfs
Typic Haplustalfs
Orthic Rhodustalfs
Typic Rhodustalfs
Typic Rhodustalfs
Typic Haplusteps
Typic Ustipsamments
Oxic Dystrusteps
Oxic Dystrusteps
Typic Rhodustalfs
Typic Rhodustalfs
Typic Rhodustalfs
Typic Rhoustalfs
Typic Paleustalfs
Oxyaquic Paleudalfs
Ultic Haplustalfs
Oxiaquic Haplustalfs
Ustipsamments
Oxyaquic Paleustalfs
Typic Endoaqualfs
Typic Endoaqualfs
Sodic Hydroaquents
Typic Endoaqualfs
Plastic Petraquepts
Endo Aquents
Name (sub group)
SOIL TAXONOMY
Name
SOIL SERIES
Digital Map Production :
Natural Resources Management Center,
Department of Agriculture,
Peradeniya.
All rights reserved. No part of this edition may be reproduced,
stored inany retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise without prior permission of the President, Soil Science
Society of Sri Lanka.
Produced by the Soil Science Society of Sri Lanka.
P.O. Box 10,
Peradeniya,
Sri Lanka.
January 2005.
Funded by the SRICANSOL Project.
The twining project between Soil Science Society of
Sri Lanka and Canadian Society of Soil Science.
LOCATION MAP
70
D R Y
Z
O
N
E
SEC 1
SEC 2
81
0
#
#
#
#
#
#
$
$
$
$$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
46
DL3
DL1
DL2
DL1
DL5
POLONNARUWA
BATTICALOA
AMPARA
HAMBANTOTA
DZPO 01
DZPO 02
DZPO 03
DZPO 05
DZPO 06
DZBA01
DZBA02
DZAM01
DZAM02
DZAM03
DZAM04
DZAM05
DZMO 01
DZMO 02
DZMO 03
DZMO 04
DZPU01
DZPU 05
DZPU 07
DZHA 01
DZHA 02
DZHA 03
DZHA 04
DZHA 05
31
34
38
26
45
34
45
25
34
33
45
25
33
35
28
27
45
45
46
45 45
34
45 36
40
37
40
17
17
17
33 36
38
26
38
24
22
21
46
40
21
21
21
17
16
45
46
27
46
16
45
20
46
46 46
46
45
23
45
17
46
46
46
45
45
46
46
46
46
46
45
46
46
45
46
46
46
26
35
46
19
46
45
46
46 45
19
46
45 46
46
45
46
15
46
46
23
46
46
29
45
45 4646
46
45
45
45
46
46
21 46
45
45
19
45
17
21
13
46
45
30
45
16
45
45
46
46
13
46
45
17
13
22
1613
15
46 45
1546
19
45
1646
45
45
14
46
1546
46 46 16
46 15
4646
45
46 45
16
4646
45
4645
4546
15
45
4646
46
45
46 4545 45
46
46
45
46
46
45
46
16
45
46
46
45
15
45
45
46
45 45
15
18
13
50
46
17
4546
45 45
46
46
45
45
46
45
46
46
45
46
46
50
13
15
46
46
46
46
45
45
46
46
1
46
13
46 45
46
12
46
46
46
45
45
15
46
46 45
18
46
12
46 46
45 12
13
46
45
15
46
21 12
45
1
12
46
15
45
45
45
45
45
46
46
46 45
46
12 4646
46 146 46
4
45 45
46
1
46
46
46
11
46
46
46
4
46
46
11
11
46
2
46
46
46
46
45
46
46
45
45
4
46
46
46
45
45 46
46
4546
5
10
46
46
46
45
46
45 45
45
46
1145
45
4510
46
45
46
1
46
9
459
9
1
46
4
46
45
46
1145
46
6
4645 45
10 46
46
46
46
45
4
46
3
6
46
9
46
45
46
5
4
46
46
466
46
9
4546
4
45
46
2
46
5
45
46
46
45
8
45
46
46
46
46
45
45
2
1
45
46
3
4646
46 46
46
46
46
4
46
2
46
46
4
46
46
46
46
46
2
4
46
46
45
46
4
45
3
45
2
45
4646
46
2
4546
46
46
46
46
4
45
46
4545
46
4
46
4
46
2
46
46
46
46
46
3
4
46
45 46
2
146
46 46
2
14
4646
2
4
146
2
36
46
22
19
19
2
DZMO 06
DZMO 05
REFERENCE
Soil boundary
Mainroads
Stream / Rivers
Agro - Ecological Region boundary
#
$
District boundary
Major towns
Tank / Reservoirs / Water bodies
Benchmark soil profile site
100 km E 125 km E 150 km E 225 km E200 km E175 km E 250 km E 275 km E80 00
0 '
80 15
0 '
80 30
0 '
80 45
0 '
81 30
0 '
81 00
0 '
81 15
0 '
75 km E 70 45
0 '
300 km E 325 km E81 45
0 '
MAP UNITS IN JAFFNA PENNINSULA
(BASED ON 1972 RIVISION)
47
48
49
50
Eutrustox
Salorthids
Ustorthents
Quartzipsamments and Ustipsamments
Eutrustox
Salorthids
Ustorthents
Quartzipsamments and Ustipsamments
47
48
49
50
Dry Zone
1:500,000
Wet Zone
1;250,000

