Abstract:
High population density and population distribution percentage coupled with uncontrolled
industrialization and urbanization due to the expansion of development activities, increase the pressure
exerted on land resource, especially in peri-urban areas such as Gampaha District in Sri Lanka. Hence,
land area under the administrative boundary of Gampaha District belongs to Wet zone Low country 3
(WL3) agro ecological regions, also shows a higher affinity to population pressure exerted on land
resource. Furthermore, soil quality decline due to the extensive pressure on land is one of the three major
soil degradation processes of Sri Lanka. Also, an anthropogenic induced variation in soil nutrient
dynamics plays a key role in soil quality decline in the country (Mapa, 2003). Thus, if the depleted
nutrients are not properly replenished or surplus inputs were not remediated properly, decline of soil
quality will be accelerated. It is therefore necessary to determine the extent to which land use affects
nutrient availability of soil to maintain and improve soil quality of different land uses such as agriculture
