TYPES OF SOIL IN MALAYSIA Soil is a vital natural resource for living things. Soil is defined as an incoherent mineral and organic material that functions as a natural element for the survival of living things. Retallack et al. (1984) proposed that soil is a “material present on the surface of a planet or similar body, altered in situ by physicochemical or biological agents, or a combination thereof” (p. 7). Malaysia's average temperature ranges from 20 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius with rainfall generally distributed throughout the year. Lim and Samah (2004) stated that soil forms efficiently in Malaysia due to the climate and temperature of Malaysia. Tay (1969) argues that efficient distribution of precipitation contributed to soil erosion throughout the year (p. 59). It is important for humanity to differentiate soil varieties for sustainable management, as soils take years to form. Shamshuddin J. (2010) identifies the main soil order types in Malaysia are Histosols, Ultisols and Oxisols. (refer to Figure 1 in Appendix 1). According to Aga Razvi et al. (2008) Histosol originally comes from the Greek word histos meaning fabric. Histosols are usually formed from the decomposition of organic matter by anaerobes which are microorganisms that require little amount of oxygen for decomposition processes. Shotyk (1989) notes that a high concentration of dissolved organic material and anaerobic conditions are the two metabolics imposed by peat waters on freshwaters (p. 47). The factors that form Histosols are efficient drainage, mild temperatures and heavy rainfall. East Malaysia received the most rainfall on average at 5,080 mm, compared to West Malaysia which recorded around 2,500 mm of rain. So,...... half of the paper......tilizer to improve the productivity of acidic soils in Malaysia for agricultural production. Malaysian Journal of Soil Science, 15, pp. 127-146.7. Shotyk, W. (1989). The chemistry of peat waters. Water quality bull. 14, pp.47-58.8. Tay, T. H. (1969). The distribution, characteristics, uses and potential of peat in West Malaysia. Journal of Tropical Geography, 29, pp. 58-63.9. Tessen, E., & Zauyah, S. (1982). “Positive permanent charge in oxisols”, Soil Science Society America. 46, page. 1103-1106.10. Wambeke, A. V. (1992). Properties and evaluation of tropical soils. New York, United States: McGraw-Hill Inc.11. Malaysia weather and climate. Retrieved from http://www.weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine-in-Malaysia.12. Wilding, L.P. (ed.). (1984). Soil pedogenesis and taxonomy: soil orders. Pp 283-317. NY, USA: Elsevier Science Publisher B.V.