| Peer-Reviewed

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

Received: 28 May 2016     Accepted: 12 June 2016     Published: 4 July 2016
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

This study was conducted in two districts of Borana (Yabello and Miyo). The objective of the study was to examine the soil texture and macronutrient distribution in termite mounds in relation to adjacent soil. Standard procedures were used to analyse the soil physic-chemical properties. One way ANOVA was used to compare results among control soil, external termite mound and internal termite mound materials. The study revealed that termites had produced a soil different in soil texture and some nutrient content than the surrounding soils. Internal termite mound at both study sites were enriched with clay in relation to external and control soil. SOM and CEC contents of control soils were higher at Boku Luboma. SOM content of external termite mound at Did Yabello was lower in relation to internal termite mound and control soil. The termite mound at Did Yabello had higher CEC content in relation to the surrounding soil. Ex. Ca content of termite mound did not show significant difference in relation to control soil. Termite activities enriched mound soil with Exchangeable potassium content. In order to design proper termite management techniques, termite species in Borana should be identified. There is no trend of termite mound use as soil amendment in Borana. In future, amount of termite materials to be incorporated to soil to increase crop yield and socio economic factors that affect use of termite materials as soil amendment should be studied.

Published in American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry (Volume 4, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajaf.20160404.11
Page(s) 69-74
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2016. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

External Termite Mound, Internal Termite Mound, Soil Physic-chemical Properties, Borana

