THE USE OF MOUNDS OF THE TERMITE MACROTERMES FALCIGER (GERSTÄCKER) AS A SOIL AMENDMENT

Abstract

Twelve termite mounds and adjacent Ah and Ap horizons were sampled at three sites near Salisbury, Rhodesia. The mass of termite mounds occupied by M. fulciger at one site was estimated at 620 tlha, and contained the following amounts of nutrients expressed as percentages of the amounts in mounds and Ap horizon combined: extractable Ca 9570, mineral N 81% extractable K 69%, and available P 69%.Pot experiments using perennial ryegrass gave higher dry matter yields from termite mounds than from the Ap and Ah horizons. Crop production could therefore be increased by mixing termite mounds with the soil. IntroductionHow should the subsistence farmer best utilize large termite mounds: should he avoid cropping termite mounds, should he grow crops on mounds o r should he spread mounds over the surrounding soil? Pendleton (1941), working in Thailand, found that termite mounds, which were finer textured, more fertile and better drained than surrounding soil, carried upland crops (cotton, tobacco and maize) which did not thrive on the surrounding paddy fields. He stated that the destruction of mounds was seldom advisable. Hesse (1955) observed that sisal in Tanzania grew better on Macrotermes mounds than on surrounding shallow or poorly drained soil. He concluded that in these circumstances a termite mound was beneficial mainly because it was a mound and not because it was composed of special soil. Doop (1938) reported from Java that thorough mixing of termite mounds with surrounding soil resulted in an increase in sisal production. His termite mounds contained more calcium, magnesium and available nitrogen than adjacent soils. Meyer (1960) reported that the central portions of large (4-6 m high), old termite mounds in Zaire were very infertile and formed large patches of sterile ground when spread on the surface. Nye (1955) found that the topsoil of a collapsed Macrotermes bellicosus mound in Nigeria was lower in nutrients than the surrounding topsoil. He observed that maize grew relatively poorly on levelled off and collapsed mounds. These examples are sufficient t o show that termite mounds, in situ and when mixed with surrounding soil, in some cases enhance crop growth and in other cases retard it. It is therefore necessary t o study the effect of termite mounds as a soil amendment under well defined conditions before making recommendations.

The Miombo in transition: woodlands and welfare in Africa

“…The accumulation of nutrients in termite mounds, both through the concentration and subsequent decomposition of organic matter (Jones 1989), and through the concentration of minerals in groundwater by evaporation within the mounds and chimneys (Weir 1973), produces nutrient-rich patches within an otherwise nutrient-poor landscape. Mound soils have significantly higher total N, acidextractable P and basic cation levels than surrounding soils (Trapnell et al 1976;Watson 1977;Jones 1989).…”

“…The vegetation on the mounds is often the focus of activity for birds and other animals, enabling these species to exist in an otherwise largely unproductive environment. In addition, soil from termite mounds is widely used by farmers as an amendment to their fields (Watson 1977).…”

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

“…It therefore seems possible for local farmers to use the mound debris, especially the nest body parts, as a soil amendment, as proposed by Watson (1977), Dangerfield et al (1998) and Duponnois et al (2005). In particular, the use of termite debris would have a beneficial effect on crop growth in K-deficient soils and sandy soils such as savanna soils in the Basement Complex area of West Africa (e.g., , since they have very high levels of exchangeable K and clay.…”

“…A comparison with surrounding surface soils (Lobry de Bruyn and Conacher, 1990;Black and Okwakol, 1997) shows that the soil material that constitutes termite mounds often accumulates some nutrients along with clay particles. This association of nutrients with large mounds of Macrotermes termites is why some researchers have suggested that subsistence farmers use termite mound debris as soil amendments in low-input cropping systems (Watson 1977;Dangerfield et al 1998;Duponnois et al 2005). From an ecological point of view, termite mounds and the eroded material from these mounds often create nutrient patchiness that leads to ecological hot spots in nutrient-depleted tropical savanna soils (Salick et al 1983;Obi and Ogunkun 2009).…”

Soil Physic-chemical Properties in Termite Mounds and Adjacent Control Soil in Miyo and Yabello Districts of Borana Zone, Southern Ethiopia

“…Usually high concentration of organic matter and mineral nutrients are found in termite mound than in the surrounding soils. Consequently, subsistence farmers in Africa commonly spread termite mound materials in their fields to improve soil conditions and increase plant nutrient availability [10,11]. They also promote nutrient availability, nutrient cycling and soil physical properties [8].…”