The soils of Sri Lanka have been classified into 14 great groups. The soils of the Sinharaja belong to the Red-Yellow Podzolic group, with newly formed alluvial soils along river valleys. The origin of these soils is mostly residual while weathering of parent material into laterites and lateritic soils is increased by high rainfull and temperature. The soils are also impermeble due to the presence of ferrogenous and kaolinitic soil material rich in alumina. Traces of magnesia and lime prevalent in the original rock can be detected wherever leaching has not been excessive. Variation in soil depth is considerable and can range from a few centimeters in very rocks areas to 4 or 5 meters on lateritic soil on slopes.

                       Rain forest soils are usually well developed. Soil profiles of  Sinharaja  studied by  Sri Lankan  scientists are summarized in Table 3.

                               While the mineral constituents of soil arise largely from parent material and bed rock, organic substances originate from the living matter above ground. Analysis of soil nutrient content in surface soils at the Sinharaja has shown greater concentration of exchangeable cations in the upper layers probably due to increased activity of soil micro-organisms as well as continuous enrichment by litter. Nutrient analysis of litter in the Sinharaja shows that nutrients from decaying plant matter are released in the order of potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and nitrogen. Some studies on soil nitrogen fixation shows that the activity is highest in surface soils upto 10.5 centimeters, while fixation in leaf and twig litter is considerably less.

                          Not surprisingly rain forest trees have a well-developed surface root system, and are highly efficient in nutrient absorption, and even under high rainfall conditions, there is little or no leaching. The soil itself if poor in nutrients because the nutrients released from decomposing organic matter are immediately utilized by the vegetation. Therefore the nutrients are locked up in the bio-mass by very tight, highly efficient nutrient recycling.

                          The major agents of decay and nutrient recycling are bacteria and fungi. Studies carried out on the micro-fungi at the Sinharaja have revealed the presence of 35 different species, the commonest being Trichoderma harzinum and Penicillium simplicissimum. The more common fungal species are listed in Table 4.