References
[1] Dangerfield, J. M., Mccarthy, T. S. and Ellery, W. N. (1998). The mound-building termite Macrotermes michaelseni as an ecosystem engineer. Journal of Tropical Ecology 14: 507-520.
[2] Black, H. I. J. and Okwakol, M. J. N. (1997). Agricultural intensification, soil biodiversity and agroecosystem function in the tropics: the role of termites. Applied Soil Ecology 6: 37 53.
[3] Shaefer, C. E. (2001). Brazilian latosols and their B horizon microstructure as long-term biotic constructs. Australian Journal of Soil Research 39: 909-926.
[4] Jouquet, P., Traoré, S., Choosai, Ch., Hartmann Ch., & Bignell, D. (2011). Influence of termites on ecosystem functioning, Ecosystem services provided by termites. European Journal of Soil Biology 47: 215-222
[5] Lobry de Bruyn, L. A. and Conacher, A. J. (1990). The role of termites and ants in soil modification: a review. Australian Journal of Soil Research 28 (1): 55-93.
[6] Wood, T. G. (1996). The agricultural importance of termites in the tropics. Agricultural Zoology Reviews 7: 117–155.
[7] Pearce, M. J. and Waite, B. S. (1994). A list of termite genera (Isoptera) with comments on taxonomic changes and regional distribution. Sociobiology 23: 247-259.
[8] Anderson, J. M. (1994). Functional attributes of biodiversity in land use systems. pp. 267-290. In: D. J. Greenland and I. Szablocs, (Editors), Soil Resilience and Sustainable Land Use CAB International, Wallingford.
[9] Barnett, E. A, Cowie, R. H., Sands, W. A. and Wood, J. G. (1987). Identification of termites collected in Ethiopia. Report No. C 0696. Tropical research institute, London.
[10] Watson, J. P. (1977). The use of mounds of the termite macrotermes falciger (gerstäcker) as a soil amendment. Journal of Soil Science 28 (4): 664–672.
[11] Nyamapfene, K. W. (1986). The use of termite mounds in Zimbabwe peasant agriculture. Tropical Agriculture 63: 152–192.
[12] Gauchan, D., Ayo-Odongo, J., Vaughan, K., Lemmaa, G. and Mulugeta, N. (1998). A participatory system analysis of the termite situation in West Wellega, Oromia region, Ethiopia. International Centre for development oriented Research in Agriculture (ICRA), Wageningen, the Netherlands.
[13] Coppock, D. L. (1994). The Borana Plateau of Southern Ethiopia: Synthesis of pastoral research, development and change, 1980-91. ILCA (International Livestock Center for Africa), Addis Ababa Ethiopia, pp 418.
[14] Sahlemedhin Sertsu and Taye Bekele. 2000. Procedures for Soil and Plant Analysis. National Soil Research Center, Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization.
[15] Walkley, A. and Black, I. A. M. (1934). An example of the degitiareff method for determining soil organic matter and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Science 34: 29-38.
[16] Brady, N. C. (1990). The nature and properties of soils 10th edition. Prentice-Hall Limited, India, pp 621.
[17] Jackson, M. L. (1958). Soil chemical analysis. Prentice-Hall, Inc. Englewood Cliffs, N. J, pp 216.
[18] Olsen, S. R., Cole, C. V., Watanabe, F. S. and Dean, L. A. (1954). Estimation of available phosphorus in soils by the extraction with sodium bicarbonate; Circ. 939; U.S. Department of Agriculture.
[19] Chapman, H. D. (1965). Total exchangeable bases. pp. 902-904. In C. A. Black (Editor). Methods of soil analysis, Part II, Soil Science Society America., Madison, Wis.
[20] SAS. (2002). SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA, Version 9.
[21] Harry, M., Jusseaume, N., Gambier, B. and Garnier-Sillam, E., 2001. Use of RAPD markers for the study of microbial community similarity from termite mounds and tropical soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 33: 417 – 427.
[22] Manuwa, S. I. (2009). Physico-chemical and dynamic properties of termite mound soil relevant in sustainable food production. African Crop Science Society 9: 356 - 369.
[23] Ackerman, I. L., Teixeira, W. G., Riha, S. J., Lehmann, J. and Femandes, E. C. M. (2007). The impact of mound-building termites on surface soil properties in a secondary forest of Central Amazonia. Applied Soil Ecology. 37: 267-276.
[24] Brossard, M., Lopez-Hernandez, D., Lepage, M. and Claude Leprun, J. (2007). Nutrient storage in soils and nests of mound-building Trinervitermes termites in Central Burkina Faso: consequences for soil fertility. Biology and Fertility of Soils 43: 437–447.
[25] Dahlsjo, C. A. L., Parr, C. L., Malhi, Y., Meir, Chevarria, O. V. C. and Eggleton, P. (2014). Termites promote soil carbon and nitrogen depletion: Results from an in situ macrofauna exclusion experiment, Peru. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 77: 109-111.
[26] Contour-Ansel, D., Garnier-Sillam, E., Lachaux, M. and Croci, V. (2000). High performance liquid chromatography studies on the polysaccharides in the walls of the mounds of two species of termite in Senegal, Cubitermes oculatus and Macrotermes subhyalinus: their origin and contribution to structural stability. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 31: 508–516.
[27] Jouquet, P., Guilleux, N., Shanbhag, R. R. and Subramanian, S. (2015). Influence of soil type on the properties of termite mound nests in Southern India. Applied Soil Ecology 96: 282–287.
[28] Hernandez, D. L., Brossard, M., Fardeau, J. C. and Lepage, M. (2006). Effect of different termite feeding groups on P sorption and P availability in African and South American savannas. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 42: 207–214.
[29] Jouquet, P., Tessier, D., Lepage, M. (2004). The soil structural stability of termite nests: role of clays in Macrotermes bellicosus (Isoptera, Macrotermitinae) mound soils. European Journal of Soil Biology 40: 23–29.
[30] Jones, B. J. (2003). Agronomic handbook: management of crops, soils, and their fertility. CRC Press LLC, pp 450.
[31] Mujinya, B. B., Mees, F., Erens, H., Dumon, M., Baert, G., Boeckx, P., Ngongo, Van Ranst, E. (2013). Clay composition and properties in termite mounds of the Lubumbashi area, D. R. Congo. Geoderma 192: 304–315.
[32] Jouquet, P., Guilleux, N., Caner, L., Chintakunta, S., Ameline, M. and Shanbhag, R. R. (2016). Influence of soil pedological properties on termite mound stability. Geoderma 262: 45-51.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Abiyot Lelisa Deke, Wondimu Tolcha Adugna, Amsalu Tilahun Fite. (2016). Soil Physic-chemical Properties in Termite Mounds and Adjacent Control Soil in Miyo and Yabello Districts of Borana Zone, Southern Ethiopia. American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 4(4), 69-74. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20160404.11

