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Tanzania Journal of Natural and ISSN 1821-7249
Applied Sciences (TaJONAS) © Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences
Nov.-Dec. 2011: Volume 2, Issue 2, 399 - 404
* To whom correspondence may be addressed: E-mail: vatsr71 @gmail.com
Impact of termite activity and its effect on soil composition
Vats Rajeev1 and Aggarwal Sanjeev2
1School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics
The University of Dodoma, Dodoma (Tanzania)
2Lecturer in Biology, GMSSSS, Barara (Ambala)
ABSTRACT: Termites are social insects of the order Isoptera with about 3,000 known
species, of which 75% are classified as soil-feeding termites. They are predictable as
"ecosystem engineers" because they promote soil transformations by disturbance processes.
Termites are common biological agents that produce significant physical and chemical
modifications to tropical and subtropical soils. The present study showed that activity of
termites induced significant chemical changes in the materials that they use to build their
nests, increasing the contents of most major elements, i.e. organic carbon which also
includes nitrogen, phosphorus and Potash increases in the soil infested by
termites. While the micro-nutrients (Zn, Co, Mn & Fe) except Fe decreas ed
in the soil infested by termites.
Key words: Termites, Soil Composition, Macro & Micronutrients
INTRODUCTORY REVIEW
Termites are social insects of the order Isoptera
with about 3,000 known species, of which 75%
are classified as soil-feeding termites. They are
predictable as "ecosystem engineers"
(Dangerfield et al., 1998) because they promote
soil transformations by disturbance processes.
They collect particles from different soil depths
and deposit them in mounds, so that contents of
organic C, clay and nutrients, pH and microbial
population increase higher in termite mounds in
relation to adjacent soils (Lal, 1988; Black &
Okwakol, 1997; Holt, 1998; Ohkuma, 2003).
The accumulated material is later redistributed
by erosion causing changes in soil
microstructure and fertility (Lee & Wood, 1971;
Black & Okwakol, 1997; Dangerfield et al.,
1998; Jungerius et al., 1999; Shaefer, 2001).
Termites also build a vast network of galleries
that increase soil porosity and water infiltration
(Mando & Stroosnijder, 1999; Leónard &
Rajot, 2001) and these galleries may be filled
up with topsoil after rainfalls, contributing to
the process of formation of latosols (Shaefer,
2001). The accumulated material by the
termites later redistributed by erosion causing
changes in soil microstructure and fertility (Lee
& Wood, 1971; Black & Okwakol, 1997;
Dangerfield et al., 1998; Jungerius et al., 1999;
Shaefer, 2001).
Termites are common biological agents that
produce significant physical and chemical
modifications to tropical and subtropical soils
(Lobryde Bruyn and Conacher, 1990 and 1995;
Mando et al., 1996; Heikens et al., 2001; Semhi
et al., 2008). They generally go through a
sequence of actions, from fetching, carrying to
cementing mineral particles into mounds by
using their salivary secretion (Donovan et al.,
2001; Ndiaye et al., 2004; Vandecasteele et al.,
2004; Lopez-Hernandez et al., 2006). It has
been shown that termite activity increases the
content of organic matter in the soils that they
Rajeev et al.
TaJONAS, November-December 2011, Vol. 2, Issue 2 - 400 -
use for the construction of their nests and also
modifies the clay mineral composition of these
soil materials (Mahaney et al., 1999; Jouquet et
al., 2002; Roose Amsaleg et al., 2004).
Abundant literature can be found related to
effects of termites on the mobility of a number
of soil elements, but the focus is largely on
those few elements that are generally
considered to be essential for the support or
growth of all forms of life (Jouquet et al., 2004;
Brossard et al., 2007).