16. Soil Survey Reports

17. Books – 3 RF Zones
PRODUCTS & OUTPUTS

18. All 3 Languages
English, Sinhala & Tamil
PRODUCTS & OUTPUTS

19. Database
Benchmark
Sites

20. Database
Landscape
Soil profile

21. Database

22. Pedon picture
Landscape picture
Database

23. Database
Applications
Resource planner Query based on his
requirements
Database can display units fulfilling criteria
•Erosion hazard assessment
•Suitability mapping
•Management of problem soils
•Agro-ecological zoning
•Land use planning
•Simulation of fertilizer, agro-chemicals
movement to ground water

24. SOIL EROSION
HAZARD MAP
DEVELOPED
Soil data Erodibility
Rainfall Erosivity
Database
Applications
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
#
Victoria
Reservior
Randenigala
Reservior
Kotmale
Reservior
Mousakelle
Reservior
Casltlereigh
Reservior
MahaweliGanga
Ambewela
Ampitiya
Atabage
Deltota
Digana
Dolosbage
Agarapathana
Bogawantalawa
Talawakele
Galagedara
Galaha
Galewela
Gampola
Gelioya
Ginigathhena
Haragama
Hasalaka
Hedeniya
Hettipola
Hewaheta
Hunnasgiriya
Hanguranketha
Kadugannawa
Kaluganga
Kandy
Katugastota
Kundasale
Laxapana
Dambulla
Madawala
Madolkele
Madugalla
Madulla
Maskeliya
Matale
Matumulla
Maturata
Mausakele
Minipe
Nalanda
Nanu Oya
Nawalapitiya
Nayapana
Nidandahinna
Norton bridge
Nuwara Eliya
Pannala
Pattipola
Peradeniya
Pujapitiya
Pupuressa
Pussellawa
Ranamurekanda
Rikillagaskada
Sigiriya
Sita Eliya
Talakolawela
Teldeniya
Udapussellawa
Ulapane
Watawala
Wattegama
Weligalla
KANDYDISTRICT
MATALE DISTRICT
NUWARA ELIYA DISTRICT
Low
Moderate
High
Very high
Extremely high
LEGEND
Central
province

25. L1a
IL1b
IL1c
IL2
IL3
IM1a
IM1b
IM1c
IM2a
IM2b
IM3a
IM3b
IM3c
IU1
IU2
IU3a
IU3b
IU3c
IU3d
IU3e
Agro-Ecological Regions
of the Intermediate Zone

26. Suitability for
Rambutan
Rank 1
Rank 2
Ranking of Suitability
Rank 3
Rank 4
Rank 5
Rank 6

27. Rank 1
Rank 2
Rank 4
Rank 5
Rank 6
Rank 3
With Irrigation 2
With Irrigation 1
Rank 7
Ranking of Suitability
Suitability for
Pineapple

28. LAND SUITABILITY FOR RAMBUTAN - GAMPAHA DISTRICT
Bandara T.M.J (Unpublished)
a
aL Land suitability for Rambutan – Gampaha District
a
a
Database
Applications

29. Risk of ground
water contamination
Carbiofuran
2-4 D

30. Future Needs
•Sri Lanka is a country with diversity
•Out of 12 soils orders in Soil Taxonomy – 6
orders are found in Sri Lanka
•Need to expand the present 117 soil series to
cover total land
•Need soil mineralogical data to classify down
to family level
•Problems of classifying wetland rice soils
according to Soil Taxonomy
•Need to digitize the data base
•Pedologists are endangered species – need
training for young Soil Scientist

31. Conclusions
• Development of soil information in Sri Lanka
• Soils were first classified according to crops –
Coffee soils, Tea soils, Rice soils
• Then as Great Soil Groups
• Attempts to classify according to Soil
Taxonomy & FAO methods – soil maps and
data base produced
• Description of a benchmark site – each series
• Future needs – More detail studies and
digitizing

32. Acknowledgements
• Global Soil Partnership’s Asia Soil
Science Network and GlobalSoilMap.net
East Asia Node