JOURNAL of Soil Biology and Ecology

Comparative physico-chemical properties of earthen sheetings of Odontotermes horni  (Wasmann) and surrounding soil.

Author: N. G. KUMAR

Abstract :

 Significantly lower coarse sand (24.73 to 27.44 percent), fine sand (22.06 to 24.43 percent), and higher clay (44.33 to 48.98 percent) with little variations in silt (3.65 to 3.77 percent) in the earthen sheeting from 15 to 90 cm height of the tree trunk was observed compared to the surrounding soil at 15,90 and 150 cm depth. Earthen sheetings on the tree trunk showed slightly less pH, EC, organic carbon, organic matter, total N, C: N ratio, available P2O5, and available K, Zn, and Cu compared to the earthen sheetings of the ground surface. Similarly, earthen sheetings on the ground surface had lower exchangeable Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, and Mn compared to the sheetings on the tree trunk. Electrical conductivity, organic carbon, organic matter, total N, available K, CEC, exchangeable Ca, Mg, Na, and Mn content were higher, and pH, C: N ratio, available P2O5, Zn, Fe, and Cu content were lower in the earthen sheetings on the tree trunk compared to 90 and 150 cm depth of the surrounding soil.

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