Termite mounds in relation to the surrounding soils in the forest and derived savanna zones of southeastern Nigeria

Maduakor, H. O.; Okere, A. N.; Onyeanuforo, C.C.

doi:10.1007/bf00336552

Cited by 35 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…M. bellicosus feeds on plant debris and builds mound nests mainly using soil material from deeper soil layers (Abe et al 2009a(Abe et al , 2009b(Abe et al , 2012. This would be a primary reason why the soil characteristics of M. bellicosus mounds basically reflect those of the neighboring subsoils and why they show less soil fertility than the adjacent surface soils (Miedema and Van Vuure 1977;Maduakor et al 1995;Ló pez-Herná ndez et al 2006;Abe et al 2009a). In particular, the subsoil material had low availability of P, resulting in the significantly lower content of available P in the mound structures than in the adjacent topmost soil horizon.…”

Section: Soil Properties In Termite Moundsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In general, the grass-and litter-feeding termites collect and accumulate live and dead plant debris, respectively, in their mounds, and they feed on organic matter mixed with soil particles collected mainly from the topsoil, resulting in enrichment of organic matter and associated nutrients in mound structures (Brossard et al 2007). In contrast, the fungus-growing termites obtain most of their mound construction material from deeper layers, aggregate soil particles with termite saliva, and enrich it modestly with soil organic matter and nutrients (Maduakor et al 1995).…”

Section: Nutrient Storage In Termite Moundsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nutrient storage in termite (Macrotermes bellicosus) mounds and the implications for nutrient dynamics in a tropical savanna Ultisol

Abe

Watanabe

Onishi

et al. 2011

Soil Science and Plant Nutrition

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The role of mounds of the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes bellicosus (Smeathman) in nutrient recycling in a highly weathered and nutrient-depleted tropical red earth (Ultisol) of the Nigerian savanna was examined by measuring stored amounts of selected nutrients and estimating their rates of turnover via the mounds. A study plot (4 ha) with a representative termite population density (1.5 mounds ha À1) and size (3.7 AE 0.4 m in height, 2.4 AE 0.2 m in basal diameter) of M. bellicosus mounds was selected. The mounds were found to contain soil mass of 9249 AE 2371 kg ha À1, composed of 7502 AE 1934 kg ha À1 of mound wall and 1747 AE 440 kg ha À1 of nest body. Significant nutrient enrichment, compared to the neighboring topmost soil (Ap1 horizon: 0-16 cm), was observed in the nest body for total nitrogen (N) and exchangeable calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K), and in the mound wall for exchangeable K only. In contrast, available (Bray-1) phosphorus (P) content was found to be lower in both the mound wall and the nest body than in the adjacent topmost soil horizon. Consequently, the mounds formed by M. bellicosus contained 1.71 AE 0.62 kg ha À1 of total N, 0.004 AE 0.003 kg ha À1 of available P, 3.23 AE 0.81 kg ha À1 of exchangeable Ca, 1.11 AE 0.22 kg ha À1 of exchangeable Mg and 0.79 AE 0.21 kg ha À1 of exchangeable K. However, with the exception of exchangeable K (1.2%), these nutrients amounted to less than 0.5% of those found in the topmost soil horizon. The soil nutrient turnover rate via M. bellicosus mounds was indeed limited, being estimated at 1.72 kg ha À1 for organic carbon (C), 0.15 kg ha À1 for total N, 0.0004 kg ha À1 for available P, 0.15 kg ha À1 for exchangeable Ca, 0.05 kg ha À1 for exchangeable Mg, and 0.06 kg ha À1 for exchangeable K per annum. These findings suggest that the mounds of M. bellicosus, while being enriched with some nutrients to create hot spots of soil nutrients in the vicinity of the mounds, are not a significant reservoir of soil nutrients and are therefore of minor importance for nutrient cycling at the ecosystem scale in the tropical savanna.

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Section: Soil Properties In Termite Moundsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Nutrient Storage In Termite Moundsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrient storage in termite (Macrotermes bellicosus) mounds and the implications for nutrient dynamics in a tropical savanna Ultisol

Abe

Watanabe

Onishi

et al. 2011

Soil Science and Plant Nutrition

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“…Any alternative measure that contributes to the rational and efficient use of organic amendments could serve as a complementary approach in replenishing the quality of these soils. Termite Mound Material (TMM) has been reported to have a higher clay, organic matter and nutrient content than the surrounding soils (Maduakor et al 1995;Lisa et al 1995;Konaté et al 1999;Brossard et al 2007) and can trigger microbial activities when added to soils (Ndiaye et al 2004a;Duponnois et al 2005;Jouquet et al 2005).…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

Effect of termite mound material on the physical properties of sandy soil and on the growth characteristics of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in semi-arid Niger

2010

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This investigation assessed the effects of termite mound material (TMM) on the physical properties of sandy soil and on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) growth characteristics and water use efficiency. TMM combined with organic manure, TMM combined with rice straw mulching and organic manure, organic manure alone (OM) and unamended (T0) were the treatments used. Results showed that soil treated with TMM had more clay sized particles and organic carbon content than T0 and OM. In TMM-treated soil, more water was being retained at both field capacity and permanent wilting point. The application of TMM did not affect the amount of plant available water. Saturated hydraulic conductivity also remained unaffected by the TMM application, but increased with the organic matter treatment. Tomatoes grown in TMM amended soils had greater plant height and more leaves, fruit and biomass. No specific rate of TMM application was better for all parameters being assessed. The amount of water used by the tomatoes was significantly correlated (P<0.01) with fresh fruit yield (r=0.82), leaf area index (r=0.82) and total dry matter production (r= 0.68). While TMM did not specifically affect plant water-use efficiency, this parameter was generally improved in amended soils.

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“…Termite mounds are among the most conspicuous figures of many tropical ecosystems. Termites process considerable quantities of material in their mound-building activities, strongly influencing the soil properties as compared to surrounding soils (Lee and Wood 1971;Conacher 1990, 1995;Maduakor et al 1995;Park et al 1994). These modifications have a great impact on the vegetation, through spatial and temporal effects, even when the termite colony is dead and the mound material subject to erosion (Belsky et al 1983;Soyer 1983).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Biogeochemical study of termite mounds: a case study from Tummalapalle area of Andhra Pradesh, India

Nagaraju

Reginald

Kumar

et al. 2011

Environ Monit Assess

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Termite mounds are abundant components of Tummalapalle area of uranium mineralization of Cuddapah District of Andhra Pradesh, India. The systematic research has been carried out on the application of termite mound sampling to mineral exploration in this region. The distribution of chemical elements Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Cr, Li, Rb, Sr, Ba, and U were studied both in termite soils and adjacent surface soils. Uranium accumulations were noticed in seven termite mounds ranging from 10 to 36 ppm. A biogeochemical parameter called "Biological Absorption Coefficient" of the termite mounds indicated the termite affected soils contained huge amounts of chemical elements than the adjacent soils.

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Termite mounds in relation to the surrounding soils in the forest and derived savanna zones of southeastern Nigeria

Cited by 35 publications

References 7 publications

Nutrient storage in termite (Macrotermes bellicosus) mounds and the implications for nutrient dynamics in a tropical savanna Ultisol

Nutrient storage in termite (Macrotermes bellicosus) mounds and the implications for nutrient dynamics in a tropical savanna Ultisol

Effect of termite mound material on the physical properties of sandy soil and on the growth characteristics of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in semi-arid Niger

Biogeochemical study of termite mounds: a case study from Tummalapalle area of Andhra Pradesh, India

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