Termite activity increases the content of organic
matter in the soils that they use for the
construction of their nests and also modifies the
clay mineral composition of these soil materials
(Akamigbo,1984; Mahaney et al., 1999;
Jouquet et al., 2002; Roose Amsaleg et al.,
2004). Abundant literature can be found related
to effects of termites on the mobility of a
number of soil elements, but the focus is largely
on those few elements that are generally
considered to be essential for the support or
growth of all forms of life (Jouquet et al., 2004;
Brossard et al., 2007).
Studies emphasized the role of termite on soil
texture and chemical properties (Wood et al.,
1983), soil nutrient cycling and soil metabolism
(Menaut et al., 1985; Abbadie & Lepage,
1989). But the strength properties of termite
mound soil are scarce in literature. Literature
also shows that termite mound soils have high
levels of calcium, phosphorus and organic
matter, which also contribute to better crop
development, especially on the poor soils in the
area. Plants also take up nutrients very easily
from termite mound soil and that TMS is
proving a viable option to local farmers (Rupela
et al., 2006).
In India practically very little information is
available with regard to the changes brought
about by termites in soil. Sen-Sarma (1974) has
discussed the problem to some extent and
suggested that humus feeding termites are
active in the top soil which is, therefore,
depleted of organic matter and thus can be a
serious economic problem in areas deficient in
humus. Roonwal (1976) has discussed the
adaptation of termites of various soil types of
Rajasthan. Pathak and Lehri (1959) observed
that the soil of termiteria built by Odontotermes
sp. had a higher per cent of lime, magnesium
and phosphorous. Agarwal (1975) has observed
almost similar levels of organic content in the
mound soil and the adjacent subsoil, which
indicates utilization of subsoil in mound
construction.
Sen-Sarma (1974) has also reviewed the
existing knowledge of termites and their
relation with surrounding vegetation. In forest
nurseries and plantations, roots of seedlings are
damaged by different species of termites,
particularly when the plants are about 1-3 years
old.
The present study is a contribution to assess
termite activity and understand its effects on
soil and chemical & physical attributes of
different soils in Naraiangarh subdivision
District Ambala area of Northern Haryana.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
The field experiment was set up within the
limits of subdivision Naraingarh of district
Ambala, lies on north eastern edge of Haryana
between 27- 39”-45’ North latitude and 74- 33”
53’ to 76-36”- 52’ East longitude. It is bounded
by district Yamunanagar to south east. To its
south lies Kurukshetra district while in its west
are situated Patiala and Ropar districts of
Punjab and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
The Shivalik range of Solan and Sirmaur
district of H.P. bounds the Ambala district in
North and North-East. The height from the sea
level is 900 feet.
The climate of Naraingarh is typically tropical
with extreme hot and cold weather alternating
with transitional mild periods and marked by
fairly good monsoon. The winter is colder and
summer milder than other plain areas due to its
location in Himalayan foothills. Different areas
having termite infestation were observed and
four sites were selected to set up different
experiments in the Naraingarh subdivision of
Ambala District. About half kg of soil was
collected in polythene bags and sent to Soil and
Rajeev et al.
TaJONAS, November-December 2011, Vol. 2, Issue 2 - 401 -
Water Testing Laboratory CCS Haryana
Agricultural University, Hisar for estimation of
macro-nutrients (N,P,K) and micro-nutrients i.e.
Zinc, Copper, Manganese and Iron.
Observations were made to observe the
enrichment of soil by comparing the nutrient
level.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In the present study the soil samples were
collected from two different sites. First, where
the wood was placed for six months and another
where the jute bags were placed for six months.
The samples were collected before setting up of
the experiment and after completion of
experiment and were subjected to estimation of
different macro and micro-nutrients. The
following observations were recorded.
The data in the table-1 revealed that the macro
nutrients i.e. organic carbon which also includes
nitrogen, phosphorus and Potash increases in
the soil infested by termites. The organic carbon
increased from 0.45 to 0.50 per cent when the
termites were fed on the wood while it
increased from 0.53 to 0.60 when the termites
were fed on jute bag.