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Abiyot Lelisa Deke; Wondimu Tolcha Adugna; Amsalu Tilahun Fite. Soil Physic-chemical Properties in Termite Mounds and Adjacent Control Soil in Miyo and Yabello Districts of Borana Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Am. J. Agric. For. 2016, 4(4), 69-74. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20160404.11

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Abiyot Lelisa Deke, Wondimu Tolcha Adugna, Amsalu Tilahun Fite. Soil Physic-chemical Properties in Termite Mounds and Adjacent Control Soil in Miyo and Yabello Districts of Borana Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Am J Agric For. 2016;4(4):69-74. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20160404.11

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ajaf.20160404.11,
      author = {Abiyot Lelisa Deke and Wondimu Tolcha Adugna and Amsalu Tilahun Fite},
      title = {Soil Physic-chemical Properties in Termite Mounds and Adjacent Control Soil in Miyo and Yabello Districts of Borana Zone, Southern Ethiopia},
      journal = {American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry},
      volume = {4},
      number = {4},
      pages = {69-74},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajaf.20160404.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20160404.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajaf.20160404.11},
      abstract = {This study was conducted in two districts of Borana (Yabello and Miyo). The objective of the study was to examine the soil texture and macronutrient distribution in termite mounds in relation to adjacent soil. Standard procedures were used to analyse the soil physic-chemical properties. One way ANOVA was used to compare results among control soil, external termite mound and internal termite mound materials. The study revealed that termites had produced a soil different in soil texture and some nutrient content than the surrounding soils. Internal termite mound at both study sites were enriched with clay in relation to external and control soil. SOM and CEC contents of control soils were higher at Boku Luboma. SOM content of external termite mound at Did Yabello was lower in relation to internal termite mound and control soil. The termite mound at Did Yabello had higher CEC content in relation to the surrounding soil. Ex. Ca content of termite mound did not show significant difference in relation to control soil. Termite activities enriched mound soil with Exchangeable potassium content. In order to design proper termite management techniques, termite species in Borana should be identified. There is no trend of termite mound use as soil amendment in Borana. In future, amount of termite materials to be incorporated to soil to increase crop yield and socio economic factors that affect use of termite materials as soil amendment should be studied.},
     year = {2016}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Soil Physic-chemical Properties in Termite Mounds and Adjacent Control Soil in Miyo and Yabello Districts of Borana Zone, Southern Ethiopia
    AU  - Abiyot Lelisa Deke
    AU  - Wondimu Tolcha Adugna
    AU  - Amsalu Tilahun Fite
    Y1  - 2016/07/04
    PY  - 2016
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20160404.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajaf.20160404.11
    T2  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
    JF  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
    JO  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
    SP  - 69
    EP  - 74
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8591
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20160404.11
    AB  - This study was conducted in two districts of Borana (Yabello and Miyo). The objective of the study was to examine the soil texture and macronutrient distribution in termite mounds in relation to adjacent soil. Standard procedures were used to analyse the soil physic-chemical properties. One way ANOVA was used to compare results among control soil, external termite mound and internal termite mound materials. The study revealed that termites had produced a soil different in soil texture and some nutrient content than the surrounding soils. Internal termite mound at both study sites were enriched with clay in relation to external and control soil. SOM and CEC contents of control soils were higher at Boku Luboma. SOM content of external termite mound at Did Yabello was lower in relation to internal termite mound and control soil. The termite mound at Did Yabello had higher CEC content in relation to the surrounding soil. Ex. Ca content of termite mound did not show significant difference in relation to control soil. Termite activities enriched mound soil with Exchangeable potassium content. In order to design proper termite management techniques, termite species in Borana should be identified. There is no trend of termite mound use as soil amendment in Borana. In future, amount of termite materials to be incorporated to soil to increase crop yield and socio economic factors that affect use of termite materials as soil amendment should be studied.
    VL  - 4
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Yabello Pastoral and Dry Land Agriculture Research Center, Yabello, Ethiopia

  • Yabello Pastoral and Dry Land Agriculture Research Center, Yabello, Ethiopia

  • Department of Natural Resource Management, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia

  • Sections