This department was established as Soil Chemical Branch in 1946. The activities of the branch also included meteorology. It was renamed as Physico-Chemical Branch in 1950, and the branch was shifted to a new building in 1951. The Physico-Chemical Branch was re-designated as Soil Chemistry Department in 1966 and as Soils and Meteorology Department in 1969. In 1987, it was renamed as Department of Soil and Water Management, reflecting increased emphasis on improved drainage and irrigation. The Meteorology section was transferred to the Advisory Department in 1989. As most of the water management problems were situation specific the Water Technologist was transferred to Advisory Department in 1998 and the parent department was renamed as Soils Department to continue research on various aspects of soil management for sustainable tea production. The pioneering work in the field of soil, plant nutrition and water management was carried out by Messer's Mann, Hutchinson, Hope, Carpenter, Cooper, Harler and Harrison.