The phosphorus content increased from 22 to
30 Kg/Ha when the termites were fed on wood
while it increased from 24 to 26 when the
termites were fed on jute bag. The potash
content increased from 345 to 375 when the
termites were fed on wood but it decreased
from 398 to 345 Kg/Ha when the termites were
fed on jute bag.
In general the micronutrients decreased after the
termite infestation in the soil except Iron (Fe)
content which increased. Zinc (Zn) decreased
from 1.04 to 1.00 and 0.74 to 0.68 ppm when
the termites were fed on wood and jute bag
respectively (Table-2). Similarly the Copper
(Cu) content decreased from 0.60 to 0.50 and
0.44 to 0.40 ppm, Manganese content decreased
from 11.50 to 6.40 and 6.00 to 5.84 ppm when
the termites were fed on wood and jute bag
respectively. The trend was reversed in Iron
(Fe) content where it increased from 6.89 to
7.78 and 9.43 to 12.63 ppm when the termites
were fed on wood and jute bag respectively.
Lopez-Hernandez et al. in 2006 conducted an
experiment related to P sorption in the mounds
of different termites and found that the
available P in the mounds is much higher as
compared to the surrounding soils. He further
stated that this might be due the fact that
abundant quantity of dead grass material is
available in the mounds as well as due to
incorporation of faeces in the nest material of
grass-feeding and soil-humus-feeding termites.
However, there is not much literature available
on the effect on N & Potash. In our experiment,
the P content has also increased.
In India, practically very little information is
available with regard to the changes brought
about by termites in soil. Sen-Sarma (1974) has
discussed the problem to some extent and
suggested that humus feeding termites are
active in the top soil which is, therefore,
depleted of organic matter and thus can be a
serious economic problem in areas deficient in
humus. Roonwal (1976) has discussed the
adaptation of termites of various soil types of
Rajasthan. Shrikhande and Pathak (1948) gave
an account of the effect of earthworms and
insects in relation to soil fertility. Pathak and
Lehri (1959) observed that the soil of termiteria
built by Odontotermes spp. had a higher per
cent of lime, magnesium and phosphorous.
Agarwal (1975) has observed almost similar
levels of organic content in the mound soil and
the adjacent subsoil, which indicates utilization
of subsoil in mound construction. On the
contrary, Banerjee and Mohan (1976) have
concluded that the mound soil of O. obesus is
derived from the top soil.
The present study showed that activity of
termites induced significant chemical changes
in the materials that they use to build their
nests, increasing the contents of most major
elements, i.e. Organic carbon which also
include nitrogen, phosphorus and Potash
increases in the soil infested by termites. While
the micro-nutrients (Zn, Co, Mn & Fe) except
Fe decreased in the soil infested by termites.
Rajeev et al.
TaJONAS, November-December 2011, Vol. 2, Issue 2 - 402 -
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are thankful to the Coordinator,
IGNOU Study Centre-1012 for providing
necessary facilities for conducting and
analysing of the data as well the farmers of
Naraingarh region for setting of the experiment.
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TaJONAS, November-December 2011, Vol. 2, Issue 2 - 404 -
Table 1: Enrichment of Soil in terms of macro-nutrients by Termites
Samples
Organic Carbon
(including
nitrogen) (%)
Phosphorus
(kg/Ha)
Potash
(Kg/Ha)
soil enriched by termites fed on wood
0.50
30.00
375.00
normal soil of sample
0.45
22.00
345.00
soil enriched by termites fed on jute bag
0.60
26.00
345.00
normal soil of sample
0.53
24.00
398.00
Table 2: Enrichment of Soil in terms of micro-nutrients by Termites
Samples
Zn
(ppm)
Cu
(ppm)
Mn
(ppm)
Fe
(ppm)
soil enriched by termites fed on wood
1.00
0.50
6.40
7.78
normal soil of sample
1.04
0.60
11.50
6.89
soil enriched by termites fed on jute bag
0.68
0.40
5.84
12.63
normal soil of sample
0.74
0.44
6.00
9.43
