Weerakkody, W. A. T. L.Chandrapala, A. G.Madhuroshika, H. A. D. I.Dissanayake, W. M. I.Mohotti, K. M.Nissanka, S. P.2026-08-102026-08-102025-11-21Proceedings of the Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture Annual Congress - 2025, University of Peradeniya, P 12https://ir.lib.pdn.ac.lk/handle/20.500.14444/7940In Sri Lanka, tea is often grown in slopy lands, which increases the risk of soil erosion. This was to assess the erosion status of selected tea plantations during 2022-2023 in Labookellie, Weddamulla and Frotoft estates. For the reference site, nearby montane forest located in Labookellie was selected. Seventy-two soil samples were collected representing two canopy categories (well-grown VP tea and marginal seedling tea) and two slope classes (0-10% and 50 – 60%). At the reference site, cores were sectioned at 5 cm intervals up to 4 cm depth, while study site sampling comprised 40 cm bulk cores. 137Cs activity of soil was measured using a HPGe detector. Soil redistribution rates induced by water erosion were estimated by Mass Balance Model II. Forest area showed a lower soil erosion rate compared to the tea growing areas (p=0.002). Erosion rates were compared using an independent samples t-test, and correlations among parameters were assessed by Pearson correlation analysis. The 137Cs inventory for the forest site was 325 Bq/m2., and it was for tea lands ranged from 72-290Bq/m2 (mean=182.26 Bq/m-2). With increasing slope, erosion rates increased, and the slope category of 50-60% showed the highest erosion rate of 30.51 tons ha-1 y-1 with a sediment delivery ratio of 88% in Labookellie. Marginal tea lands had higher erosion (42.94 tons ha-1 y-1) compared to VP fields in Labookellie (p=0.002). Erosion rates showed negative correlations with organic matter (r=-0.7) and exchangeable K (r =-0.75) contents. Soil erosion in Nuwara Eliya tea lands is significantly influenced by slope and canopy cover.en-USCs-137Mass Balance ModelReference siteSoil erosionArticle